Strides for Success

Tag: Leadership

  • Question:- Should I Train My Horse in the Wind?

    Question:- Should I Train My Horse in the Wind?

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    This is a big question for many riders, especially at certain times of the year when the wind can play a bigger role in your riding and training.  In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast I answer the question; Should I Train My Horse in the Wind?

    Should I Train My Horse in the Wind?

    This is a great question and one that many riders ask themselves.  In this episode of The Daily Strides Podcast, I give you my take on what you can factor into your decision when determining if you should indeed work your horse in the wind; or not!
    If you have any comments or suggestions for this particular question, please let us know HERE inside our Daily Strides Podcast Online Community. You are also more than welcome to submit any riding or training-related questions you have inside of the group as well.
    I look forward to connecting with you there🙂
    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Resources to Help with This Topic

  • Which Type of Rider are You?

    Which Type of Rider are You?

    I believe that every rider or equestrian can be put into one of two categories. I know, a pretty big generalization!  However, from working with thousands of riders, I have yet to meet someone who does not fall into one or the other.

    [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1124-Which-Type-of-Rider-Are-You.mp3″ title=”Which Type of Rider Are You?” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”There are two types of riders in the world; which are you?” hashtag=”equestrian #podcast #horseriding” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    Knowing which category you fall into will help you to get clear on what your ‘next step’ is when it comes to developing your skills as a rider.  I have named the two different types of riders as being either:-

    1. Passengers
    2. Influencers

    You see it all comes down to your focus when you’re in the saddle. You can easily figure out which of the above you are by noticing where you are focusing your attention in the saddle for the majority of each ride. Is the focus on you or is it on your horse?

    Passengers

    Riders who are focusing on themselves and what they are doing fall into the first category. I call them passengers. You are a passenger if you find yourself thinking about your heels or your hands the majority of the time while riding.

    ‘Are my heels down?’. ‘Why can’t I sit up straight?!’ ‘How can I keep my thumbs on top?!’ are just a few examples of thoughts that may be flying through your mind if you are a passenger in the saddle.

    When you’re a passenger, your predominant thoughts will be around ‘what am I doing and how can I make myself continue to do that’.

    The Passenger’s Horse

    Horses that are being ridden by passengers are, for the most part, just ‘carrying on’. They are not being asked too many questions, other than to go or stop. Slow down, speed up and turn. The rest of the time they are left to their own devices.

    These types of horses allow you the space you need to really focus on you and what you are doing in the saddle.

    They are dependable, reliable and an absolutely essential part of the ‘horse riding journey’ for all riders. By them just ‘carrying on’, you get to begin working on the parts that you ‘need’ to put on autopilot when it comes to your riding.

    Passenger’s hosers are not really ‘working’ when they are being ridden. They are rather doing what they do so that you have this vitally important opportunity to focus on you in the saddle.

    By giving you this space, you can build more of your aids and put more things on autopilot. You are building to eventually having real ‘feel’ in the saddle.

    What are Passengers Working On?

    Passengers are working on the basics when they are in the saddle. Their position is a big part of their focus and requires effort in order to remain consistent and effective. They are also working on their aids. Usually the more obvious aids.

    If you are a passenger, you are learning the basic building blocks that will begin to develop your skills as a rider.

    How your horse is going is not really important. You just want him to ‘go’ when you ask him to and to stop or slow down when you ask him to. You’re not too concerned about how well he is going and how well he is using himself in each gait. Right now, the fact that you can get him into a trot and he stays there is all that really matters 🙂

    And this is exactly what you need right now in your riding journey. All riders have been here at one point or another and I would strongly suggest remaining here until you feel comfortable and confident enough to begin shifting your focus.

    Influencers

    The second group of riders is those that I refer to as ‘Influencers’. These riders are spending the majority of their time in the saddle focusing on their horse and how their horse is going. In order to do this, they obviously have to pay attention to their own actions and aids.

    However, it is all about the cause and effect their aids have over their horse and their horse’s way of going.

