Let me tell you a true story about a very special little 3 legged stool I bought a few years ago from a well known retailer. A poof, I think they call it in certain circles. Its not quite big enough to qualify as an ottoman, but it is a pretty and functional padded place to sit for a moment or two, when pulling shoes on or off, or to rest both feet on while relaxing on the couch.

The day I bought this little stool, I was in something of a hurry, and I remember feeling a little irritated by the long queue as I made my way to the till to pay for the few items I had chosen. As she rung up my purchases, the cashier paused. Checked. Double checked. Called a colleague over. They disappeared into the back to talk in hushed tones.

My irritation mounting by the second, I composed my face into a semblance of a smile, and asked as politely as possible: “What’s the matter?”

“Mam, this stool is 99cents today,” she replied.

“Well, obviously that is a mistake in the system,” I say somewhat shortly, thinking Oh no, more delay!

“No, we are ringing it up at 99c. It’s your lucky day!”

Well! Everybody loves a bargain, even rushed and flustered me, on a bad day. My mood sweetened considerably when I realized I had just acquired a R999,99 stool for 99c! She is still one of my favourite pieces of furniture, and I’ve brought her with me to my new home in Durban, and given her pride of place in my lounge.

You are forgiven for wondering at this point why on earth I’m telling you all about my cheap 3 legged stool and what it has to do with your riding performance.

So often, when I ask new clients how they usually prepare for a show, they tell me it makes them anxious to think about it, so they try NOT to think about it until the night before, and then the anxiety they feel at the suddenness of it overwhelms them and provides evidence that thinking about it beforehand causes the anxiety!

A study was done at the University of Chicago where basketball players were tasked with improving their free throws. They were first measured, then split into 3 control groups. The first group was told to practice free throws every day for an hour. The second group was not allowed to play basketball, but had to visualize themselves making free throws every day. The third group was told not to practice anything.

The players were tested again after 30 days.

Here's what happened:

The first group improved by 24%

The second group improved by 23% - and they didn’t touch a ball!

The third group didn’t improve at all – which blows the “let’s not think about it beforehand” theory right out of the water…

Bear with me. Here comes our 3 legged stool….

In horse riding, we have the physical and technical practice time. The fitness required by the rider, the understanding of the aids, the correct timing and the desired result, whatever the discipline undertaken. There is no substitute for this leg of the stool, and I call it the BODY.

The MIND is the second leg of the stool, and it is vital to have done the mental preparation work on emotional regulation, management of performance anxiety, understanding the effect of pressure on your own performance. You can’t wing this one on the day, and the better you know yourself, the more you understand what you need here.

The third leg of the stool for horse riders is the HORSE. The training, the exercises, the capacity of the animal to deliver the desired outcome. The analysis associated with this leg has kept many a rider awake at night, trying to fine tune the food, the physio, the turnout and several hundred other little issues. How to make things clearer and easier for the equine partner.We spend time, effort and money trying to make sure that we produce a healthy, fit and sound animal on competition day.

I wonder if you would agree that many riders, on balance, spend A LOT of time worrying about the HORSE leg of the stool? Most riders do spend some quality time with the BODY leg, the actual Time In The Saddle, practicing technique and exercises to be fitter and more proficient.

But how many riders do you know who are giving equal balance time to the MIND leg?

Our 3 legged stool is a wonderful metaphor in planning how to spend the time up front of an important event. Science dictates that each leg needs to be the same length, in order for the stool to be functional. My little 99c stool works incredibly well as a seating spot, because of the balance of each of the legs. Not because she was cheap, but because she is perfectly balanced. She just happens to be yellow, which for me is the colour of joy, so use that too if it makes you happy.

Many riders can identify with the idea that they often ride better at home than they do at shows. This simple statement is what first caused me to start Forging Ahead Mental Skills Coaching, after all. Knowing that I can ride better than I usually do at shows, and being a bit tired of constantly underperforming when I was in the spotlight, led me to exploring performing under pressure, and all the techniques associated with emotional regulation, and how athletes can produce their peak performances when it really matters.

A significant amount of this work happens beforehand. During the preparation phase. You do yourself a disservice as a rider if you spend too much of your time on the HORSE leg, with a sprinkle on the BODY leg, but reserve the MIND leg for the 20 minutes after you have mounted, in the warm up arena.

As you arrive at your event and unload your horse, imagine feeling really balanced.

Body, mind and horse – all perfectly prepared, all working together towards the task ahead of you.

Sit for a moment. Rest your feet on the padded seat of your own metaphorical 3 legged stool. Trust the process you have worked towards, the work you have done preparing your horse, your physical and technical skills, and your own mindset.

Spend a moment thinking about the study: 25% improvement from the technical skill practicing you’ve already done. Plus the 23% improvement, just by using your imagination to picture yourself riding well at the show!

Seems like a no-brainer to me….