Strides for Success

Author: Lorna Leeson

  • What’s Stopping You Getting Back in the Saddle After a Break?

    What’s Stopping You Getting Back in the Saddle After a Break?

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1283_Whats_Stopping_You_Getting_Back_to_Riding_after_a_Break.mp3″ title=”Figuring Out What’s Stopping You Getting Back to Riding After a Break” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” ]
    What stops riders from getting back in the saddle after a break? Returning to riding. I mean, if it was as easy as simply mounting up, everyone would do it, right? And yet, everyone doesn’t.
    In fact, so many riders sit on the sidelines of their proverbial horse-riding dream, forever wishing and waiting for the day to arrive when they will mount back up again. But that day, for many, never arrives.
    And for those who somehow do make it happen, the ‘return’ is often short-lived. A few initial rides. All motivation and inspiration. Rah rah excitement… Only for the whole dream to fizzle and burn out before it ever really got started.
    Getting back in the saddle after a break can seem daunting. However, understanding what’s blocking you and why can often highlight the way for riders to not only get started but to keep at it as well.

    Having No Space

    It’s funny how, as soon as you create ‘space’ in your day or your schedule, it gets filled up immediately with other stuff! This is due to a combination of being in the present and doing what you want to do, life happening, and the never-ending to-do list. However, for many lapsed riders, this can become the reason they struggle to get back into the saddle.
    The ‘space’ that riding used to occupy in your schedule or timetable is now filled with other activities, responsibilities, and commitments.
    And having to say no to these things to begin creating the space once again can feel uncomfortable. So it never gets done! Life goes on, time continues to pass, and you never find the time to get back to doing something you once loved – and now yearn to do again.

    Things are Different

    Circumstances will change. You are not the same person today that you were yesterday. Change is inevitable. And yet, when we think about doing something we used to do, we are often afraid of those changes and how they will impact the experience.
    Things will be different when you’re getting back to riding after a break. It could be the yard, the horse, the instructor, or your jodhpur size… You’re different.
    However, just because the circumstances have changed, doesn’t mean that you can’t have equally as fulfilling experiences riding this time around. If this hits close to home, I am going to suggest really thinking about what makes you uncomfortable when you think about getting back in the saddle. Identifying this can help you to really question how valid a fear it is…

    I’m Afraid…

    So we have said that things change. But for many ex-riders, it is the changes within their own bodies that hold them back from riding again. Whether it be that they are 30 years older now. Maybe there are health challenges. Or perhaps it’s lack of fitness or weight gain… Knowing, as you do, how physically taxing riding can be on the rider’s body can cause all of these circumstances to seem like a huge roadblock.
    Becoming older or less fit and supple can cause us to question our own abilities. Why not turn the question around and ask ‘How can I make horse riding work for this current version of me?’
    The irony of this particular challenge is that, very often, horse riding will actually become a catalyst for beginning to dedicate more time, care, and attention to your body. And while you will never be the same person you were when you first became a rider, you can begin to live more comfortably within the current body that you have.

    Getting Back in the Saddle After a Break

    I think that the key takeaway here is that things have changed. And when you eventually do (and I have all the faith in the world that you will ‘do’) get back in the saddle, things will be different.
    The horse may have changed. Maybe the yard or barn as well. And you will have changed. So why can’t the actual ‘horse riding’ change too?
    Rather than seeing getting back in the saddle after a break as being a challenge; why not see it as an opportunity? An opportunity for you to reimagine what horse riding is for you at this point in your life.
    Why not try a different discipline? A different style of riding even? And what’s to say you have to begin with riding at all; perhaps you will discover a love for groundwork or lunging. Natural horsemanship or therapy with horses.
    If you have been thinking about getting back in the saddle after a break, I am going to urge you to stop thinking and take action on that desire… https://returningtoriding.com
    Happy Riding
    Lorna
  • Identifying Why You’re Struggling with Coordination as a Rider

    Identifying Why You’re Struggling with Coordination as a Rider

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1282_Idenifying_Your_Coordination_Issues_when_Riding.mp3″ title=”Identifying Why You’re Struggling with Coordination when Riding” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” ]

    Horse riding is essentially about how we can communicate with our horses – while riding our horses. However, as riders, in order to be effective we need to first master some basic coordination. And therein lies the challenge! It is often this part of communication, the one between our brains and our bodies, that can cause the greatest issues when it comes to our effectiveness when in the saddle.

