Vol 6 No 10

Letter from the Editor

Dear Golden State Members,

This edition of “In Step with Golden State” is late and I apologize. My husband has been seriously ill and hospitalized with sepsis. The good news is he’s out and recovering. Why am I telling you this? Because we knew nothing about this disease and discovered that few do. Yet it is on the rise in the US, affects a million people a year, and a quarter of those die. There are no consistent symptoms. Time is of the essence and minutes matter. I encourage each of you to go to sepsis.org and educate yourself. Their tag line is, “Suspect sepsis, save lives.” The lives saved may be yours, a loved one, or a friend.

Golden State and Western State have big news for the membership on the horizon. It’s member-centered and you’re going to like it! Watch your email and our Facebook page.

Also covered in this edition of our newsletter are results of the last Golden State sanctioned show for 2025, the upcoming Western States Championship shows, and a picture of a GS Youth enjoying college life.

Who hasn’t heard of the amazing Non-Pro Annie Reynolds? Read on for some of her secrets for success.

Noted trainer Al Dunning quotes Zig Ziglar for our Quote of the Month. Works in October and all of the other months of the year!

Train hard, show easy.

Dawn Poston
Editor

Send comments, concerns, & ideas to JumperDawn@aol.com

The Big Tease

What’s Upcoming for Golden State and Western States?

You know how annoying the “tease” at the end of a favorite TV show can be? You don’t want the tantalizing scenes from next week; you want the entire thing NOW! This isn’t unlike that! Sorry. But suffice it to say, the Golden State and the Western States Boards have been working together for you, the membership, and will have big announcements after the show in Winnemucca. Or maybe during the awards. Or maybe at the beginning of November.

Keep an eye on your email and the Golden State Facebook page to be among the first to know. Know what you say? Sorry, that’s why it’s a tease.

Ranch Horse Spectacular

Results

Warm and muggy weather couldn’t slow down Golden State competitors at the recent Ranch Horse Spectacular. As usual, Jessica and Vernon Lawrence put on a great show enjoyed by all. Notice in the results, sisters Linnea and Joy Aldrich were Champion and Reserve Champion Youth. Mom Malia is kind of wishing they had different hobbies!!! One guesses it was an interesting ride home!

Mind Control

Cow Horse Champion Annie Reynolds Reveals Her Tricks for Mastering the Mental Game

By Stephanie Duquette, The Quarter Horse News

Six-time NRCHA Futurity Non-Pro Champion, Annie Reynolds, known for her focus and composure in the show pen, has trained herself to think like a winner. But the formidable horsewoman, who has earned more than $1.3 million, admits it didn’t come naturally. “I have been in the process of mastering my mental game for over 30 years. I have come a long way. I was a very insecure young woman. I had no confidence in myself or my abilities. I was easily intimidated by my competitors. I was easily distracted by people, events, and circumstances. I had no clear understanding or vision of what I wanted to accomplish.”

Reynolds identifies 7 key areas important for mastery:

Mental Toughness: People who are mentally tough, recognize that they are in the process of becoming better. They take responsibility for their part in everything that happens in their lives, in and out of the show pen. They learn from their mistakes. They are not easily intimidated. They do not complain or blame others. They accept feedback, they keep trying, and they keep learning. Mentally tough people never give up.”

Positive Self-Talk: “Everything you say about yourself, or think about yourself, is important to your performance and confidence. You are responsible for your thoughts. If you engage in negative self-talk, you can change it into positive self-talk.” Anne learned this technique by writing detailed, positive descriptions of what she imagined and what she wanted to accomplish with her horses, at home, and in the show pen. “In the beginning, they were quite lengthy because there wasn’t much I could count on by myself to do well. Over time, as I became more accomplished, I began to condense them. It is important to use the present tense, be specific about the subject, be positive, and add feeling. You might want to say something like, “I love making these smooth sliding stops on a loose rein! It feels great!”

Focus: Practice focusing while you are practicing with your horse at home, and it will become easier in the show pen. Your ability to focus is crucial to being able to stay in the moment, respond to the situation, and make good decisions. “There is a lot of mental, emotional and physical stress at a show like the Snaffle Bit Futurity. There are also tons of distractions and outside pressures. Your ability to focus is your insulation.”

“I use key words to help me eliminate negative self-talk, manage my nerves, and focus. For instance, before the fence work, I will say to myself, ‘Sit back, relax, watch the cow, be aggressive,’ over and over and over again. If I am competing at a roping, I say to myself, ‘Position, aim, swing, delivery,’ In the herd work, it is, ‘Step up, sit back, cut clean, quit clean.’ Focus on the process: think about what it takes to win, not winning.”

Goal-Setting: “Your goal is your road map to success. Your goal should be long-term and include several short-term goals. It should be well-defined, in positive terms. Be specific and descriptive. It needs to be a process oriented, not outcome-oriented, which means it needs to be about what it takes to get there, not being there. For instance – if your goal is to win the reined work go-round at the Snaffle Bit Futurity, you might want to say something like, my horse and I will be well-prepared to execute all the maneuvers, smoothly, with speed, and accuracy, by this time next year.”

Motivation: “Getting help from other people is a huge boost to motivation. Get out of your own backyard and take a lesson or go to a clinic or a little club show. “When my kids were young, I went for a nine-year stretch where I didn’t have enough time to prepare a horse to be competitive. What I learned during that time was that what I loved most about preparing a horse wasn’t winning but just being able to get out there for an hour every day and improve the horse a little bit. I gave up the idea of winning and started thoroughly enjoying the process. All of us who get to play this game at any level should be tremendously grateful for the opportunity. It is such a great sport, with so many wonderful people involved in it! My best advice is to just enjoy it, have fun and be grateful.”

Confidence: “Everyone can build their confidence. Everyone can lose their confidence. One bad run, and you can be ready to throw in the towel and apply for that job down at the 7-11. To regain your confidence, make an honest assessment of where you are, and what you have accomplished. Use positive thinking to jump-start the process of building confidence. Positive thinking is optimistic, future-oriented and solution-focused., like ‘I can do this. I am determined to make this work. I’m willing to put the time in to be the best.’ “Building confidence takes time and effort. You have to be willing to change your thinking. You need to measure your progress. Ask yourself, ‘How much better am I than I was a year ago? What are some things that have improved a bit over the past month?’ Every little improvement bolsters confidence.”

Visualization: “Research shows that visualization increases motivation, improves focus, reduces anxiety and increases self-confidence. You want your mental images to be crystal clear, with vibrant colors. You want to hear the crowd, smell the dirt, feel the reins. See it in your mind as absolute perfection. Make sure it’s you performing perfectly and coming out on top. Start small and spend a few minutes and be consistent. As you become better at it, spend more time visualizing. It will pay off in the long run. If you are sick or injured and unable to physically practice, use visualization to stay in the game.

West Texas A & M News

Elizabeth Iandoli Enjoying College Life

Western States Championship Show

Entries Close Soon

With $5000 in prize money this show is shaping up to be a good one. Two Western States Shows (which count toward Year End awards), two AQHA show (get qualified for Amarillo next year) and two Ranching Heritage Shows. Also, a Jackpot Ranch on the Rail with Open, Amateur, and Youth Divisions. They have great RV spots but if that isn’t your thing, check out The Winnemucca Inn, host hotel. Don’t miss dinner at the Basque restaurant at The Martin Hotel. Winnemucca is closer than you think, make the drive and have a great time!

Quote of the Month