Strides for Success

Tag: anxiety

  • Are You Bracing when Working with Your Horse?

    Are You Bracing when Working with Your Horse?

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    As riders, we tend to get to a point in our riding where we would much prefer it if our horse did not anticipate the upcoming movement or question. This is usually because it causes a lack of suppleness; physically and mentally. However, as riders, we are actually doing the same thing more than a lot of us are willing to admit!

    Have you ever found yourself expecting something to go wrong before it even happens? Well, whether you realise it or not, in that moment, you’re probably bracing!

    In this post, I want to explore the idea of bracing vs. embracing (rather than just relaxation), and how it is having a huge undercurrent on all of the training and work you’re doing with your horse. I also want to argue for embracing the moment and how this could be the single biggest shift you can make in your training this year.

    What Is Bracing?

    Bracing is a contraction.  It’s that tightening, restricting, protective posture we automatically shift into when we expect impact. And so often, we do this without even realising it!  Physically, it might look and feel like a clenched jaw, tight shoulders, locked elbows, gripping with your thighs and knees (turning into a clothes peg on your horse’s back!), or holding your breath.

    But bracing isn’t just physical. It also shows up mentally and emotionally, especially when you expect the worst, worry about the consequences or results, and try to control EVERYTHING! 

    It’s a fear or anxiety-based response that is so often linked to a past experience that didn’t go well. This past experience might not even be to do with horses. However, your mind and body ‘braced’ and this worked in that situation. So, you now believe that “this keeps me safe.”

    But when bracing becomes your default response to uncertainty, challenges, or a specific situation, it stops helping and starts hurting your progress.

    Why Bracing Becomes a Problem

    So aside from expecting the worst, there are other issues with bracing when working with your horse. Lack of feel, softness, and connection are the three big challenges! And when you work with your horse, whether on the ground or in the saddle, these qualities are essential to develop and improve.

    Your horse reads your body language like a book. Which means that when you ‘brace’, your horse feels it. And because many horses are masters at mirroring, they’ll often respond with tension or resistance.

    Which is often the key reason that the ‘worst thing’ you were has the potential to begin playing out! And remember, not because of your horse, but more to do with the energy you brought to the moment! Your bracing ends up becoming a self-fulfilled prophecy!

    This can play out in so many different areas of groundwork and riding. Upward transitions are often a great example of this. A rider asks for trot or canter, but as soon as the horse responds with energy, the rider braces! It’s like saying ‘go’, but then immediately changing your mind and shouting ‘no’! They tighten the reins, lock their back.  And the horse says, “Hold on… Didn’t you just ask me to go?”

    Confusion sets in, tension rises and the rider becomes frustrated. All while, over time, the horse becomes resistant.

    What Bracing Blocks

    Okay, so let’s be honest – bracing is literally you avoiding some sort of a perceived collision or interaction with someone or something. It is you ‘backing off’ whatever it is you think is coming. So when you brace, you block all of the good things that are necessary to ride ‘through’ something. Things like:-

          • Energy
          • Flow
          • Connection
          • Rhythm
          • Suppleness
          • Trust

    This is why bracing becomes a bigger problem over time, especially when your horse learns to anticipate your bracing. When your horse begins to expect that response from you. Horses are really good pattern-readers. This is how we work with them by setting expectations.

    Except when your horse begins to expect a block every time you ask a specific question…  He is soon not going to respond the way you want but rather the way you ‘expect’. 

    So, if everytime when you’re out on a hack, another horse whinny’s in the distance, and you clamp the reins, your horse begins to learn that this ‘hardness’ is your response to this. Obviously, this is a reaction from you. But your horse sees it as a response.  Soon, you’ll find that you’re not just riding the horse; you’re riding the pattern you’ve both unknowingly created.

    What’s the Opposite of Bracing?

    Now, most instructors will say “relaxing.”. And I myself have also said this for years. “Try to relax a little more as you ask for the transition into canter” is something I know I have repeated on many occasions! And yes, relaxation is important. But it’s not the real opposite of bracing.

    The true opposite of bracing is embracing. To actively remain open, stay present and curious, and to remain connected. To be self-aware enough to go with the movement and the moment. 

