The Rider's Feedback Loop

Have you ever seen a nervous rider at a show? Clutching the reins, body hunched forward, legs gripping the horse like a vice? Was the horse nervous too? Head tossing, fighting the bit, taking off or rearing? What you saw (or perhaps have experienced) was the Rider's Feedback Loop.

It starts in the Rider's Mind. The Nerves/Fear that are in the Rider's mind affect their body, causing them to tightly clutch the reins, grip hard with their legs, or lean foward. The Rider's body and actions then affect the horse, causing the Horse to react. The horse's reaction then causes more fear/nervousness, and the feedback loop continues.

Have you perhaps also seen a young, green horse shown by a confident rider? The horse might have been nervous and experiencing new things. The Rider, however, didn't let the horse's nervousness affect their thoughts. Their body position and cues to the horse demonstrated confidence, and the horse responded by performing as directed.

Which Rider are you? Which Rider do you want to be?

Success starts in the mind, and that is where Personal Performance Coaching can help you achieve your competitive goals. 

My coaching philosophy embraces the idea of "grit." Grit is the combination of passion, practice, purpose and perseverance. By developing all of these skills, and having these principles firmly in mind, the Gritty Rider becomes a successful rider that truly finds joy in their horsemanship journey. 

Click here to learn more about personal performance coaching and my new online "Get Gritty: A Mental Toughness Program for Western Performance Horse Riders."

Get Gritty!
Siobhan "Chevy" Allen
​The Social Stockwoman