Featured Speaker for the Annual Meeting!

Managing Your Mental Game!

MSEDA is pleased to announce that Abigail Lufkin will be one of two featured speakers at the MSEDA Annual Meeting on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at the Marriott Griffin Gate.

Managing Your Mental Game!

MSEDA is pleased to announce that Abigail Lufkin will be one of two featured speakers at the MSEDA Annual Meeting on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at the Marriott Griffin Gate.

"Abigail brings something new to the table. As a former USET rider, Abigail represented the United States in the World Championships and the Pan American Games on two occasions.  Now fully trained and working as a Sports Psychology Consultant, she joins us to focus on our mental game. If you think your nerves are bad before you head into the ring for your Novice dressage test, try getting ready for a test with the weight of the entire team riding on your shoulders!"

Abigail Lufkin began riding at age 3 and began competing in horse trials when she was 11.  Abigail had substantial success as a young rider, winning multiple gold and silver medals at the North American Young Rider’s championships.  She competed extensively in the United States and Europe with top 10 finishes at such events as Rolex, Fair Hill, Blenheim, Luhmulen and Saumur.  Abigail won medals at the Pan American games, competed at the World Championships and was selected for the 2000 Olympic team in Sydney before having to withdraw due to her horse sustaining an injury.   Abigail began using sports psychology to enhance her own performance in 1996 and worked with several Olympic caliber sports psychologists.  Upon retiring from eventing, Abigail received her Masters degree in clinical psychotherapy and continued to study sports psychology.  She resides in Santa Monica, California where she has her own sports psychology consulting practice.

"Many riders have similar skill level and talent, so what makes some people successful while others always seem to struggle? Very simply, winning athletes have mastered the ability to consistently create a mental state that allows them to achieve their potential, maximize their training time, and utilize all of their hard-earned skills. Just as you can learn how to do a shoulder-in or count down a five stride line, you can teach your mind to be your ally rather than your enemy."

“Many athletes and coaches will tell you that success is at least 50 if not 90 percent mental, and yet we devote so little time to our mental preparation,” she continued. “Most of us, however, aren’t even aware of our mental game. Whether your goal is the Olympics, the Area championships, or your first Novice, actively developing your mental capacity can lead to tremendous improvement, success and enjoyment.”

Join Abigail at the MSEDA Annual Meeting to improve your mental game with positive philosophies so you too can be a winner in 2009!