ridecamp@endurance.net: re: mental training ....(long)

re: mental training ....(long)

vwheeler@mail.tds.net
Mon, 13 Oct 1997 20:42:28 -0400

Thanks, Kimberly, for the question. Hopefully some of the more experienced
riders/trainers can give us some points here.

My (mental) problem with Felix is different. When we train alone, he can
be down right lazy. When we train with with my friend & her arab Mazon,
they take turns leading (he did the same thing with Jan Smith & her horse,
Ro). They have their own language (it appears) as to who has the most
energy/spunk left.

Unfortunately the one ride we have riden together, Felix INSISTED on
leading. There is a benefit to this: I have a better sense of direction
than my friend --> therefore, we didn't lose time questioning the trail.
If we are in our hole, Felix is fine. However, once another horse passes,
I have to fight him not to compete with this new horse. (He acted this
same way on CTRs.)

He gets soooo excited at camp that getting his heart rate down at vet
checks in camp is tough. Since he is part QH, his recoveries are not as
quick as Mazon's. (I'm trying some TTouch techniques to see if they will
help & am training with a heart monitor to concentrate on those
recoveries.) My fear is that on future rides, Mazon will make it thru the
vet checks quickier & then I have an excited Felix exploding out of the hold.

Ok, Ridecampers, can y'all help us out on this mental side? :-)

Vicki Wheeler
Knoxville, TN

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