OK, so Mr Boardman was last seen on a
bike, not a horse! But in common with other elite sports people he
does have an excellent grasp of 'marginal gains' and going the extra
mile to make sure he has one or two over other competitors to give
him the edge – recall the funky aerodynamic helmet that all
cyclists of the velodrome now use?
In case you didn't know, marginal gains
are the the little positive changes that add up to give a competitive
advantage. In equestrianism that's the combined effect of the right
diet and exercise programme – for you and the horse! Best posture
in the saddle, the right saddle, having the horse dentist, getting
the physio involved, talking with the sports psychologist. But what
about the horse's psychology?
Using rewards in training was one
marginal gain that certainly worked for US riders Beezie Madden and
Jane Savoie. They applied 'bridge' and 'target' training,
communicating with their horses precisely what they did right. This
not only ensured that they repeated desired behaviour but that they
enjoyed it too - elevating their general mood and attitude to
performance.
Could it work for you and your horse?
No matter what kind of performance you actually want, from a quiet
hack to a Grand Prix effort, come and find out more by attending the
On Target demo with Shawna Karrasch at 7pm on Saturday 24th August
2013 at Pencoed College. Call Jenni Nellist on 07974 569407 or email
jenni@jenninellist.co.uk
for booking information. There are still tickets available on the
door!
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