annamitchell

Preparation Or Procrastination?

As far as I am concerned, lack of preparation is the root of all evil when it comes to achieving peak performance. There is little else that will cause more anxiety than entering an important event feeling unprepared. Sometimes, however, we may use "preparation" as a crutch or an excuse to never get started at all. If you are stuck in the preparation stage, it may be time to start before you are ready.

drjustinhigh eh

When the Weather Changes

I'm sure you've all heard the old saying, "If you don't like the weather in Texas, just wait a few minutes and it'll change." Well, over the last few weeks that saying has never been truer. From a horseman's standpoint, the dramatic shifts in temperature, wind speed, pollen count and humidity have been showing up in a variety of different ailments. Horses tend to have times of the year when respiratory infections are more common, other times runny eyes and noses flare up because of allergens.

annamitchell

Get Your Game Plan On

Many people head off to the grocery store with a list in hand, or at least in mind, while others prefer to just turn up and wing it. While “winging it” in the grocery store might work out OK for you, I strongly caution the use of this tactic in performance.

Finding Common Ground

stacy-pigott-little-rocket-andyMy first horse, Little Rocket AndyLast month, I had the pleasure of attending the 2013 AQHA Convention in Houston, Texas. This isn’t the first year I’ve been to the convention, but it is the first year I was able to stay for its entirety – from the opening comments to the closing remarks, and everything in between.

My favorite part of the convention had to be Friday afternoon’s forum, which was dedicated to equine welfare. Dr. Tom Lenz, of Zoetis (formerly Pfizer Animal Health), gave a presentation on the science and emotion of equine welfare. I wish it were possible to put his entire presentation in print form, so all of you could read what he had to say. 

annamitchell

Creating a Motivational Climate

One theory in sport psychology suggests that athletes may differ in their predisposed goal orientation. Essentially, the aim of setting goals is to achieve “something,” but how do we define achievement? Whether we succeed or fail depends on our perception of whether we have reached our personal goals or not. This being the case, what I consider to be a success may be a total failure to you, depending on how we each define success and failure.

annamitchell

What’s In Your Toolkit?

What an astute statement by Abraham Maslow. Too often we fall into this trap whether in the show pen or in the board room. Once we find a method or technique that seems to work or feels comfortable, we apply it to every situation. It seems like many of us get to a certain level of expertise, then just stop learning. 

Be Heard

On March 5, during the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Convention, I posted a question on the Quarter Horse News Facebook page, asking: “Would you support mandatory five-panel genetic testing in order to register an American Quarter Horse?” I posed the question because, the day prior, I sat in on a meeting of the AQHA’s Stud Book and Registration Committee. Topics on the agenda included three proposed rule amendments relating to genetic testing and AQHA registration. The first proposal was to make the genetic panel test mandatory for all future registrations; require placement of the genetic panel test results on the registration certificate; and waive testing of offspring of parents who are N/N for all genetic diseases on the genetic panel test. The other two proposals more specifically singled out the genetic disease heredity equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA) and descendants of the stallion Poco Bueno.
annamitchell

Hanging In There

annamitchellI love Facebook. I come across all kinds of pearls of wisdom from the general masses and keep up to date with irrelevant information that I never needed to know in the first place. Occasionally though, something catches my eye and I read a quote from ncsasports.org this week that did just that —"It's hard to beat a person who never gives up."

SPigott

Consider The Facts

SPigottQHN Editor Stacy PigottFor the past couple of years, my full-time job has been in the Quarter Horse racing industry. To be a magazine editor, you have to immerse yourself in the industry on which you are reporting, getting down to the nitty gritty. During those years, my role in the Western performance horse industry was relegated to that of casual observer, rather than active participant.

That all changed when I came to Quarter Horse News. My interest in Quarter Horse racing now takes a backseat to the Western disciplines of cutting, reining and reined cow horse. My primary goal over the past month has been to bone up on what has taken place in the last few years with regards to those industries.