Know Your Energy

When you first begin to ride its all about where your leg goes and how to find the brakes when necessary. You may be ever so slightly aware that there is another component to this sport but youve got your brain on maximum capacity and quite enough to capture your focus.
Later when you have the basics mastered you start to discover the finer elements of horse sport. One of these finer points is how your energy impacts your mount.
In any sport it is crucial to know the amount of energy or intensity that is optimal to your performance. But equestrians cant forget theyre part of a team and our partners have their own preferences when it comes to energy.

What Is Intensity?
Intensity is another way of describing the kind of energy you carry in your body. High intensity is marked by an explosive sensation of power. Physically it means increased respiration heart rate and muscle tension. Its part of what helps a power lifter heave that barbell. On the opposite end of the scale low intensity not surprisingly feels more relaxed and is associated with less muscle tension and a lower heart rate. A target shooter requires this level of intensity to succeed in his sport you can imagine how difficult it would be to achieve precision with a high heart rate and copious amounts of energy and adrenaline coursing through your body.
In horse sports the same general rules apply. The more power necessary e g. show jumping barrel racing the more energy you need the more technical e g. dressage reining hunters the less you need. As many dressage riders have undoubtedly experienced too much tension and energy in the latter category leads to a loss of focus on detail and an unrefined performance.
Intensity is physiological and as such is experienced physically in ways that are not always pleasant. However what ultimately matters is your perception of what is happening in your body. A rapid heart rate can be thought of negatively I must be nervous. I cant ride when I feel like this. Or positively All right I am getting ready. Its show time!  Whatever level of intensity you end up pursuing try to think of it as being associated with a positive mood state. Obviously this will be more productive for your performance and simplify your goal.
Know Your Numbers
Every rider has a preferred energy style. Are you normally