Program Your Mind for Peak Performance (That Winning Feeling!)

Rating:
Summary: Surely the way to success!
Review: Excellent book. Excellent for the novice or the advanced rider. Excellent motivator for any other sport or even in general life. It teaches how you can change from a pessimistic person to an optimistic person. It is filled with delightful stories from the author's life, all providing inspiration to the reader. A must have!

Rating:
Summary: It's all about doing your personal best whatever that may be
Review: I am not a dressage rider, yet I found this book to be completley inspiring! It taught me so many things that myself nor my trainer could ever instill in me. 2 years ago I was a Multi National champion on my horse HL Karavan+/ and I truly believe that this book lead me there. before a class I would read selected passages from my trainer, and I went in the ring with a sense of accomplishment even before the class was finished. I would reccomend this book to any athlete who has ever doubted his or her abilities. I can not express what Jane Savoie's writing has done to improve my sportsmanship, and riding skills.

Rating:
Summary: Feeling that winning feeling!
Review: I am not a dressage rider, yet I found this book to be completley inspiring! It taught me so many things that myself nor my trainer could ever instill in me. 2 years ago I was a Multi National champion on my horse HL Karavan+/ and I truly believe that this book lead me there. before a class I would read selected passages from my trainer, and I went in the ring with a sense of accomplishment even before the class was finished. I would reccomend this book to any athlete who has ever doubted his or her abilities. I can not express what Jane Savoie's writing has done to improve my sportsmanship, and riding skills.

Rating:
Summary: This book made me wonder where dressage has gone wrong.
Review: I found this book borderline offensive. It typifies for me the mindset of so many competitive dressage riders for whom the horse, however much they say they "love" him, is no more than a fancy piece of sports equipment. "Winning" is everything, or so it seems. Dressage is supposed to be about the horse, not the rider. Certainly not about "winning." What has happened to this sport? How have we become so terribly lost? I regret the popularity of this kind of "dressage" writing and it makes me wish more riders knew there is another world of riding out there, where the horse is the best and only judge of our riding, and competitive kudos or "doing a movement" are not the measure of success.

Rating:
Summary: This book made me wonder where dressage has gone wrong.
Review: I found this book borderline offensive. It typifies for me the mindset of so many competitive dressage riders for whom the horse, however much they say they "love" him, is no more than a fancy piece of sports equipment. "Winning" is everything, or so it seems. Dressage is supposed to be about the horse, not the rider. Certainly not about "winning." What has happened to this sport? How have we become so terribly lost? I regret the popularity of this kind of "dressage" writing and it makes me wish more riders knew there is another world of riding out there, where the horse is the best and only judge of our riding, and competitive kudos or "doing a movement" are not the measure of success.

Rating:
Summary: It's all about doing your personal best whatever that may be
Review: That Winning Feeling is not about getting blue ribbons or pushing your horse despite how the horse may feel. It is about doing your personal best in your own personal situation. In her introduction Jane Savoie states it clearly: "To win--let us understand--is not necessarily limited to bringing home the blue ribbon. It is developing your potential and using it for a purpose that makes you happy. It is leaving your all-too-familiar comfort zone and striving for more than you thought you could achieve. It is putting forth the kind of effort that makes you proud to sign your name to your work." And, in the last 30 pages of the book when she does speak specifically about competitions, the author says: "After the performance, you can always feel victorious about your personal milestones. Perhaps this was the first show where your horse didn't buck at the canter depart. ... Ot maybe this is the first competition where you didn't feel nauseated before your ride. ... Don't let anyone--least of all yourself--dictate any limits. The joys of competition with your partner are to be fully experienced and savored." Thus, this book is about helping you do your best with your partner, your horse. It is not about winning blue ribbons or achieving Olympic status. It is a realistic, down-to-earth, practical and effective psychocybernetic approach for helping achieve you and your horse's best no matter what your goals are.

Rating:
Summary: This is a fantastic, uplifting book for everyone!
Review: This is an amazing book! Not only does it apply to riding, but to life in general. Savoie is a great motivator, and using her tecniques can help almost any situation. There is plenty of humor, and her writing can show you how to be the winner you want to be. My horse responded really well to many of her ideas. I wouldn't give it up for anything!