    Resulting in our lack of effective coordination creating havoc with our communication when riding our horse! 

    The lack of coordination really has a knock-on effect on all of the other parts of riding a horse.  From our balance to our confidence.  How we ask questions of our horses. And how we can respond when they answer.  If any one of these elements is negatively impacted by poor coordination, it will cause challenges for both the rider – and their horse.

     1. Identify the Trigger

    This is a big part of beginning to successfully improve your coordination as a rider.  In my experience, most riders are pretty okay with their coordination up to a certain point.  And it is at that point (which is unique to every rider) that things tend to begin going a little (or a lot) off plan!

    A trigger, for you, could be something physical, mental, or emotional. Meaning it could be a certain gait (like canter itself), a certain thought (I have to ask for canter), or a certain feeling (the fear of cantering). 

    The physical trigger shows up when your horse reaches a certain point with how much energy they are creating and using. Maybe a slow trot is fine, and you can still coordinate your aids effectively.  However, as soon as there is more energy inside of that trot, oh the issues, they come knocking!

    The mental and emotional triggers are often a little more challenging to identify, as it requires self-awareness regarding thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. However, they are just as disruptive to the overall flow of communication between you and your horse.

     2. Notice What Coordination is Affected

    Now, saying ‘I struggle with coordination’ is a little like saying ‘I struggle with confidence’ (something I hear so often from riders). It is just too open-ended and broad for anyone to give any real specific advice on how to improve coordination.  By being more specific, you can start working on certain movements where you can practice and improve your skills.

    Poor coordination can be knowing what you want to do, but not being able to do it.  Or struggling to move one limb – without moving another. It can be shifting your weight to compensate for weak muscle tone or strength.  Or even struggling to apply one aid without unintentionally doing something with another.

    Just like the triggers, there are so many different types of a lack of coordination when it comes to your riding.  Get really clear on what exactly or when exactly you struggle and start there. 

     3. Exercises to Help Strengthen & Improve

    Once you know where the issue with your coordination lies, you can now easily begin to work on it.  I am a big believer in creating situations where you get to ‘test’ yourself and practice the outcome you want.  Think about this in your riding.  What school moments can you ride that will require you to do something that you find a little challenging coordination-wise?

    It’s also worth noting that physical strength, fitness, and stamina play a huge role in coordination.  Even when the triggers are mental or emotional.  

    I would definitely advise you to do exercises outside of riding that will help you when you are in the saddle.  I personally love hiking over rough terrain and yoga.  They are both great for suppleness, stamina, strength, and overall fitness.

    4. Revisit and Refine

    Unfortunately, most riding issues are not a ‘fix one-time’ event!  They will repeat themselves a lot.  This is especially true when we ask new or bigger questions about ourselves or our horses in our riding.  This is why, again, I really do believe setting these situations up for yourself intentionally is the most effective way of improving.

    By intentionally putting ourselves in situations where our coordination may be questionable, we get to practice and become more effective.  

    This will also mean that when you find yourself being ‘tested’ unintentionally, there is a better chance of your body doing what you want and your horse understanding.  This is exactly what we want in these situations. This can always be improved by revisiting and refining the basics of your riding.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Other Resources on This Topic:-

    Training For Riders:-

     

  • Weaning Yourself from the Arena Markers

    Weaning Yourself from the Arena Markers

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1281_Weaning_Yourself_Off_the_Markers_in_the_Arena.mp3″ title=”Weaning You and Your Horse from the Arena Markers” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” ]

    Arena markers are a great tool when working on improving specific things in our riding. Whether it be rhythm and stride length. Or shapes of movements and shapes…  Using strategically placed markers can really improve the overall quality of the work you do with your horse.  However, just like all of the other artificial aids, we can sometimes become a little too dependent on arena markers in our riding.

