If you ride bulls for long enough, you will go through a slump. When you are in a slump, you don’t know how you got in it and you feel like it will never end. You may feel like you need to change your equipment, clothes, haircut, or even your name to get out of it. You may even feel like you’ve lost your ability to ride. Don’t panic and don’t do anything drastic, because there are ways to get out of and prevent a slump.

1. Drill, Drill, Drill. Go back to the basics. Get on a drop barrel and do the basic drills that you learned when you first started to ride bulls. Hopefully you learned the right techniques, if not, check out the videos at BullRiderCoach.com. Do drills straight jump and kick, into your hand, and away from your hand 3 times a day for 5 minutes at a time. Video yourself riding the drop barrel or have a friend watch you to tell you if you are using the right technique. Create the right habits and override the bad ones by repetitiously training.
2. Visualize. Get that perfect ride in your mind. Think of it like a movie. Try to think about as many details as you can. Think about the sights and sounds, the smells and senses. Think about how you feel as you get your equipment ready, put your rope on the bull, slide down on the bull, and nod your head. Think about matching the bull jump for jump and you ride effortlessly. Visualize yourself all the way through the get off. This will take practice, but the more you do it, the easier it will be. Play the movie just before bed and right before you get on a bull.
3. Positive in, positive out. Surround yourself with positive influences. Listen to positive music, watch positive shows, and be around positive people. It is especially important that you speak positively in your mind and in your words aloud. Negativity only strengthens a slump.
4. Build Confidence. Get on some easy practice bulls that will build your confidence and remind you of why you love to ride bulls. Winning is fun, and riding a bull is like winning a challenge. Relax and have fun.

These are the surest ways of getting out of a slump fast and staying out of one for longer periods of time. Be committed enough to put these techniques to work all the time so that you are always ready for the next bull. You will get out of the slump, Champions always do!