    If you are an ‘influencer’, you have already put a lot of the basics on autopilot in your riding. You no longer have to think about your heels being down, or your lower leg shooting forward or backward. Your position is consistent for the most part and you move with the horse with ease.

    At this stage in your riding, a lot of the application of your aids is like performing experiments. You do things in order to see if it has an effect on the horse and if that effect can be made more positive by tweaking things.

    The Influencer’s Horse

    Your horse can be anywhere on the training scale, it doesn’t really matter to you. What matters is that you are working together to develop and grow in your riding and training. Many influencers find themselves with younger or green horses. Horses that they have committed to ‘brining on’ and developing.

    Many influencers also ride more experienced horses. In this case, both horse and rider are working together to reach the next level on their riding journey, be that competitively or just in their relationship together.

    Whichever level your horse is at, when you are an influencer you predominant focus is on being able to develop your horse’s natural skills and talents each time you ride.

    You are committed to being a positive influence on your horse’s way of going. Sometimes you may have to revisit the basics, but you realize that this is a natural and normal part of the riding journey.

    Creating a Plan for Your Riding

    I really feel that the first part of creating a plan for you and your riding is figuring out which type of rider you are. Are you an influencer or are you a passenger. This will then allow you to work on exercises that will help you get results.

    Asking a passenger to help develop their horse’s overall straightness will be frustrating and even dangerous for both horse and rider. Asking an influencer to focus on their heels or legs will result in equal frustration for that rider, resulting in the horse experiencing the same.

    Knowing which type of rider you are will also help you to make better decisions around the type of horse you are working with and riding.

    The Type of Rider You Are Matters to Your Horse!

    One of the more common reasons for riders to reach and then remain stuck on a plateau in their riding progress is due to riding the wrong horse. It is frustrating for both horse and rider when this happens. It is also essential that the riders figure this out and make necessary changes!

    Some horses are just not suitable for ‘Passenger’ riders. They often don’t have the confidence to ‘stay going’. They become worried and anxious if the rider bumps about and becomes unbalanced. Sometimes, they can even be a little naughty or become frustrated with such a rider and they openly let their feelings be known!

    The same applies when we are looking at suitable horses for ‘Influencers’ in the saddle. Horses, just like us, have their likes and dislikes. They have areas they are talented in and other areas where they just don’t enjoy or excel at. Meaning that no matter how much the rider wants to develop them, they just won’t or can’t reach the riders expectations.

    Part of being a ‘team leader’ for you and your horse is being open to the fact that you never were or no longer are a good match for each other.

    So, Which Type of Rider Are You?

    Knowing which type of rider you are will help you to become really clear on what your next steps are in your riding journey. You will know where to focus your efforts and it will help you to feel more comfortable with where you are at that exact moment.

    Knowing which type of rider you are will also allow you to make any changes to remove things that have possibly been keeping you stuck.

    Remember, hard decisions are just that; hard! But often they are essential if you and your horse are to be happy and begin enjoying riding again.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Other episodes & resources to help you with your riding:-

  • Showing Up as a ‘Trainer’ for Your Horse

    Showing Up as a ‘Trainer’ for Your Horse

    Showing Up as Trainer for Your Horse What this episode is all about & how it can help you:-

    • Realise that contact is a result of other things
    • Understand what ‘forwardness’ is and why it is so important
    • See the role you play in the forward and the contact
    • See how it should be present in every element of the ride, even halt

    Becoming a trainer.  It can feel uncomfortable to think of yourself as this for your horse.  Yet, if you are expecting your horse to do what you are asking him to do, well this is essentially what you are.

    The discomfort often stems from the realisation that being a ‘trainer’ comes with a lot of responsibility.  You are now responsible for how well you communicate your wishes to your horse. 

    Responsible for creating a working plan.  Ultimately, you are responsible for moving the conversation forward for both of you in and out of the saddle. 