    Remember, arena markers, just like all other artificial aids, are there to ‘back up’ or ‘strengthen your natural aids.  Meaning it is essential you are looking to eventually work without them.

    But working without arena markers can be very challenging for many riders!  In this snippet of a Connection Bonus Live training from December 2021, I discuss how you can begin to slowly, but effectively, remove the arena markers from your circles.  This is all without compromising the quality of the work and the training.

    Once again, this is a previously recorded training.  My voice is still quite hoarse.  I really do appreciate your patience with this and I hope it serves you.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    More on This Topic:-

    More Training & Support

  • Smoother Downward Transitions

    Smoother Downward Transitions

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1280_Removing_the_Handbrake_During_Downward_Transitions.mp3″ title=”Smoother Downward Transitions” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” ]

    There is a tendency for riders to ‘hold’ a little too much during the downward transitions.  And while the half halt is essential to the preparation and transition itself… Too much can lead to a very ‘stuck’ feeling when the horse actually makes it into the new gait!  A little like ‘stuck in the mud’.

    In this episode, I am releasing a Connection Bonus Live Call from June 2021.  This is due to an ongoing hoarse voice!  I hope you enjoy the ‘episode’ and that it is useful for you in your riding.

    The focus for the month inside of Connection was self-carriage through downward transitions.  In this particular call, I discuss ‘releasing the handbrake’, especially through the seat and hands, while riding the transition.  I do hope that you find this helpful for your downward transitions.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Get All Of The Training

    Join Connection today and get all of the audio horse riding lessons on this topic (and all the others I mention here today) to begin using in your riding.  Everything comes straight to your phone, via a private podcast feed.  There’s also extra bonus live training (like the excerpt above), live Q&A and so much more. All the details are over at https://stridesforsuccess.com/connection

    More on This Topic:-

    Additional Resources:-

  • I Don’t Have Enough Time to Ride…

    I Don’t Have Enough Time to Ride…

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1279_I_Dont_Have_Enough_Time_to_Ride.mp3″ title=”The ‘I Don’t Have Enough Time to Ride" Experiment ” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Step by step on how to find more time to ride your horse” hashtag=”equestrian #horsepodcast” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    A few months ago, I really felt the burden of guilt on my soul…  And during that time, my ‘whine’ was fairly constant; “I don’t have time to ride!’ Now, it is not lost on me the fact that I created all of this guilt myself. You see, whenever I was doing one thing, I was feeling like I ‘should’ have been doing something else.

    So, when I was with ‘The Boys’ (my children) I felt guilty because I ‘should‘ have been riding. And when I was at the stables and in the saddle, I felt guilty because I wasn’t ‘with‘ the children.  When I was working, I seemed to be continually thinking “I need to ride today”.  And, then when I was riding I berated myself over my lack of planning to bring a tripod, phone, and mic with me to create some videos for work.

    Why is it that, as riders, we can often feel so guilty about riding – or about not riding? And why do so many of us struggle with finding ‘enough’ time to ride? 

    Making a Decision

    So, in order to get past all of this – and quite frankly stop whining – I decided to tackle the mindset issue I’d created for myself. And this all began with making a decision. For me, the question really boiled down to “do I want to ride? Or not?” Now, obviously, there’s no right or wrong answer here… It simply comes down to making a decision based on my longer-term goals and vision. I also committed that I wouldn’t make this decision based on what I felt I ‘should’ do based on the circumstances at the time.

    Once I was truly able to decide whether or not I want to actually ride that particular week, I was then able to begin crafting a week that supported that decision, whatever I choose to do. 

    Also, once I made the decision, I made a commitment to myself to stick with it.  Meaning that if I choose “Yes, I do want to ride this week”, I was 100% committed to making this one of the top priorities for my week.  And, similarly, if I chose “No, I don’t want to ride this week, ” I was equally as committed to that.

    This meant that I didn’t revisit the decision over and over again, second-guessing myself at every available opportunity. 

