Know Your Energy

to think about your horses needs as well and plan accordingly. Riders who have multiple mounts constantly have to take this into consideration.
One of Canadas top riders Ian Millar is a great example of someone who practices this art. There times when I may be sitting on a horse that needs more energy. So I do this by changing my thoughts to how important the competition is how much we need to win. This energy is transmitted to the horse and he changes. Likewise I may have a sensitive horse who needs to come down a bit so I focus my thoughts on what a beautiful day it is what a pleasure it is to be out there to lighten things up.
Learn To Regulate
Krista is a junior dressage rider who was having difficulty regulating her emotionally sensitive nature. To add to the challenge her mare was extremely reactive and spooky. But with persistence she was able to employ strategies she could use to bring herself close her number on demand. 
What I found is that the things I used to calm myself down also helped my horse. There were also things I did for her that helped me chill out too like I would talk to her repetitively and soothingly. It was like I was speaking to both of us!
Developing a series of calming statements is one way to bring yourself down a few notches. Search for words or phrases that have emotional impact. Something as simple as remember your training youve done it all before can be extremely powerful for some riders. To determine your calming phrases or language make an extensive list first by letting yourself brainstorm. Then read your list to yourself while being aware of how these statements make you feel. Do they evoke comfort and reassurance and if so to what degree? Choose only those that illicit a strong response in your system. If your body responds you know youre on the right track.
If you need to increase your intensity the process is the same. Through trial and error you will need to develop several ways you can effectively influence the energy in your body in the up direction. 
To accomplish this Mandy a barrel racer has what she refers to as her tool box of energy revs. 
For one thing right before I go in I growl at those barrels. I think about attacking
them. I love the feeling of doing it. It makes me feel aggressive and alive. My focus becomes very precise too and my whole body tingles with anticipation.
There are obviously many ways to take yourself up and down the energy scale. It will take practice to know how to regulate your own system. Speaking to this skill Mandy says I know precisely what my number eight looks like. I think about this number all the time now. When Im training I like to check on it once in a while. I will ask myself if Im in that zone and if not I will practice getting myself there. I have a big number eight posted on the inside of my tack locker.