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Writer's pictureKarl Avdek

mental skills for riders

Updated: Oct 30, 2021


(AVAILABLE IN PERSON OR ONLINE)

AS A PROFESSIONAL, COMPETITIVE OR EVEN A SEMI-COMPETITIVE (WEEKEND) RIDER, HAVE YOU FOUND THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR HORSE ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE?

In any event, that relationship with your horse certainly isn’t the way you WANT it to be. Things don’t seem to be as in-sync as they once were but you can’t put your finger on exactly what it is. Maybe it is something subtle that YOU don’t really notice but your HORSE is definitely sensing something different.


You’ve tried making changes, practiced harder, spent time and money with a new trainer, even tried a different horse but the problem still persists.


If you take a moment to look within, have you have noticed a change in YOURSELF; your focus; your confidence? Are you tense? Are you suddenly more afraid of losing than you are eager and hungry for success? Do you “kill it” at home in the ring and then tie up at the shows? Are you riding tight and tense in competition? Before you were loose; relaxed, confident and aggressive. Now you’ve got the butterflies; you’re worried, and filled with self doubt.


Well guess what? Your horse has noticed it too and this is the root of the problem almost 100% of the time.


Stop making mechanical or physical changes, it’s time to get back on track mentally!


If you would like to get that relationship with your horse back and better than it has ever been, talk with me about my Professional and Competitive Rider Mental Skills Program. This program will quickly help you regain that in-sync relationship with your horse and build rock star level confidence so you can compete like never before.


I currently have a limited number of openings available in this program for new clients on a first come basis only. Call me for a consultation to see if you are a good candidate for my program.


INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP MENTAL SKILLS COACHING WITH KARL

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATION:

All sessions begin with an evaluation of physical and mental skills and current goals. The number of sessions required will then be projected. Evaluation will include either on-site or viewing of both training and competition tapes.


CONSULTATION WILL OCCUR IN OFFICE OR THROUGH SCREEN SHARING PLATFORMS SUCH AS ZOOM OR SKYPE.

CLINICS

I have conducted mental skills clinics for equine facilities and teams literally around the world; in multiple colleges and in facilities in the United States and Europe.


If your facility is interested in hosting a mental skills clinic, please contact me for more information. We can tailor a clinic to fit the needs of your facility and clientele. Clinics can be conducted both mounted and unmounted. Private, semiprivate (2 – 3 three participants) and small group sessions can be added to the program. I have even worked remotely on zoom with small groups and teams.


In addition to larger clinics, I also offer mini sessions, 1.5 hours in length that cover one topic and can easily be fit into an evening after lessons. Session topics include but are not limited to: managing your self talk, visualization, confidence, and performance anxiety issues, sports parenting and partner support issues.


Who can benefit from mental skills training … and how.


Any rider or horse owner at any level and in any discipline can benefit from mental skills training.


Most riders/owners begin working with me because they have a mental problem which is affecting their interaction with their horse and/or their competitive performance. The majority of these riders are dealing with overcoming fear; especially fear of physical harm or injury.


This is of course especially true of older individuals who want to continue to ride but have considerations relative to injury.


More advanced riders; particularly riders who compete in equine sports deal with issues such as “performance anxiety”, “anger management”, “inability to focus”and other problems which impact their performance.


I also work with trainers and coaches in order to help them achieve their own goals for success with their students and businesses.


The teaching and training of mental skills and peak performance is a practice which is growing exponentially. A host of incredibly successful performers in a variety of fields have used mental skills coaching; performers such as Tom Brady, Andre Agassi, Serena Williams, Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey.


If you need more information, just email/text/ or phone me and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.


Ready to make an appointment? Whether it is for an in-office or virtual session, your first step is to head to the contact page to fill out your intake form.


USING YOUR MIND AS AN OWNER/RIDER/TRAINER.

Although it has been around for a very long time, mental skills and peak performance training are relatively new disciplines for the equine sports industry. Many riders are unfamiliar with the practices and clinics serve as a great introduction to the practices of controlling “self talk”, visualization, and other mental performance-enhancing tools.


How to achieve your potential through mental skills.


All riders can improve their peak performance by working on their mental approach.


All performers have a “vision” of peak performance within their consciousness but more often than not are incapable of executing that level of performance especially with any consistency.


A clinic focuses on how to eliminate “interference” and ride and perform consistently at your own personal top level. The skills taught herein are beneficial not only as an equine performer but in life itself.


How to eliminate and ride through fear.


Horses are big, strong, fast animals and their defense mechanism is to run. It is foolish to NOT have respect for them but … it should not keep you as a rider or owner from enjoying your animal and sport.


This clinic focuses on accepting fear and meeting it head on so that it does not interfere with your interaction with your sport and your animal.


ONLINE COURSES

COMING SOON.

We will be developing online courses for several mental skills issues. For the time being we offer remote coach and training through screen sharing platforms such as ZOOM. A owner/rider/trainer or any manner of equine professional can contact us and work remotely. We welcome questions and suggestions relative to subject matter.


CLASSES / PACKAGES

Check out the FAQ page.

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