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    In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast we pinpoint the most basic traits to cultivate in yourself in order to show up as a trainer for your horse.  Remember, if you are asking your horse to do things the way you want them done, you are training your horse!

    Acting Confident

    I really and truly believe that riders who succeed in the saddle, often do so because they have learned to act well.  They can put on a show when necessary for their horse and themselves.  When I say ‘acting’ I don’t mean entertaining.  Rather, that when things go a little off plan, as they will regularly do when working with horses, you can act like it is all under control.

    Acting is the ability to convince your horse that you are both safe and in full control of the situation, even when you are terrified and haven’t a cooking clue what is going on!

    The reason this is so effective is due to your emotions often following your actions.  When you act confident and self-assured, you will begin to feel those things as well. The more you feel them, the more real they become and soon the situation will seem completely different.

    When you act like you know what is going on, your horse will take his lead from you; allowing you to regain influence over both him and the situation. 

    Show Up Consistently

    There are two things that are necessary to reinforce any relationship.  Time and consistency.   Consistency is how you do things.  It is the energy and feel behind what is happening.  Your commitment to the relationship as a whole. 

    Consistency in and of itself is not enough.  It must be coupled with correct, positive action in order for it to be beneficial for your horse.  

    Think about how much time you are consistently investing in your riding.  Is your schedule consistent?  If so, is it enough time to really allow your horse to benefit from the training?  Or is your riding a miss match of snatched minutes.  Rushed and hurried.  Here and there…  Work on developing consistency in your schedule first.

    Consistency touches every element in your relationship with your horse.  From your aids to your grooming.  From healthcare to planning.  Consistently doing things correctly leads to confidence and results. 

    Model the Behaviour You Desire

    Be honest; have you ever become frustrated at your horse because he is not ‘relaxed’? If your answer is yes, with hindsight being 20:20, can you see the irony in this?   Asking and expecting one thing but then doing the opposite yourself.  Do as I say, not as I do…!

    If you want your horse to display a particular trait or energy, demonstrate this to him in everything that you do. Your horse will pick up on your energy and respond accordingly.    

    Try to lead by example with your horse.  Not only will it help your horse by setting the tone for your interaction.  It will also help you to become more intentional and focused with each of your interactions.  Having a plan for each session, whether on the ground or in the saddle, helps with this as well.

    Be Compassionate and Fair

    Something which I feel is essential if you want to really show up as a trainer for your horse, is a simple one.  Simple but often overlooked when in the thick of trying to ‘do’ something.  Being a responsible trainer means that you must be compassionate and fair.

    Instead of berating your horse for being ‘naughty’ or ‘not trying’, ask yourself how you can explain yourself better.  Maybe your horse just does not understand…

    This also applies to actually creating the plan for you and your horses training.  All work and no play is not fun for anyone.  Hammering on and on about a certain movement or principle in your riding will result in a sour horse.  And a frustrated you!

    Let your training style be enjoyable for both of you.  Incorporate fun into it at all times.  And when the going gets tough – remember to look at the bigger picture. 

    Sometimes it is better to step back and rather return to something a different day.  Maybe even from a different perspective or approach.  The goal is that you both enjoy what you are doing.  Keep that as the centre of all of your planning and interactions.

    Ask for Help – for Both of You

    The final point I want to bring up is that, as trainer, it is your responsibility to ask for help.  If you are genuinely stuck, or your horse is stuck, get help.  Einstein hit the nail on the head when he noted how doing the same thing, over and over, and expecting a different results is a form of insanity.

    If you are at a loss as to how something works, or why something is happening – ask someone else!  Often it is because we are so involved in or with something, we cannot see what is right in front of us. 

    This is where having an instructor or trainer is invaluable.  A set of eyes looking at the same thing, but from a different perspective.  However, help is available in other ways as well.  Video yourself and be the ‘other perspective’.  Or join a group of other riders and ask for help.  I have a free group HERE which you can join today for this purpose.