    Think about the last time you physically embraced someone or something. Maybe it was a hug, a smile, a decision to walk through the door instead of run! You weren’t trying to control it, but rather allowing the moment to unfold.  That’s the energy we need to bring into our riding and interactions with our horses.

    Embracing When Riding

    So, instead of gripping with your legs, you soften your calves, knees, and thighs, which allows the energy to flow and the movement to work forward. Instead of locking down your elbows, you allow your hands to follow your horse’s movement.  Rather than white-knuckling the lead rope because another horse is showing off in the field nearby, you breathe and say, “It’s okay. We see it. But we’re still here.”

    Embracing doesn’t mean you like everything that happens.  It means you’re willing to meet what’s happening and respond with awareness and curiosity, rather than anxiety and fear. 

    For many riders, this habit of bracing often shows up before they even get into the saddle!  Maybe you’ve noticed that when you’re walking out to the field thinking, “this is going to be a 45-minute chase”. You’re preparing for the worst, and because of this you’re probably not really giving off ‘I’m fun to be with’ vibes!

    Maybe you’re tacking up already anxious about how the ride will go, or you’re holding your breath while mounting, literally waiting for something to go wrong. Your horse feels this. All of it. Your energy matters before the work begins. It sets the tone.

    Start Embracing Instead of Bracing

    This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being aware. So, next time you ride, pay closer attention to your actions, thoughts, and feelings. Actively begin noticing where you are potentially bracing. Is it while preparing for or during transitions? Maybe it’s when you’re leading? Or, as I mentioned, it could be as early as when you’re out catching your horse?

    Once you notice it, breathe. A deep breath is often enough to begin shifting your response. Then soften one part of your body. Your hands, jaw, hips, shoulders, elbows, fingers, knees… Then become curious.

    Ask yourself, “What would happen if I embraced this instead of bracing against it?”. And then simply begin to practice this every ride and every interaction you have with your horse.

    You can even put it into practice in your day-to-day life. Maybe it’s something someone says, or a report on the radio that you hear. I think if you are bracing, it is probably not only happening on your horse. Begin looking for opportunities to practice everywhere, and see each opportunity as a chance to choose differently.

    Is Bracing Ever Okay?

    Look, there will always be moments when bracing is the exact right response for that particular situation. It might keep you safe in a sticky situation. Or it might help you stay on board during a particularly hairy moment! And that is more than okay.

    However, for the most part and especially in your everyday riding, the habit of bracing will more than likely work to keep you stuck as a rider and an equestrian.  So why not make this a mini-project for yourself? To shift your awareness and your energy when working with your horse. To learn to embrace.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Want Support While You Do This?

    Inside Connection, are dedicated to working on the 5 essentials, the keys to refining all the training elements we just talked about.  It’s exactly where your progress begins again.

    If this episode made you squirm a little, and wonder “…is she talking about me…?”, then Connection is exactly where you need to be!  Join us for the Half Halt Training at:- https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

    Online Training & Coaching

    The Your Signature Ride Challenge

    Here’s the idea: you use only your seat and leg aids to “write” your name in the arena. Sounds simple, right? But what it really does is sharpen your awareness of timing and clarity.  You’ll learn when your aids actually make a difference.  And you’ll have fun doing it.  All while creating a pattern that’s uniquely yours!

    You can sign up by CLICKING HERE

    It’s free to join, and every rider who participates gets access to a guided audio lesson to help them through the challenge. Plus, you’ll have a chance to win 3 months inside Connection (a $66 value)

    Restart & Reschool

    And if you would like a little more 1-to-1 coaching, explore Restart & Reschool Private Coaching. It is perfect if you’re starting your practice – or if you’re looking to turn your existing practice into something ‘real’ for you and your horse. I’ll guide you step by step on the way! You’ll not only get the full ‘OTTB; From Racetrack to Ready Program’, but also fornightly private lessons with me to move you forward in your riding.

    We can work on anything you would like; from groundwork, to lunging, to riding, to jumping… With the virtual private lessons, we can do all of these things – and more.  If you would like to find out me, you can let me know a little more about you HERE and I will then reach back out and we can chat!

