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Is your competition season not going as you’d hoped? Here’s how to fix it…

Whatever level you are competing at, appropriate goals are essential if you want to make progress. But it’s not as straightforward as writing down a few vague aims. For this article exclusive to subscribers, H&H speaks to psychologists and riders who have made it to the top to find out how to set excellent goals and not get derailed along the way
Becky Murray Becky Murray

    • There are many components that make up a successful competition season. Horse and rider fitness and nutrition, sufficient training and preparation, and perhaps one of the biggest factors for ensuring a great season: being clear on what you want to achieve. Goal-setting is key in how to be a successful horse rider.

    If someone asked what you are going to do with your horse when you ride today, what would you say? Having goals can make the difference between riding around aimlessly for 30 minutes, or making the most of your time and dismounting feeling like you’ve made progress.

    “Goal setting is good for motivation because if you know where you’re headed, then it’s a lot easier to put in the work that you need to get there,” explains clinical psychologist Dr Krissie Ivings of Aspire Rider Confidence & Hypnotherapy and author of Tame the Chimp, Shoot the Parrot & Silence the Mouse.

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    Becky Murray
    Becky Murray

    H&H senior news writer
    Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
    Becky Murray

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