How often have you felt overwhelmed about remembering and doing all of the things when it comes to your riding? Perhaps you find yourself looking at more experienced riders and wondering “How do they do it?”. Maybe you feel at a loss because “As soon as I start with something different, it all falls apart.”. Or for you it could just be “I just can’t remember to do all of the things at the same time!!!”. This is a very real part of the riding journey for all riders. It’s a phase you have to go through if you want to improve and succeed as a ‘rider’.
Take a deep breath, because you’re definitely not alone. In fact, feeling overwhelmed, especially when you’re still learning all of the things is a natural part of the riding journey. Every single rider—yes, even those more experienced riders you admire—has faced these exact frustrations.
One of the key differences between struggling riders and those who appear effortlessly successful comes down to one key thing: putting better habits on autopilot – and your thoughts can help you do just that…
Why Thoughts Matters (Not Just in the Saddle!)
Here’s the truth: your thoughts and how you think about your riding significantly influences how you ride. Your thoughts produce your emotions, which result in the actions you take. And over time, those actions become habits! Which means putting better habits on autopilot is mental as much as it’s physical.
And improving your thoughts isn’t simply about positive thinking; it’s about your automatic responses and mental habits, especially when things don’t go exactly as planned.
Unfortunately, when you become stressed or feel overwhelmed while riding, your brain will naturally resort back to autopilot – which means that if you have not set up good ‘mental’ habits, the result is probably not what you want.
If your habits in general are not actively helping you through these stressful situations, things will begin to go sideways – fast! However, when you begin to intentionally create helpful mental habits, put better habits on autopilot, chances are that you’ll be much more successful in handling the challenges that come up. Both mentally and physically.
And, here’s something to get excited about, you don’t have to wait until you’re sitting on your horse to start! You can begin creating and developing better, more useful mental habits today – any time and any where.
Consistency: Your Thought’s Friend
Becoming a rider who feels confident in your own abilities to positively influence your horse, no matter the situation, requires practice. Regular, consistent practice of the right things.
It’s only by doing this over and over again that you will begin seeing what perhaps initially felt difficult to practice, become easier – and over time become automatic.
Think about it this way: confident, successful riders don’t spend their entire ride thinking about their posture, their aids, or their balance. They have already devoted time to putting better habits on autopilot because they practiced the right things consistently until they became second nature.
This simple fact then frees up their attention to focus on other things – usually how to become a more positive influence on their horse and developing how well they are working together.
Putting Better Habits on Autopilot – Now
Ready to start changing your riding experience? Here’s a straightforward exercise to help you begin developing better mental habits:
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Identify a Trigger:
Start by identifying one thing that consistently triggers a less-than-ideal reaction in your riding. It could be your horse speeding up, asking for a transition into canter, working over ground poles, your balance shifting unexpectedly, or even negative self-talk like “I’ll never get this right.”
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Visualize the Situation Clearly:
Once you have identified one single thing to work on, imagine you’re watching a video of yourself riding. Think Start your ‘video’ from a point where everything is going well. Then, let the “video” play until it reaches the moment when things start to go sideways. Watch closely. What exactly is happening?
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Slow Down the Replay:
Replay your video again, but this time, slow everything down. Notice what physically changes right before things go wrong. Maybe you tense your shoulders, lean forward, hold your breath, or even start gripping with your knees. The key here is to really get clear on exactly what you’re doing that causes things to go ‘sideways’.
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Think of Alternatives:
Now, and this is important, intentionally think of different ways you could respond, use, or move your body in that situation. If you usually tense up, imagine yourself taking a deep breath, expanding through your body and then letting the tension release with it as you breath out.
Maybe you know that just before transitions, you have a tendency to lean forward. This time, rather think about lengthening and elongating through your body. Imagine yourself sitting tall and balanced. You might even draw inspiration from another rider who handles similar situations confidently.
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Replace and Replay: Putting the Better Habits on Autopilot!
Now, once you have an alternative that works, begin replaying your mental video over again. But this time you’re replacing whatever it is that you usually do with a new, intentional response. I’m going to be honest, this can be difficult initially – take it slowly. One step at a time.
Once you have it ‘created’ in your head, try to replay it a few times until it begins to feel ‘real’. This is where you are beginning to believe that it’s possible. And your mind must believe it if your body is to make it happen.
Struggle with Visualization?
If visualization is challenging, don’t worry! There are other ways of making this happen.
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- Write down the steps; like a story. What is now happening and then what you want to happen. The key is to add as much detail in here as possible. Reread it over to yourself numerous times.
- Talk through the situation. I have found that talking to my horse helps here. Especially when I’m in the ‘thick of it’. I simply tell my horse what I usually do – in great detail. And then I begin telling them about what I’m going to do differently and change this time. I also include how this will play out or result in a different outcome for both of us. This has the added benefit of keeping you breathing as well!
- Watch an actual video of yourself doing the thing that you want to change. Then watch a video of another rider handing the same situation in a much more effective and positive way. Over time, from paying close attention to what the other rider is doing to get the better result, you will begin to change your actions as well.
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“But it ‘Feels’ Uncomfortable!” Good :)
Here’s something crucial to remember: it’s okay to feel mentally uncomfortable as you go through this process. Honestly highlighting the parts of your riding that you’d rather keep hidden is not going to be easy or feel good! Mentally you might find yourself squirming! Embarrassed or frustrated are also common feelings to experience.
However, that discomfort is just temporary—it won’t last forever. And it’s mental – not physical. What is exciting to realize is that feeling this way is a great indicator that you’re actually making progress!
Hiding or burying all of the things that are holding you back as a rider is wasting your time – as well as your horses and your instructors! Be brave and face up to the things. Every rider has these things. Once you can see them for what they are – habits that are no longer serving you – you can let all of that shame or annoyance about them fade away.
You’re simply choosing to replace outdated habits with ones that actually serve you at this point in your riding.
Your Action Step for Today
Pick one trigger today and run it through this process. Commit just 10 minutes to intentionally practicing your new better habit to put on autopilot. Set a timer if it helps. The goal is to do this consistently, making these responses second nature and putting your mindset firmly on autopilot.
Anything that you physically do that has a bit of a repetitive rhythm or sequence to it can really help this to stick for you.
I find driving or walking to be great times to do this type of work. So too is mucking out, grooming, ironing, folding clothes, gardening… The options are endless. The question is, are you willing to do the work?
Take the Next Step—Join the Waitlist!
Ready to truly transform your riding experience? Make sure you pop your name onto the waitlist for the upcoming Returning to Riding Program. This is where you get to identify what’s going on with your riding (both what’s working and what’s not) and then begin working on ways to improve.
The program is there to help you transform from being a passenger in the saddle, to showing up as a confident, consistent rider who can begin working on how to positively influence your horse.
When you sign up for the waitlist, you’ll be the first to receive details about my exclusive new live webinar, designed to give you actionable insights and inspiration you can start using immediately. Join the Returning to Riding Waitlist HERE
Happy Riding
Lorna
More Episodes on This Topic
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- Click Your Fingers Rule to Put Your Position on Autopilot in Your Riding
- Are you ‘Sitting There’? How to Know if You’re Stuck in Passenger Mode
- Back to Riding; Improve Your Seat, Hands, and Balance on Day 1
- Applying the Click Your Fingers Rule to Your Position While Riding
- Free Walking & Yoga Equestrian Fitness Challenge
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Online Training to Help Your Riding
Connect with Lorna online:-
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- Connect in the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast
- Connect in the Virtual Stable Lounge Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499737810323191
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