    This is the support, training, and accountability you’ve been missing to finally follow through and start seeing progress. No fluff. No overwhelm. And as flexible as you need for your lifestyle. 

    Connect with Lorna online:-

  • Retraining Rushing Jumps; Working on the Rider First

    Retraining Rushing Jumps; Working on the Rider First

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    Being on a horse who is determined to run as fast as he possibly can towards every pole, fence, or jump that he sees is nerve-wracking! There are many reasons your horse might do this. And assuming that you have ruled out discomfort or pain, then retraining can begin.

    Unfortunately, retraining a horse who has become practiced in rushing jumps is a long and slow process. It requires time and consistency. And often requires the rider to make some changes as well. 

    In this episode, plucked directly from Daily Strides Premium, we will focus on you, the rider. My goal here is to help you identify where you might just be ‘enabling’ or even encouraging your horse’s tendency for rushing jumps! I know this sounds a little bananas, but it happens more often than you think!

    This is an audio horse riding lesson and can be listened to as you ride your horse to help you become more aware of what you are doing in the saddle and how this may be influencing your horse.

    Retraining Rushing Jumps – 3 Areas to Work On

    I honestly believe that retraining on this particular issue will require a holistic approach if you want to achieve long-term results. Any ‘quick fixes’ that you use (even the ones that seem to work initially) are simply bandaids, Meaning they will slip right off at the first sign of pressure.

     1.  Basic Training on the Flat

    The basics I’m referring to here are half halts, responsiveness, relaxation, rhythm, forwardness, and just overall clarity between horse and rider regarding communication, expectations, and desired outcomes.

     2. The Riders Mindset & Reactions

    The challenge for many riders in this situation is that it’s so easy to fall into bad habits when your horse is rushing jumps. You must be aware of what you are doing, when you’re doing it, and how you’re doing it. Bringing awareness to your own behavior and reactions will allow you to more easily help your horse.

     3. Ground Poles to Retrain Your Horse

    The final step is to start small. This can feel really difficult for many riders, especially if they are used to and love jumping more ‘substantial’ jumps! But it is 100% necessary if you want to really help your horse with this challenge. Poles allow for mistakes and don’t require a whole lot to get over. They also give you both the perfect place to begin replacing those habits that have not been serving you both.

    Re-schooling Rushing Jumps on the Flat

    If you have been struggling with this challenge, the month of October 2024 in Daily Strides Premium is dedicated to working on this. This episode is the first lesson from a week of audio horse riding lessons titled “Re-Schooling the Basics for Both Horse & Rider on the Flat”.

    In this group of lessons, we begin working towards re-training a horse who is rushing fences by working on the basic aids, responsiveness and, equally as important, how the rider thinks.

    Remember, re-shooling a horse usually involves also re-training the rider to think and act differently as well.  The horse will respond better if the rider changes their approach and is consistently correct in what they are doing and asking…. These lessons will help you to develop better habits and responses.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Similar Episodes to Help with this Topic

    Online Training to Help Your Riding

    Connect with Lorna online:-

  • Building Confidence When Riding a Nervous Horse

    Building Confidence When Riding a Nervous Horse

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    Riding a nervous horse is one thing… Feeling less than confident about your own abilities while on your horse is quite another. Imagine it, up there, on your horse. He is beginning to get a little ‘jumpy’. Let’s be honest, so are you… Doubts are beginning to creep in and your thoughts are heading in a direction you would rather that they didn’t go…
    Building confidence in your abilities to both handle yourself and the horse when in this situation is often a long road. However, it can be done – with time and patience.
    Here are my suggestions for building your confidence in working with and riding a nervous horse.

