Reigniting your
Competitive Spirit
by April Clay
Republished with
permission from Horse Sport
Are you feeling a little unmotivated
to begin your show season? Has the zip gone out of your
competitive spirit? Lost your edge? Don’t worry, you can
get it back.
What’s the
Problem?
A lack of enthusiasm
for the show ring is a sure sign something is up - but what?
Jan, an amateur hunter rider of many years, discovered the answer
isn’t always easily accessible.
“I just noticed that I was really feeling blah about showing,
but didn’t know why. I tried psyching myself up, but it
didn’t work. Finally, I just took some time away from showing.
During this time it came to me that I was really stagnated. I
had been doing the same division and shows for years. I needed
to make some changes, shake things up a bit. Once
I did this, I felt my enthusiasm return almost immediately”.
If you are like Jan, and unsure what the source of your indifference
is, you are going to have to commit to some investigation. What
are other feelings that are present along
with the apathy? What kind of self-talk is going on in your head?
You can also illicit feedback from coaches and stablemates. If
all this questioning fails to turn up information, it may be
you need to employ Jan’s strategy. At times the only way
we can gain perspective on a problem is to entirely step away
from it.
For other riders, the reason is more than clear. These riders
are too busy battling butterflies to enjoy the thrill of competition.
Tina, a 15-year veteran rider says: “I used to get so uptight
I’d be physically ill. I worried about not being as good
as those around me expected.”.Many riders cannot enjoy their
show experiences because competition is associated with harsh
judgement - a time when the spotlight is turned on, with high
heat and a cruel glare.
Fear is probably
the number one zest killer
when it comes to competitive spirit. Who would want to do something
that feels akin to walking a gangplank? For some riders, a solution
requires the realization that butterflies are a normal aspect
of the competitive experience and signal that your body is getting
ready to focus and perform. These riders need to learn to stay
with the uncomfortable sensations associated with performance
nerves, and know that they can still ride effectively. For others,
a more aggressive approach may be necessary in order to get those
butterflies flying in formation. Exposure to more competitive
situations, and learning anxiety management techniques can and
will help. Being aware of your expectations can also be useful.
If they are unreasonable or unattainable (perfectionists are
guilty of the latter) then you can guarantee yourself a miserable
experience. Try redefining your goals and see if the butterflies
let up on you a bit. Consider as well that the problem you’re
having may not be limited to the show ring. Some riders loose
their zest for riding altogether, not just competing. This is
important to know in solving your problem. In the event that
you are fully aware of what is keeping you from enjoying shows,
you need to move to the next phase - problem solving. Competing
is not going to get any better for you until you address the
issues. Resist the temptation to continue avoiding your uncomfortable
feelings and move to action. This may require some assistance
and support, but it is up to you to get what you need.
No Problem - Only Fine Tuning
A third possibility is that you do have some hint of exhilaration
left within you - you just need to access it! What then? You
could try redefining what competition means to you. Competition
carries a negative connotation for some riders. Pat, an English
rider for 25
years, decided to only attend smaller shows because of what she
was noticing about some riders at the larger competitions. “I
find too many people have that “win at all costs” mentality,
which often flares up in shows and results in abuse to their
animals and the people around them. If the show atmosphere is
not one where learning and helping are not stressed, I cannot
have any fun.” When the dark side of competition emerges,
and it does, it’s easy to lose respect and interest in attending
shows. Try to remember that actions like those described are
not reflective of competition, but of misguided individuals who
choose to engage in such behaviour.
The ancient Greeks, the original promoters of the spirit of competition,
put emphasis on individual athletic achievement. Their philosophy
of competition was related to the Greek
ideal of excellence, called “arete.” It may be time
that you asked yourself what your philosophy is all about. There
are, after all, dozens of other competitions going on at every
show that have nothing to do with the ribbon presentations. Riders
compete against themselves, their last best efforts, with personal
goals that they commit to and change with every ride. Consider
that your idea of what competition entails may not be yours at
all, or may not be useful for your purposes. Your time at horse
shows should be an enjoyable mixture of butterflies and anticipation,
but how you define competition is entirely up to you.
Finally, you may want to look at establishing a ritual that links
you to “that competitive feeling”. Athletes in other
sports talk about putting on a “game face”, or getting
“psyched”. Whatever
you call it, you have free creative license in coming up with
something that suits only you. I have known riders who like to
listen to a particular piece of music on their portable
stereo to get in the mood. You can also experiment with using
a “cue” word such as “strength” or “power”
that you repeat to yourself like a mantra before entering the
ring. Others prefer
a quote that says it all for them like “go hard or go home”
or for a hunter rider, “grace under pressure”.
Whatever you decide competition means to you, and how to prepare
for it, remember that you have a right to get pleasure from the
experience. Competitive spirit is about being excited
and energized about what you’re about to do. It’s also
about watching your perspective and
remembering that competing is part of our on-going learning process.
April Clay is a psychologist,
former competitive rider and judge residing in Calgary. For more
help with your mental training skills try: “Training From
the Neck Up: A Practical
Guide to Sport Psychology for Riders”, April Clay, 1999.
OR Subscribe to The Thinking Rider, a free newsletter devoted
to equestrian sport psychology, on April’s
website www.telusplanet.net/public/aclay
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