    Approaching Your Horse as a Trainer

    However you decide to get help, what is important is that you are open to asking.  Being the trainer for both yourself and your horse means that you are responsible for leading your team.

    Leaders do so by example. They inspire what they are looking for in those they are working with.  

    If you are expecting your horse to do what you want, and how you want it, you are a trainer.  Rather than stepping away from that responsibility, show up. Fully step into your role as trainer for your horse and see where it takes you both

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

    Other posts, episodes and resources that relate to this topic:-

    Daily Strides Premium

    Each and every month inside of Daily Strides Premium I host a live ‘Review and Planning’ call.  In there, you will go step by step through the month that was.  You then take that information and begin planning out the coming month.  When you will ride.  What you will work on.  And of course all aligned with your goals for you and your horse.

    Do you need to be competing? No!  Do you need to have competitive goals or ambitions? No again!

    In fact, I love working with riders who just ‘enjoy’ their horse; helping them to build and strengthen their relationship.  No competitions necessary ;) 

    Couple this with the live Q&As and the members only private group ~ we are here to help you remain accountable as team leader for you and your horse.

    All of the trainings are easily accessed using your phone, meaning that you can take them with you where ever you are going.  These trainings and so much more are available for you immediately when you join Daily Strides Premium. Find out more HERE

  • Responsibility is a Two Way Street for Horse & Rider

    Responsibility is a Two Way Street for Horse & Rider

    Responsibility is a Two Way Street for Both Horse & Rider

    What this episode is all about & how it can help you:-

    • Become clearer on what you are responsible for when riding
    • Learn what your horses responsibilities are when being ridden
    • Realise that correcting and controlling are two very different things
    • Begin working towards the ‘ideal situation’ in your riding

    Do you like when there is someone always looking over your shoulder?  Initially it may help to get you doing something correctly.  However, overtime you will begin to resent the other persons ‘watching’ and ‘interfering’.

    Your horse feels the same way.  It is no fun for him having a rider who simply won’t allow him to learn to take responsibility and do things for himself. 

    Part of your responsibility as ‘team leader for you and your horse is understanding when to hand over the reins of responsibility to other team members.  This means allowing your horse to have certain things that, over time, he can learn to look after and become responsible for.

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    In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast how horse riding really is a team effort where responsibility is concerned.  I talk about how it is important that you begin to transition your mindset around what you can and are controlling in your riding. 

    What ARE You Responsible For?

    It’s a bit of a loaded question, isn’t it?  Many riders believe that they are responsible for everything when it comes to riding.  However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. 

    In fact, thinking this way can be one of the biggest reasons you are failing to move forward in your overall riding.  Also, it is one of the reasons many horses fail to progress in their training as well… 

    There are certain things that are within your control.  Expending energy and time on trying to control anything outside of those specific things will only lead to frustration, confusion, exhaustion and a waste of your resources.

    You can control your thoughts, your emotions and your physical actions. That is it. Everything else can potentially be influenced to a certain degree by how well you can control those three things. 

    They are your responsibilities as a rider.  And through gaining greater levels of control over those three things, you can learn to more positively influence and impact how your horse goes.

    Your Transition as a Rider

    Understanding the above principle is essential in order for you to go from a “beginner” in the saddle, to someone who has positive influence over their horses way of going.

    Early rides should be devoted to riders gaining more control over the things they can actually control. 

    It is when riders begin trying to control ‘outside’ things, whether intentional or not, that the wheels tend to fall off the whole riding experience.  Yes, things might ‘look’ pretty, but the basic mechanics of each movement are essentially incorrect.

    Your progress as a rider is hinged on understanding what you can control.  Then taking necessary steps and actions in order to improve that control.  Only then can you begin to think about how you are actually assisting your horses way of going. 

    Your Responsibility as Team Leader

    Once you begin being able to control the elements of the ride that are within the realm of your control, this is where things can begin getting interesting.  The Team Leader is like the captain. They themselves are only a single part of the whole team.  Asking them to function on their own would defeat the purpose of having a team.

