Team PracKristi Seymour, LPC, MBA, personal performance coach and hunter/jumper and dressage rider, joined Practical Horseman+ subscribers for the first-ever Members-Only VIP Webinar titled “Regulating Emotions in the Saddle: Riding Through Fear, Frustration and Disappointment.” She explained why emotional regulation is important in riding and answered questions about how emotions can affect performance and the partnerships riders share with their horses. The combination of risk and partnering with a living animal makes equestrian sport emotionally complex, so Seymour shared specific tools and skills to help riders regulate their emotions in the saddle.
The webinar started with Seymour’s presentation, beginning with how riders should have a wise mind, why emotional regulation matters in riding and how emotions show up in the body first. She continued by explaining how equestrians can use the rider reset to breathe, feel and simplify. Seymour provided several tools and exercises to regulate emotions first then allow improved performance to follow. The webinar concluded with Seymour answering a variety of questions from the audience ranging from self-talk phrases to help riders relax to techniques to stop negative thoughts after making a mistake.
