就是愛騎馬

Sport Psychology for Dressage

by Seana Adamson, Ph.D. - 13 January 2009

在愈來愈受歡迎馬場馬術的競技中，得分與失分之間，一步步間，更需斤斤計較。運動心理學目標在於幫助馬場馬術騎手，不因精神層面的不濟，喪失他們寶貴的分數。
As the world of competitive dressage becomes more and more popular, each point that we earn or lose in competition becomes more critical.  Sport psychology helps ensure that the rider does not waste any of those precious points due to a lapse in their mental performance. 

運動心理師們認為馬術是極端需要心理強度的運動，因為共同運動的夥伴是一巨大的無法預測的動物。我們景仰偉大運動員強韌的心理，譬如 Tiger Woods，但他是否仍能維持這樣的心理層面，如果他的高球桿不知何時會詭異發瘋地與他做對。騎手能無視於不可預知，保持堅強的意志與感情的韌度，是偉碩的目標。
Sport Psychologists consider the equestrian sports to be one of the most psychologically demanding of all of the sports. This is because half of the competitive team is a very large animal that can be very unpredictable.  We all admire the mental toughness of athletes such as golfer Tiger Woods. Yet how mentally tough would Tiger be if he was never sure, on any given day, whether his golf club might want to spook at the ball!  Retaining strong mental and emotional resilience despite this unpredictability is a tremendous goal.

There are many ways in which Sport Psychology can help the rider’s performance.  In the following months we will examine ideas around each of these areas.  Here are some of the common ways that Sport Psychology can contribute to your dressage performance:

1.       Performance Anxiety:

Do you ever feel so nervous that it interferes with your ability to concentrate? This is called performance anxiety, and it is a very common occurrence in athletes of all sports. There are many Sport Psychology techniques that can help resolve this uncomfortable feeling.

2.       Concentration and Memorization:

The slightest lapse in focus and concentration can easily lead to points lost in competition.  When we forget to prepare our horse for each movement, the quality of each movement suffers. Even if there is no obvious mistake, this lack of preparation can cause the loss of single points throughout the test.

3.       Body Awareness and Relaxation:

Do you leave your best performance at home? Does your body feel a stranger the moment you enter the competition arena? Sport Psychology can teach you to perform well whether you are calm or nervous.

4.       Imagery and Visualization:

These powerful mental techniques can enhance any training program, and allow you to continue your training off the horse.

5.       Self Talk and Affirmations:

Our internal dialogue, they way we talk to ourselves, can have a big impact on our self confidence. Sport Psychology can teach you to become more aware of your inner voice, and how that inner voice can impact your dressage performance.