    How Often Will I Ride?

    So, doing all of that, at this particular time in my life, I decided that most certainly “Yes; I do want to ride this week”. Phew, one thing off my mind and done with.  Now, this is where the real work began.  And I say ‘work’ because in order to make this a pleasant experience, I believe that there must be a little planning involved here. And a lot of discipline!

    The first thing to do was to figure out how important or how much of a priority my riding will be on this week.  My schedule is created with the most important things first… So, is riding my horse one of those things?

    For me, mealtime with the boys and Dion is a top priority. Also, some ‘quiet time’ in the mornings before everything else starts.  I have also recently committed to devoting more time to walking and hiking again. So, this is something I pencil in first in my schedule.

    Once all of my ‘top priorities’ are in, I then think about my other responsibilities and commitments.  It is easy to say that horse riding will be a top priority. However, if you have responsibilities at work that must be done at a certain time on certain days; I strongly suggest getting those on the calendar first. Otherwise, you will begin to feel that guilt creeping into your riding time again.

    So, for the sake of this little ‘experiment’, I committed to creating enough time to ride on 4 days that particular week. 

    I ideally would have liked 5… However, the season of my life at that point was (and still is) one where things can change at the drop of a hat (hello 2 young children, 2 businesses, and 2 farms; I’m looking at you!). 4 days felt (and usually still feels) manageable, a little bit of a stretch, but doable for me that week.

    What Will I Do?

    Okay, so once I had 4 days chosen and penciled into my schedule for the coming week, I had to go a little deeper.  You see, there is a temptation to think that, at this point, the job has been done.  Nope, this is only the halfway point.

    In order for the week to mean something for me and my horse, I needed to have an idea of what we would be working on. 

    At that particular point in time, the weeks leading up to ‘my new week’ had been focused on creating a more established rhythm in the trot.  The particular horse I was planning on working with is 5-gaited.  And while she only ever displays the normal walk, trot, and canter in the field.  She can begin to ‘triple’ when she becomes unbalanced while being ridden.  At that point, we were also working on increasing the responsiveness to the seat aids.  She had been used in the riding school for some time and quite a few things need some tuning up again!

    Knowing what I wanted to work on for the week, I was then able to choose 4 simple exercises that either directly addressed the topics, or complimented them. 

    I chose a mixture of ground pole exercises and also included some lateral work to help establish and maintain the rhythm.  And, I also began tracking how each session went, so I could create some feedback for myself going forward.

    Applying Discipline…

    Now, for me, this is the final ‘commitment’ I had to make to myself.  Being disciplined enough to honestly assess if something is truly a reason or an excuse! Let me explain.  So, I’ve mentioned that things are busy.  They are now, and they were then.  I am pretty sure you are in the same boat, right?  And when things are busy, I often find that other things can ‘crop up’.  Unexpected things.

    Part of having enough time to ride involves honestly assessing these ‘things’ and deciding if they are more important than the commitment you have already made to yourself and your horse. 

    Obviously, there are certain things like someone becoming ill and needing to be taken to a doctor, vet, or, hospital.  I say vet because often it can be our pets that need support and assistance as well. However, an invitation to go for coffee and a chat? Hmmm… That would fall under ‘practice more discipline and say no’ for me!  What I decided to do was to actually list the things that, if they showed up, I was okay with changing my riding schedule for.  Sick children and sick animals are just two of those things.  I have a few more, I’m sure you will too.

    By thinking about and planning for my acceptable ‘reasons’ beforehand, it makes it easier to say yes or no during the week.  Especially when I may be feeling tired, lazy, or uninspired – and the ‘excuse’ to not ride is a tempting one!

    Additional Commitments

    Finally, in order to make this a more enjoyable experience (especially when I was feeling tired and under pressure), I created a few little extras for myself.  Sort of like extra ‘clauses’ to help seal the deal! I know, it seems odd.  However, I also know myself and I know what is most likely to crop up for me on any given week…

     1. I am not allowed to moan or complain about ‘not having enough time to ride’.

    I allow myself to question how I can move, rearrange, barter, or reschedule different things in order to create time. Especially if I feel that the schedule I created at the start of the week is not working out as planned.

