Posted 2016-08-11 1:19 PM Subject: Getting confidence back
Expert
Posts: 1631 Location: Somewhere around here
I feel like my horse and I are on the right track and making great leaps and bounds towards running a happy, clean, and consistent barrel pattern when we go to a jackpot. You wouldn't even believe the difference just from three different outings and for the first time in a long time I'm actually having fun going and entering jackpots! My problem is that I feel like I'm going faster than what I really am. My last few runs have been in the lower 4D times, so last night at a jackpot I made a mental note of going a little faster than what I've been doing. I don't have a video to show you guys (sorry!) but I felt like our only problem in our run was I needed to go faster to the first barrel and then I wouldn't have crowded him. I really tried pushing him to his 2nd and he was AMAZING! Same with 3rd, just AWESOME! Ran home well but still had a lower 4D time. Now, this isn't really a free-runner or real ratey horse, just something right in the middle, but I'm a pretty passive rider; I don't kick real hard and I'm quiet in the seat. I feel like I need to be more aggressive (maybe?) in my riding to push him past the barrels but for some reason I have a fear that if I do that and ask for more speed he might blow past a barrel/duck a barrel/ whatever bad thing I can think of EVEN THOUGH this horse has never tried anything like that with me in the years I've owned him. I've been making mental notes every time I ride to push past the barrels and it's been helping a lot but what is there I can do about the speed? My friends and husband is confident that my horse can handle the speed, since he's placed 1st in the 3D a few years ago, it's just more my problem than anything.
Any tips, suggestions, or shots of whiskey?
Posted 2016-08-12 3:14 PM Subject: RE: Getting confidence back
Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315 Location: East Tennessee but who knows?!
I started lifting weights in March and the impact on riding has been huge. I also started riding for a lot longer period of time in two point position. Both of those things have helped me ride a lot more aggressive and I keep improving every time. 3rd race back after a year off I bumped up a speed division. When I feel stronger, I feel a lot more confident and it shows in my riding. I lost 50 pounds, but it's not the weight loss that is the key -- its the STRENGTH.
Posted 2016-08-12 3:26 PM Subject: RE: Getting confidence back
Expert
Posts: 1273 Location: South Dakota
Fairweather - 2016-08-12 3:14 PM I started lifting weights in March and the impact on riding has been huge. I also started riding for a lot longer period of time in two point position. Both of those things have helped me ride a lot more aggressive and I keep improving every time. 3rd race back after a year off I bumped up a speed division. When I feel stronger, I feel a lot more confident and it shows in my riding. I lost 50 pounds, but it's not the weight loss that is the key -- its the STRENGTH.
Are you following any kind of program? I was in a class a few years back and loved it and loved the results. Unfortunately the teacher moved and I'm really not sure what to do on my own.
Getting confidence back
