If you’re anything like me, you are the most critical judge that you could ever have. It’s easy to get lost in the desire to look a certain way, ride a certain way, or progress at a certain pace. Almost always, that can be detrimental to both you and your horse’s success. Having expectations and goals for your riding can be a healthy and viable way to progress. The problem arises when we begin to compare our unique equine paths with others. Don’t get me wrong: There’s nothing inherently bad with appreciating other rider’s feats, but the moment you compare yourself and another rider, you’ll always lose.
Riding is such a unique sport for a plethora of reasons. It includes the staples of any sport including teamwork, communication, dedication, and skill. Yet, the inability to vocally communicate with your immediate partner adds an extra challenge for a riding pair. Riding, no matter the discipline, sets equestrians apart from other sports because of this. Think of how impressive our problem solving skills are. I bet we can all think of a moment when dealing with our horses that we had to solve a problem (and came out on top because of it). It’s important to remember that riding is a mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual activity. We solve our problems through critical thinking, emotional awareness, horse theory application, and herd dynamics understanding.
Even with all of that in our minds, its way too easy to forget it. So, what are some tangible solutions that we can start to implicate in our lives. For me, it’s been creating a riding system. You can call it a game plan, goal list, or a general timeline if you prefer. But a riding system to me is a comprehensive plan that acknowledges the strength and weakness of both the rider and the horse individually and as a pair. It about creating a plan of action that you can use to gauge your progress over any length of time. (I’ll be going more in depth about my riding system with Maverick in another post).
Additionally, keeping a riding journal/agenda is something definitely worth considering. I love the idea of coming fresh off a ride and jotting down the achievements, setbacks, and future plans swirling around in my head. If you have a coach or trainer, ask them: “What is the main area of improvement for my next ride?”. Think to yourself, What went well in today’s ride? What didn’t? and How are we going to improve both for the next ride”? Soon, you’ll start to see a pattern in your abilities and your horse’s. You’ll start to optimize your time in the saddle. Annnd, you’ll build a stronger relationship with your horse too! And honestly, that’s what it’s all about.
This is a great tool whether you rider professionally or recreationally. You don’t have to be an Olympic level rider to want the best out of you and your horse’s time together. Even equine hobbyists benefit from riding systems. Don’t forget that even relaxed rides can still serve a purpose and goal. It’s just about finding that goal and working with your horse to achieve it.
I’d also recommend taking a video of yourself riding if you are able to. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy or some special camera. As long as you are in the frame, you’re good. After every ride, I watch the videos I’ve recorded to analyze me equitation, general performance level, Mav’s mood and movements, and our overall cohesiveness. It allows me to see myself from the perspective of a spectator which is so helpful. Sometimes, when we are in the saddle, it can be hard to recognize how what we are doing affects our horse and our ride. Being able to see that from the ground is an amazing learning tool for every rider.
So, when we think we aren’t progressing as well as we should, it’s important to remember how far we’ve come and how far we’ll go. Some good first steps are to start finding concrete ways to enhance your rides and shifting your perspective. Before you know it, you’ll be lightyears away from where you thought you were.
Love, Tameka