    However, there is absolutely no room for complaining or thinking negatively about the time that I have committed to my riding.  There is enough time to ride!   That feels good :)

     2. I have choosen a groundwork exercise to use, if necessary, in 15 minutes or less

    You know as well as I do all about ‘best-laid plans’ and how things can tend to go sideways very easily! So, in order to be prepared for this, I usually know exactly what I will work on with my horse if I do find myself within 20 minutes or so.  For me, it usually is based around lunging over ground poles or working on lateral work in hand on the ground.

    This way, even if time does feel a little ‘tight’ and restrictive, I can still get some quality work done with my horse.  Work that will move us along.  I am all about ‘creating stepping stones’ :)

     3. Informing my VIPs of my decisions (and asking for support if necessary)

    Finally, even though it’s only me and my horse when we are working together… This impacts the rest of my family.   I feel that it is important to inform all my VIPs about any decisions and/or commitments that, potentially, impact them.  This is a way to work around any potential conflicts that might show up before they actually do.  And also, a great way to keep accountable!

    In order for me to create enough time to ride and for it to be sustainable, I must make sure that I don’t create resentment toward my riding.  Either from me or my close family.  If horse riding is to remain fun and exciting, it must also work with my top priorities. And, again, for me, this is my family.

    Join me on the Journey…

    So, all of that being said, if creating enough time to ride is something you have also felt challenged by, use this template to help you. You can download a free worksheet I’ve created for you to help you make the decisions and plan the rides HERE

    For more ‘behind the scenes’ of what I am doing throughout each week, join me inside of Connection. Oh, and you will also get audio horse riding lessons to work on with your horse. Trust me, having something specific to practice (with step-by-step guidance) is half the battle :)

    You can also reach out to me on the socials by posting in our FB Group HERE, on Instagram HERE, and on the Strides for Success FB Page HERE.  I would love to hear what your decision is and what you’re doing to keep on track…

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Additional Resources:-

  • Horse Riding as a Parent – How to Make It Work

    Horse Riding as a Parent – How to Make It Work

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1278_Horse_Riding_as_a_Parent_Making_it_Work_for_You.mp3″ title=”Horse Riding as a Parent – Making it Work” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Blending horse riding and parenting… This might help you :)” hashtag=”horseriding #parenting #equestrianpodcast” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    Can I tell you something funny?  Years ago, before I had children, I was one of ‘those’ people. You know the ones that say “when I have children, I will have them at the stables with me all the time because nothing will change”.  I usually followed it up with something offhand like “they will fit in with my schedule”.  Ha, ha, ha!! Oh, how naive it was back then!

    If you are trying to juggle horse riding and parenting, you will know all too well that they can often clash. The time, focus, and attention that is necessary to really improve as a rider can often leave us feeling like we’re stealing time from our children!  Or that our children are stealing valuable ‘riding time’ from us!

    Finding time to devote to your riding when you are a parent can truly be a challenge

    However, by setting a few healthy boundaries, becoming more disciplined with your time, and a lot of luck, it can be done 🙂

    Horse riding as a Parent

    Before I had my children, I had this wonderful story in my head of how things would be if I became a mother someday… This generally involved lots of laughter, riding together in nature, peace and tranquillity, and little people who were very capable from the get-go. I know, if you have small children, trust me we are laughing together other now!

    For me, the biggest challenge has been merging the consistency required for horse riding as a parent with the responsibilities of being an actual parent!

    I have found that no matter how well I plan or try to cover all of my bases with regards to ‘what might happen’, children are wonderful at creating new scenarios that I never even considered up to that point!

    Couple this with them wanting to accompany me to the stables ALL OF THE TIME, and then help them work with their ponies… Time spent in the saddle really does begin to take a knock. And this is not even mentioning being able to focus and physically ‘ride’ after a couple of hours of broken sleep. Or squeezing rides in between meals, car drives, and all the other wonderful things that life with children introduces!