    1 . Find Your Comfort Zone – and Stay There

    I know this is a little contrary to what other trainers might suggest in this situation. So many coaches, trainers, and instructors encourage their riders to get out of their comfort zones. I tend to take the opposite approach, initially anyways.
    I believe that if you can find the place where you are happy, the place that is just close to the actual edge of the boundary of your comfort zone and work there for a while, you can begin to re-wire both your thoughts, your actions, and your habits
    So many riders have a ‘protocol’ when it comes to feeling anxious and nervous on a horse. Some will literally attempt to ‘curl up’ into a ball (think of a hamster). Others will become aggressive as a way to hide or mask their doubts. And many will just freeze; forget all training and just sit there, waiting for the inevitable to happen.
    Working inside of your comfort zone will allow your more relaxed habits to become more dominant. The key word there is ‘working’. Do things with your horse from where you are comfortable

    2 . Get Your Basics onto Autopilot

    Very often, riders are failing to get one or two key basics in their riding running on autopilot. What I mean by autopilot is that you no longer have to think about ‘heels down’; it simply just happens. And any time ‘pressure’ is applied, it happens even more! This also applies to ‘sit up and carry yourself’. When your horse is having a moment, these are two things that you really don’t want to forget or stop doing in your riding.
    Focus on getting all the essentials to simply happen, on their own, so that if and when pressure is applied (things don’t go to plan), they remain in place and support you
    Many riders, can keep their heels down as long as they are thinking about keeping their heels down. Remember, when things go sideways, you won’t be running through a checklist of ‘essentials to remember’!
    You want to rather work on regaining balance for yourself and your horse and getting the ride back on track. This is close to impossible to achieve if you first have to ‘fix’ some of your basics with regard to position, posture, and aids

    3 . Begin ‘Testing’ Yourself – and Your Horse

    This is where you can begin to have some fun, while also continuing to work on developing your aids, habits, responses, and reactions. You’re going to do this by ‘inviting’ some potentially uncomfortable things into your comfort zone. Where I would suggest going with this is to think of it from your horse’s perspective. What individual items might cause your horse to question the situation a little?
    Remember, the goal here is to build your confidence when riding a nervous horse – so by doing it this way, you get to remain ‘comfortable’ while your horse may experience a few nerves
    I also believe that getting creative with this is key to really beginning to transform anxiety into excitement – although we also want to take those emotions down a notch or two… Rather than thinking of you and your horse being ‘anxious, which can be a very heavy and big emotion, why not use the word ‘nervous’.  I personally think ‘nervous’ can either be positive or negative; meaning it can go either way. We want it to go in a positive way…
    Think about how you can begin to transform ‘nervous’ energy into ‘curious’ energy
    Only introduce things that you feel comfortable with, and continue to do this until your once nervous horse, also begins to relax and feel comfortable. This could take weeks…  Once you have established a stronger, more relaxed ‘you’ as a rider, and you feel confident as that version of you, then you can begin thinking about venturing outside of that comfort zone…

    4 . Control Everything You Possibly Can

    So, once you have things on autopilot and you have created supportive and good habits as responses and, maybe, reactions, it’s time to think about leaving the ‘comfort zone’. I am not a big fan of simply wandering off into the sunset with a wish and a prayer that all will be okay! This is where planning is going to help you succeed and build your confidence.
    Start off the ground, without your horse, and look at EVERYTHING from their perspective. Remember, you will be riding a nervous horse, so they will also look at, literally, everything!
    Remove any of the questionable things you may meet along your way. Also consider the time of day, who will be around or in the vicinity, the weather, feeding times, energy levels (you especially), and who can possibly be there for support.
    By creating a situation where, for the most part, you have removed many of the challenges, you and your horse can begin to experience working together and getting positive results – even if you both feel a little challenged and nervous

    5 . Mindset When Riding a Nervous Horse

    Finally, it is so important to increase your self-awareness. What are you believing to be true about the situation? Is that really true (meaning anyone, regardless of who they are can agree 100%)? And where can you begin to tweak or change your story surrounding this?
    If you continue to tell yourself the same story, about you feeling nervous while riding a nervous horse, you will continue to produce the same results; change the story where necessary
    Becoming more confident working with a horse who is likely to spook, spin, or fall to pieces is not easy. It will take time, commitment, diligence, patience, and a lot of forgiveness! You must remain dedicated to the job and do the work, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
    However, from experience, I can tell you that if you do stay the course, the results can be life-changing. So often these ‘nervous horses’ can often become the most trustworthy ‘horses of a lifetime’. And this is simply because someone refused to give up on them.
    Good luck and Happy Riding
    Lorna