The road to excellence is a long one and requires patience, grit and deliberate practice. That is at least if you listen to the experts in the field of expertise performance. According to Anders Ericsson, a researcher in the psychology of expertise and human performance, specific or deliberate practise is of one of the most, if not the most important factor to reaching the top in any given field.
Here are 7 specific tips on how to apply his research to training your own skills in the saddle.

You might not realize it but habits dictate almost everything we do, including our self-talk, how we deal with set backs, and our ability to focus in the ring. Certain behaviors, performed over and over again, become habits and routines that influence our thoughts, actions and riding. Or in Aristotle’s words, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” Here are ten habits you want to stop using.

It is time to draw some conclusions. So far in this series I have looked at the benefits as well as the downsides of riding to win versus chasing perfection (if you haven’t read the previous blogs, read them here). Now it’s time to bring all our learnings together and to come up with a strategy you can apply and follow all on your own. I’ll start with a quick recap of what we have learned so far, just to warm up your memory. Then I’ll explain how to prepare for those perfect, winning rounds.

Ever wondered what mental training is really all about? You are not alone… When thinking about what a mental coaching session is like, many riders might still picture someone lying down on a sofa and opening up about their issues to a dull therapist with a crazy imagination. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth! So, in this series, I unveil the mystery by sharing some of the challenges that clients of mine have faced and how, together, we turned things around. For this case study, I’m sharing Zoé Conter’s story with you.

Zoé needs little introduction. She is only 21 but has already established an impressive track record of success. From winning a team gold and individual bronze medal at the European Junior championships in 2016 to riding 5* shows, Zoé has been there and done that. However, in May 2018, whilst competing at an international show in Rome, she had a nasty fall with her horse and ended up breaking her neck. Falling off is one thing but getting severely injured is another. How do we bounce back after an accident like that?

Have you ever let distractions get the better of you and rule your thoughts and, with that, your results? You are not alone! We all have specific distractors that can drive us mad. The good news is we can train ourselves to keep a laser-sharp focus and to stay in control of every situation. Here are 5 ways to do just that.

Every day I get up with a single goal in mind: helping others. Helping others to build their confidence, to increase their focus, and to prepare for competition and, ultimately, to perform at their peak and to enjoy the ride. But sometimes, you end up helping someone in ways you could not have imagined.

Meet Sabrina. Sabrina is a showjumper and she reached out to me leading up to very serious surgery. Her situation was unique and very challenging. She needed to prepare herself mentally in order to get through this incredibly tough procedure and to work through her post-surgery recovery. I suggested to Sabrina that she should join my Master Your Mind Online Mental Training Program. She was one of the first students to graduate from the program. In just over three months, she made it through, she’s back in the saddle and she’s winning again! I cannot begin to express how proud I am of Sabrina. Here is her story…