    However, after speaking with other brave souls who are committed to horse riding as a parent, and blending their advice with what I have found to work, I have become a lot more successful in making this happen.

    1. Be Flexible – and Expect the Unexpected!

    This has probably been the most useful advice for me as I continue to navigate the whole horse riding as a parent journey. You see, I would find myself feeling more frustrated than compassionate when unexpected things showed up.

    By shifting my focus to appreciating the days when the plan worked, I found I was much more relaxed when faced with the days that it didn’t!

    I realize that gratitude is a word that has been bandied around a little too much over the past few years. However, noticing and appreciating the days that I was able to ride really did help me shift my mindset.

    Being grateful for the days I got to ride also helped me to be more focused, disciplined, and intentional with my time in the saddle as well

    2. Have a Plan for Your Rides

    Once I got over the frustration of not being able to stick to my plan, I began to plan a little differently. And I would highly suggest this way of doing things if you have a schedule that may also change suddenly.

    I began to keep a list of things that I wanted to work on or do during my ‘riding time’. There were 3 ‘groups’ of topics depending on how much time I found myself at the yard

    You see, once I began to truly embrace horse riding as a parent, I realized that there was value in the smaller pockets of time in my life. 10 minutes alone took on a whole new meaning for me! So, I began to plan accordingly!

    My list had things I could do in 15, 30, or 1 hour or less. Each of those groups had riding, groundwork, and stable management items on them

    By doing this, I found I always had something meaningful to do, even if my plan changed at the drop of a hat. It also allowed me to make the absolute most of the time I did have with my horses. Get a list of 80+ Topics to do with your horse HERE

    1278 - Horse Riding as a Parent

    3. Get Support & Set Boundaries

    Support can be a tricky one, especially when young children are involved. It can be as simple as asking a grandparent to watch the children one afternoon a week, to paying a babysitter. Support can also come from your partner or the child’s other parent.

    What I suggest doing is creating a list of all the ways you can free up some pockets of time for yourself to ride your horse, from the easiest to maybe some less ideal or likely situations. Then begin asking…

    I also found that making my horse riding a ‘non-negotiable’ really worked for me. Seeing it as an important appointment that I couldn’t just cancel on a whim. This helped me to prioritize a little better, which often meant creating stronger boundaries.

    You can create boundaries for both yourself and those around you. And keep in mind, your boundaries will only be as effective as how well you decide on them, communicate them, and enforce them…

    4. Involve Your Children

    This might not always go to plan, especially if you have this perfect picture in your head as I had before children! However, if you are realistic and patient, this can really be worth your while. Be realistic with your expectations of each visit to the yard with your children. They will most likely want it to be all about them and their pony, so allow for that.

    Plan activities that you can do together so you can spark curiosity in your child. Think about things that are safe and also a little mentally or physically challenging for them

    Remember, this won’t be the day that you will get a huge amount of focused, uninterrupted riding time in! However, it might just be a stepping stone for your child to begin becoming an independent equestrian in their own right.

    It’s also worth remembering that as your child grows, they will have their own opinions, likes, methods, and beliefs about horse riding – and they might not always line up with yours!

    Try not to crush their enthusiasm by dictating the terms of their relationship with their horse. Rather see your role as a guide. At the end of the day, they are on their own journey as a rider. Encourage rather than cut down and stifle.

    5. Be Patient… This Will Also Change

    My final piece of advice is to simply be patient.  And, most of the time, accept the situation you find yourself in. Horse riding as a parent can either be one of the things that will propel your riding and your development forward. Or see you being endlessly frustrated and annoyed with your current circumstances.

    Be honest with yourself; some days your responsibilities as a parent will mean that you won’t get to do what you wanted to with your horse

    And that is okay… I like to think of my life as a series of seasons. Different areas are in different seasons at any one time. And this means that when I’m experiencing summer and growth in one area, there will be winter and hibernation in another.

    By getting truly clear on your priorities, and your values, and then creating goals that align with those, you can make horse riding as a parent work for you and your family.

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

    More on this Topic

    More Training & Support