Create a Pre-Ride Routine

getting the best out of myself. I have specific steps that I follow. It really calms me down.
You can use a routine to start a training ride or prepare yourself for competition. The benefits are similar. Taking certain steps can assist in reducing stress and distraction help you focus on the task at hand and maximize your chances of being in the zone or in the best state to produce a successful ride.
Getting Started
A preperformance or preride routine begins with where you want to end up your ideal state. How do you want to feel mentally physically and emotionally? What will bring forth your best effort? The routine you build should then help direct you to that ideal state.
Junior rider Emma wanted to start her competitive rides with more confidence. She often rode much less effectively at shows and her nerves got the best of her. So Emma came up with three steps to prepare her to ride with confidence. My way to confidence is to listen to music while I tack up. This keeps the negative thoughts out and improves my mood. Next I focus on my goal for warm up a strong forward canter. Before I go in the ring I visualize using that kind of canter to ride the course. I find my routine really helps. It has me riding again instead of being scared and forgetting what I know.
So ask yourself What do I need for my best ride? Relaxation energy positivity or courage? Routines are as individual as the riders who use them. Everyone needs something a little different and can find a personal way of meeting that need.
Before you tackle constructing a precompetitive routine challenge yourself to create a system for your training rides. Call upon your mental skills such as visualization positive selftalk
focus control and goal setting. How can you use one or more of these skills to prepare yourself for a great ride?
Another way is to think about your routine as your mental tackup. You are readying your mind to think in the right direction.
Here are more examples
Visualize Watch a video clip to reconnect with a past ride you felt proud of.
Use music Put a power phrase like Do your best forget the rest to a tune and play it in your mind as you approach the ingate.
Restart your breath Use a cycle of three deep breaths paired with key words of your choice such as Let go.
Focus in Imagine your mind like a camera. It pans out to take in the entire environment around you and then bit by bit adjust your camera to only include what is important to your ride.
Choose a Simple Formula and Start Experimenting
Remember that routines are shortcuts that help guide you to the place you need to be your ideal state. So dont get too complicated. Choose carefully as each step of your routine should address an identified need for yourself or your horse. Most routines can do double duty for example a goal may calm both yourself and your horse during warmup. Your selftalk can be designed to alleviate your show ring nerves and ultimately provide reassurance to your mount.