05/21/2026
This is why I try so hard to give students the correct mental picture of what they are trying to do. Because without it, just following instructions, rarely gets you to the same point. Iām not really into woo but this definitely works!
The Strange Power of Visualisationš«
Yes, I know. It sounds dangerously close to the sort of thing whispered by someone who owns seventeen Himalayan salt lamps and refers to their horse as a āco-regulating soul being"....trust me, stick with this to the end.š
But visualisation is actually one of the most evidence-based techniques used in sport psychology.š¤
Research shows that mentally rehearsing movements improves performance because the brain activates many of the same neural pathways involved in physically performing the task. Athletes, musicians, surgeons, and pilots all use visualisation to improve coordination, timing, focus, and ex*****on.
And honestly?
Horse people should be using it far more.
When I was a kid, I became fascinated with stories about spoon bending, magic wands, and people who could apparently move objects with their minds. The common theme was always this:
You had to clearly picture what you wanted to happen.š¼
Now sadly the whole bending spoon thing was apparently a magic trick, but years later, working with horses, I realised something important:
Visualisation changes *you*.
Your posture changes.
Your timing changes.
Your focus changes.
Your intention becomes clearer.
Your body stops broadcasting confusion and mixed signals.
And horses respond powerfully to clarity.
Honestly, who knows, maybe horses *can* read your thoughts, and perhaps pictures are easier for them to interpret than words.š¤·āāļø
This is why one of my favourite pieces of riding advice is:
āLook up and ride somewhere.āā”
Because horses are incredibly influenced by intention.
If you ride while staring at your horseās ears, mentally rehearsing every possible disaster, and wondering what your horse is about to spook at, your horse often starts scanning the environment for impending doom too, because that is exactly what you are conveying.š„
But when you clearly picture where you are going and mentally project yourself there, horses often get āsucked intoā that intention. Your body organises itself around the image in your head, and your communication becomes clearer and more confident.š
I use this constantly in groundwork too, and it is one of my favourite things to teach people.
When I send a horse out on the lunge, I visualise a ribbon of energy guiding them in the direction before I ask.
When I draw them towards me, I picture that ribbon inviting them closer.
It feels a bit like pretending you have magic.
And honestly?
I think people should.
Not fluffy magic.
Motor-learning, attention-focusing, nervous-system-organising magic.š¤
Of course, visualisation does not replace practical skill. It only works properly when combined with hands-on practice, timing, observation, and clear communication.
But when you combine skill with intentional visualisation, horses often become more attentive, less anticipatory, and more connected to what you are asking.
So next time you work with your horse:
Donāt just do things.
Picture them first.ā
Because sometimes the clearest communication starts in your own head.ā¤
Collectable Advice 219/365. Please hit SHARE or SAVE if this gave you an idea.š”
Please no copy and pasting.š
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