When McLain Ward left the arena after winning the World Cup Final of Showjumping and exclaimed that learning to conquer his mind through mental coaching was key to his performance, it hit the head lines. The world of sports is changing, competitions are becoming more technical and pressures are becoming greater. The taboo of ‘mental coaching’ has slowly started to dwindle and athletes, including equestrians are starting to reap the rewards of mastering their minds. So where does mental coaching fit with equestrian sport and what is it?
Mental Performance Coaching is recognized as an effective method of increasing human performance and optimizing personal effectiveness. Coaching psychology, as opposed to a sports Coaching, is based in scientifically valid theory. The concept was started by a famous tennis player, Tim Gallwey who began to revolutionize the term ‘Coaching’ by coming to realize that for many athletes, it was not that they didn’t know what to do in competition but more that they didn’t do what they know. Gallwey highlighted the idea of mastering the ‘inner-game’, the theory that the human mind has its own opponents, not just the physical competitor on the other side of the fence but opponents such as self-doubt, nervousness and lack of focus.
‘Every competition is composed of two parts, an outer challenge and an inner challenge. The outer challenge is played against an external opponent to overcome external obstacles, and to reach an external goal…the inner challenge...is the game that takes place in the mind of the rider, and it is played against such obstacles as lapses in concentration, nervousness, self-doubt and self-condemnation….it is played to overcome all habits of mind which inhibit excellence in performance.'
Why would an Equestrian use a Performance Coach?
So when does one decide to use a Performance Coach? Equestrians, like other athletes are now looking at ways to keep up with the evolution of the sport which seems to keep getting, bigger, faster and the prize greater. Performance Coaching assists a client to find their own pathway by developing awareness about how they are tripping themselves up and identifying strategies for moving forward. From my work with equestrians, and also a indepth study, it has become very clear that the psychological requirements of individuals in equestrian sport reach much further than just the arena. Here’s a list of ten areas I have found Performance coaching to have helped improve the effectiveness of Equestrians:
- Mental Skills for competition and training.
- Pressure Management.
- Creating sustainability and longevity in the sport.
- Management of personal issues which effect performance or focus such as family management and relationships.
- Conflict of sport and business and the pressure to make the sport revenue generating.
- Ability to look to a long term business plan as opposed to focusing on short term success.
- Staff management.
- Ability to focus and be present , learning not to carry forward negative emotions or distractions when working horses.
- Creating self awareness in how they may be limiting or tripping themselves up.
- Pro-active evaluation and goal setting.
Why are Performance Coaches only getting popular now?
Equestrian sport has evolved beyond expectations over the past few years and presents as a very different sport than 10 or so years ago. An international movement now backed by large corporate and independent sponsors with an ever growing public following has increased the psychological demands on those competing or using the sport as a means of income. In the USA alone there are now 7.1 million equestrian sport participants generating 112 billion in revenue. This growth has brought with it increased publicity and the transition of equestrians into more athletic and business role models. Support teams have grown from trainers and grooms, to fitness coaches, sports psychologists and marketers. The Performance Coach fits as an integral part of the support system and is responsible for boosting performance through goal setting, resource identification, learning and support.
The sport has changed, the competitors have changed and there seems to be no signs of slowing down. It important to note that not everyone needs to rush out and employ a Performance Coach to keep up but if you think you could do much better than you’re doing, but don’t seem to know how to move forward, just remember you don't have to fight the battle alone.
Poppy Blandford
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