Positive thinking

An important part of riding and looking after ponies is understanding that not everything will be perfect all the time. If you can harness the power of positive thinking, you’ll open a door to so many things you never thought you could do! Here are some tips to help you get started…

Start as you mean to go on

Begin your ride, lesson or day at the yard in a good mindset. If you need to take some time out to focus before you start, that’s okay. Ponies can tell when you’re feeling anxious and it makes them worry, too, so take a deep breath and crack a smile before you get stuck in.

Surround yourself with positive people

Thoughts and feelings are infectious, so if you spend lots of time with happy people who have can-do attitudes, you’ll start to feel great, too. These types of people will inspire you to do new things, support you along the way and be there to celebrate with you when you achieve your goals, which is the golden recipe for success!

Imagine, believe, achieve

Visualisation is a technique that loads of top riders use to imagine how they’re going to succeed. For example, if you want to visualise doing a good dressage test, try rehearsing the perfect test in your head – avoid mistakes, be accurate and ride well with your pony going beautifully. Think about what you can see, hear and feel to make it seem even more real. Keep practising because it will get easier and stronger every time.

Do what you love

Remember that you spend time with ponies (even in the wind, rain, mud and freezing cold) because you love it. At times it can be hard work and there’ll always be low points, but the highs and rewards of spending time with your fave pony outweigh these by a mile! If there’s something getting you down, work out why and make a change! 

Focus on the positives

Every time you leave the yard, think about and finish these three sentences…

• I’m thankful for…
• I’m proud of…
• I’m happy because…

Ask for help

It’s well known that a problem shared is a problem halved, so if you’re worrying about something or can’t seem to work something out, it’s a good idea to ask for help. There’ll always be someone to talk things through with, whether it’s your parents,  instructor, yard owner or a good friend. 

Be kind

Helping your friends and creating a happy atmosphere will not only help them, it’ll make you feel more positive, too – bonus! If your friend’s in need of some reassurance, why not be the one to step in and give them a pep talk? You can share everything you’ve learnt about the power of positive thinking with them – it’ll reinforce your own thinking, too!