Choose Confidence

Show pen strategy, part 3 of 3
by Allison Trimble

One of the most important tools you have in your showing "grooming bag" is confidence. Competitors need to understand that they are capable of being confident regardless of their performance outcomes. It is natural for a person to feel and act confident when showing well and unconfident and frustrated during or after a poor run. These competitors “go with the flow” and allow their performance to dictate their confidence. By taking responsibility for your confidence by viewing it as a choice, you can influence your level of performance rather than letting your performance influence you.

Different Types of Confidence
Confidence can be defined as the belief in one’s ability to successfully perform a skill or set of skills at a desired level, and it can be more trait-like or state-like. Confidence that remains relatively stable day in and day out due to personality factors is trait-like confidence. Unstable confidence that is apt to change for differing situations is state-like confidence. Tendencies in state-like confidence can either facilitate or inhibit positive trait-like confidence. Confidence can be affected by other psychological aspects, too, such as motivation and anxiety levels. Mental training techniques such as positive imagery, goal setting and negative thought stoppage can have a positive influence on confidence, both in and out of the show ring.

The vast majority of research indicates that self-confidence is a key component to successful performance. However, there is a point when too much confidence can become detrimental. Optimal confidence allows athletes to be convinced that if they put in the necessary hard work they will be successful. Overconfident athletes think that they can get by on their talent alone and not work hard to achieve their goals. Overconfidence can have a negative impact on performance and is an undesirable characteristic. However, most competitors dealing with confidence issues are under-confident.

Confidence as a Choice
When confidence comes from internal aspects, a competitor can feel it despite negative external factors. There are three tools that can be use to increase internal confidence if used correctly. These are:

• Free will – Free will is the ability to act or think independently in the presence of all other influences. Until the athlete truly believes he can control the quality of his thoughts, he will never completely control his confidence. Confidence results from competitors proactively choosing correct responses at home and in competition.

• Self-awareness – Being self-aware is knowing the thinking and responding habits one has in competitive situations. Like physical habits, responsive thinking habits are often automatic and done without consciousness during performance. Awareness of your own thinking tendencies lets you scrutinize these habits, while free will gives you the ability to change them.

• Imagination - Imagination is a powerful tool because of its ability to create instant thoughts and feelings that reach beyond the present reality. The willingness to use imagination in ways that increase confidence is important in creating the necessary performance mindset.

Show with Confidence
Competitors are confident when they "turn their minds off" during competition and trust their training. Having a trusting mindset allows a confident state of mind in which one is free of conscious control and trusts the automatic selection and execution of skills during performance. Lacking trust often results in over-thinking, over-correction of movements, or trying too hard. This can cause delayed or overly reactionary responses.

Remember that confidence is a choice, choose to use it, and I guarantee you will see the results in the show pen.

A special thanks to my husband, Jon Rylaarsdam, for helping me with this topic. See more of our program at www.coastalequine.com.