From Daisy Peel-- Since taking your seminar and making it a goal to focus on and take control of the principles of Mental Management for myself, I have been much more successful at local trials and at big events. Fly and I were in the AKC Nationals finals in early 2006 and came in second place by one tenth of a second. Most importantly, though, was that the entire weekend of competition was like a dream, where I was cool, calm, and collected, and nothing stood in the way of my making it in to the finals with Fly. Of five rounds of competition, he placed first in three of those rounds, out of many many dogs. I don't know that we were any faster or better than any of those other teams, but I DO know that our mental game was stronger. This past November, Fly made it to the finals at USDAA Nationals for a third time. My only goal in the finals was to finally throw the USDAA Nationals monkey off of my back and prove for once and for all that the pattern of mentally overheating at big events was OVER. We qualified and came in tenth place overall - not a podium win, but worth more than first place to me!
My young dog, Jester, has benefited tremendously from the very beginning of his competitive career as a result of my improved mental game, thanks to the principles of Mental Management. As a two year old, he qualified for and attended the AKC World Team Tryouts in May of 2006, and although he did not make the team, he put in a very respectable performance for a dog so young. This past year at USDAA Nationals, he made it to the $10,000 Steeplechase Finals. My whole mindset had changed; "the win" was no longer the most important thing to me. Doing my best under pressure, and providing a positive experience to my young dog to encourage *him* to do his best under pressure were the most important things to me. Jester and I came in fifth place in the Steeplechase finals, competing against some of the best and most seasoned competitors and dogs in the world. Truly, attainment is a more important, and a more enjoyable feeling than achievement alone could ever be.
There are many agility competitors out there who can relate -competitors who have discovered a passion for a sport but who have no prior experience with competition or the competitive spirit that awakes within them. Technical skill and great training will only go as far as your mental game will allow them to - without focusing on your mental game you will never maximize your potential! I wouldn't be where I am today technically without the help of some incredible trainers, and I wouldn't be where I am today competitively without the help of Mental Management Systems. Thank you Mental Management, and thank you Lanny. ...Daisy Peel Dog Agility Champion
Read Daisy's entire comments.
 As seen in Clean Run Magazine
Lanny Bassham is a featured writer for Clean Run magazine.
We've had an incredible response to Lanny's articles that have been published in the magazine. His advice is useful not just for agility competitors who want to prepare themselves for national or world competition, but also for the weekend warriors who need to get a handle on the stress and pressure they feel every time they step to the line. As many agility competitors discover, the mind can be our harshest critic in this sport. Lanny's books, CDs, and articles can teach us how to silence those nagging doubts that emerge to undermine our confidence as well as how to transform our weaknesses into strengths.
Monica Percival, Editor Clean Run magazine
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