    Team Leaders are responsible for creating a plan to achieve each goal.  Then setting each team member up in the best possible way to actually perform their individual, and essential, role in that plan. 

    That is your job in the saddle.  Know what the team as a whole wants.  Create a definitive plan to get there.  Then make sure everyone on the team is supported in carrying out whatever it is they have to do in order to make this all happen.

    Allowing Other Team Members to Perform

    It all sounds simple enough, right?  However this is the part that I find many riders struggle with.  The ‘Allowing’ things to happen.  Again, this comes back to trying to control things which are basically outside of our control.

    Setting things up is one thing.  Standing back and then allowing things to unfold is quite another! It is so tempting to keep trying to control everything.  Particularly if we have had success, however limited, with this way of riding in the past. 

    However just like a child learning to become independent, or a business being able to scale and grow, it is ESSENTIAL that the rider / parent / business owner allows others to grow into their new roles and responsibilities.

    Setting Your Horse Up for Success

    Now, obviously, your horse is not born with a clear understanding of what you desire to make happen from the saddle!  Part of being an effective Team Leader is to effectively explain to your horse, using your aids, what you want him to do.

    Many riders think that they must just show their horse something once, and then it is up to the horse to know this for all future situations.  Those same riders, if they were honest with themselves, would know that learning something is rarely this easy!

    This is where correction plays such a huge role in your horse learning to become responsible for certain elements of the ride. 

    Your job, as a teacher or trainer to your horse, is to explain what he must do.  Allow him to do it.  And then make any necessary corrections as quickly and simply as possible.

    We All Learn From Mistakes

    You do.  I do.  The person sitting across from you does.  Your horse does.  Mistakes are an essential part of learning to do anything correctly.  They are the contrast needed to make obvious what is ‘correct’ and what is ‘incorrect’.

    Beating someone, or your horse, up for making a mistake is not only counter productive.  It also teaches them not to try any further for fear of making another mistake.  

    As a rider, you will simply show your horse or explain to your horse what you want.  Then let him try it out.  There are going to be mistakes.  In fact, there are probably going to be lots of mistakes initially.

    Your responsibility is to allow your horse to make the mistake.  Then you take immediate action in ‘fixing’ or correcting it.  Then allow again, this time trusting that your horse will learn from the initial mistake. 

    Overtime, you will find that you will have to step in to make fewer and fewer corrections. Your horse will make fewer mistakes as he grows in confidence, abilities and strength.  It is such a wonderful process to allow to unfold.  But the key is that you have to actually allow it to happen.

    The ‘Ideal Situation’ when Riding

    When you allow your horse to begin taking responsibility for his own actions and energy in the ride, both of your training can now begin to make progress.  Think of it this way, the less energy you have to spend making sure ‘everything’ gets done, the more energy you can invest in actually planning what is going to happen.

    Many riders will ask me “How long must I take lessons before I will be able to ride?”.  I know, answering with a straight face is a toughie here; how long is a piece of string, right?!  However, I think that there actually is an ‘end goal’ when it comes to the relationship between horse and rider.

    In an ‘Ideal Situation’, you will ask your horse to do something.   He will happily respond to this request in a timely fashion.  Then, and this is the key part, he will continue to do whatever it is you have asked – UNTIL you step in and ask for something different.

    For example, pick up a balanced, rhythmic, correct canter on a twenty meter circle.  Sure thing; and he keeps cantering in a balanced, rhythmic correct arc on that circle until you ask him to do something else.

    It is Your Responsibility to Ride with This in Mind

    In order for your horse to be able to actually achieve his role in the ‘Ideal Situation’, you must allow him to make and then learn from his mistakes.  He must understand that there are certain things he is responsible for.

    Now, I do think it is only fair to add here that the number of horse and rider teams who actually reach this level in their training are few and far between…

    But I don’t see why this should stop you from trying in your riding.  It all just comes down to understanding your role and responsibilities in the saddle.  And, also, understanding and allowing your horse to have his own roles and responsibilities when under the saddle.

