News

Friday 15 September 2006

Achieving your goals - can equestrian sports psychology help you? 25 October 2006 (7.30 pm)

Have you ever competed with your horse and wished that you could return and have another go? A familiar story for any rider – whether at a local show or international level. The difference between winning and losing, enjoying or not enjoying a performance can often be down to the mental outlook and skills of the rider.

Leading sports psychologist, Jennie Killilea is to give an evening talk to equine enthusiasts at Nottingham Trent University’s Brackenhurst campus. Jennie will talk about how top riders achieve their winning state of mind and guide the audience through how they can achieve their riding goals by controlling nerves, tackling competition pressures and getting into ‘the zone.’

A few years ago sports psychology was very new to equestrianism with many sceptics but interest and confidence in the field has grown. Leading riders have partly contributed their success to learning how to manage themselves in competition by developing coping strategies.

Jennie’s expertise is currently utilised by many top riders including those on the British Equestrian Federation’s World Class Start and Potential Schemes (Dressage, Show-Jumping, Eventing and Para Dressage). She helps stars of the future overcome nerves, tackle competition pressures, motivate themselves, and develop self and performance confidence.

With a masters degree in sport psychology and accredited by BASES (British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences) Jennie has competed at major three-day–events, and has represented Great Britain at the European Young Rider Championships. She also runs her own livery yard in Lancashire.

Carol Hall, Course Leader for BSc Equine Sports Science (Equestrian Psychology) in the University’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, said: “We’re delighted that Jennie is coming to our Brackenhurst campus to allow us to benefit from her experience and expertise. Sports psychologists can play a rewarding role in an athlete’s success and are increasingly recognised in the equestrian world. The University’s Equine Sports Science (Equestrian Psychology) degree has proved to be extremely popular demonstrating there is much interest in this as a challenging career.”

ENDS

Notes for editors: Tickets are available at a cost of £10 per person.

More information can be found at www.ntu.ac.uk/ares/equestrian_centre or by contacting Zoe Cobb, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Equestrian Centre, on telephone +44 (0)1636 817026, or via email: zoe.cobb@ntu.ac.uk.

Press enquiries please contact:

Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8774, or via email therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk.

Or Dave Rogers, Press Officer, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8782 or via email: dave.rogers@ntu.ac.uk.