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

    Other posts, episodes and resources that relate to this topic:-

    Daily Strides Premium

    Starting April 2019, you will get built-in accountability when you become a Daily Strides Premium Member.  A real person from our team will be reaching out to you on a fortnightly basis.  This will help you to build and then maintain momentum with your progress in the saddle.

    Couple this with the weekly live Q&As, the monthly review and planning live calls and the members only private group ~ we are here to help you remain accountable as team leader for you and your horse.

    Daily Strides Premium is packed full of step by step trainings for you to use in the saddle. All the trainings are easily accessed using your phone.  This means that you can take them with you where ever you are going.  These trainings and so much more are available for you immediately when you join Daily Strides Premium. Find out more HERE

  • Creating a Consistent Monthly Review in Your Riding

    Creating a Consistent Monthly Review in Your Riding

    Creating a Consistent Monthly Review in Your Riding

    What this episode is all about & how it can help you:-

    • Review each month so that you can make adjustments for the next
    • Use past experiences to build a plan that you can implement and make work in your riding
    • Track some key metrics with regards to your riding to help you improve
    • Help set up your plan for the upcoming month in your riding

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1081-Creating-a-Consistent-Monthly-Review-in-Your-Riding.mp3″ title=”Creating a Consistent Monthly Review in Your Riding” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Making a habit of review each past month in your riding will help you reach ‘do-able’ goals for the coming month…” hashtag=”equestrian” “planning” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    We are all about planning here at Strides for Success.  I regularly remind riders to take the time to create a plan for their riding.  However, a plan is really only as good as the review that follows it.  

    Creating a plan for your monthly review of your riding plan will help you to become more consistent in your progress.  It will allow you to make changes where necessary and continue doing what works.  

    In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast I give you a framework for your monthly review with regards to your horse riding.  I give you a few ideas with regards to what to track and how to use this information to create an even better plan for the upcoming month.

    I am going to suggest sitting down somewhere quiet once a month, sipping on something nice and really deep diving into what worked and what did not where your riding was concerned. 

    There are so many different things that you can track.  I’m going to suggest a few obvious ones, however feel free to add to this, or drop some of these, as you see fit…

    I have Free Planning Audio download ready for you to use to actually help you plan out your month in more detail.  You can get that delivered straight to your inbox by clicking the link and letting me know where to send it

    Monthly Review 1. How Often Did You Actually Ride?

    It seems so obvious, doesn’t it?  And yet it is often the most overlooked part of many riders process when it comes to using their past performance as a roadmap for the future.  How many times did you get into the saddle this past  month?

    More importantly, does the amount of rides that actually took place tally up with what you had planned at the beginning of the month? 

    If not, don’t feel too alone.  Having unrealistic expectations initially is part and parcel of how you can refine this process every month.  Often the planning process can get us so fired up and excited, that we tend to ‘overlook’ our normal day-to-day responsibilities and tasks.

    By becoming consistent with your monthly review, you will be able to create a more accurate plan for the upcoming month.  As you get more monthly reviews under your belt, your ability to more correctly forecast your expectations and goals for the month ahead will develop and grow.

    The more often you do this, the more that your plan and your monthly review will begin looking more alike as each month passes.

    Monthly Review 2. How Many of Those Were ‘Worthwhile’ Rides?

    This is where you need to be really honest with yourself.  Riding for the sake of riding often helps us to feel good; ‘yes, I rode 16 times this month’.  But if you are finding yourself in the saddle, sauntering around the arena or plucking exercises out of magazines the morning of your ride, chances are you’re not making much progress.

    Planning out your rides means that you have to become really intentional regarding what goals and outcomes you are looking for.  Each ride should have a purpose or intention behind it.

    Yes, some can definitely have the intention of ‘just riding to enjoy ourselves’ behind them, but if this becomes your regular reason for riding, things are most likely going to stagnate quite quickly where progress and satisfaction are concerned.

    If you find yourself riding for the sake of ‘checking off’ another ride for the week, I strongly suggest you revisit your strategy! 

    ‘Worthwhile’ rides are those that are moving you and your horse forward in your training.  Use your monthly review as an opportunity to see where you can begin making small changes that will help each ride become more ‘worthwhile’.

    Monthly Review 3. Wins for the Month

    Do you, like many riders, have a habit of being a little harsh on yourself where ‘wins’ are concerned?  We all have aspirations for the different areas of our lives that are important to us.  Your riding is no different.  However often noticing the little wins that are moving us towards those greater aspirations is lost on us. 

    I want to encourage you to notice and then record your wins, no matter how small they are.  Small wins are the stepping-stones we need in order to actually reach the bigger, loftier goals we set for ourselves…

    Wins show up in all different ways.  A win could come in the form of a day that you managed to get the attention or focus of a horse that initially was not actively engaged in what you were doing.  Or one of your smaller wins may be figuring out that a particular time of day or warm up routine sets you and your horse up for a more productive schooling session.   

    I feel that recording your wins in your monthly review will also help you to keep going when things are tough. They will help to inspire you about trying again and also, they help us to develop a more positive mindset where our abilities as a rider are concerned. 

    Monthly Review 4. What Lessons Were Learned?

    Just like the way that any plan is really only as good as the review of the plan that came before it, your monthly reviews will only really begin to show fruit if you are consistently using them to course correct.  We all learn new things every month about ourselves, our horses and our riding.

    Using this new information to shape the upcoming months will help you tailor the plan to your specific circumstances and requirements. 

    The more customised you can create the plan for you and your horse, the more success you will have when following it.  Times of day, length of warm up, changes in diet, changes in routine are a few that spring to mind.

    Lessons learned are also those you discovered in the saddle itself.  Perhaps it was regarding flexion or suppleness.  Maybe it was to do with carrying yourself and engagement of the hind quarters.

    What is important is that you record what worked and what didn’t work with regards to you and your horse.  This will also include how you worked through any issues that cropped up.

    Monthly Review 5. What Needs More Work?

    Yes, this is a pretty obvious however often forgotten part of the monthly review progress for many riders.  There are always things that need a little more work when it comes to riding.  What could do with a little more understanding or explaining?  What needs a little more practice?

    Keeping track of the things that need more work gives you the perfect goals or themes when planning out your upcoming months riding 

    Making this Fun & Exciting…

    I’m going to be honest, this is probably not going to be the most fun item on your to-do list initially!  However, I strongly suggest making this time a ‘date’ with yourself and turning it into an enjoyable time.  Enjoy a favourite cup of tea or coffee, a glass of wine or gin…   It will be what you make it.

    What I do know is that after a few months, the insights and understanding you will gain from performing this simple monthly review will be priceless.  If used to plot your course going forward, they have the potential to change everything for you and your horse.

    So, begin this month.  Grab a journal or notebook and begin recording your riding over the past four weeks.  Then use this knowledge to plan out your upcoming month.

    Happy Reviewing!

    Lorna

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  • Recognising When It’s Time to Move On…

    Recognising When It’s Time to Move On…

    Recognising When It's Time to Move On

    What this episode is all about & how it can help you:-

    • Recognise some of the red flags that it may be time to make a decision
    • See that holding on to something that is not working, is unfair on you & your horse

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1080-Recognising-When-It’s-Time-to-Move-On.mp3″ title=”Recognising When It’s Time to Move On” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Owning and riding horses has its ups and downs. Tough decisions often have to be made…” hashtag=”equestrian” “wellbeing” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    Being a team leader for the team that is you and your horse means that, every now and then, you have to step up.  Step up and make those types of decisions that are not easy to make.  Difficult decisions are part and parcel of life, and one of the most difficult for riders is calling time on their relationship with a particular horse.

    In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast I chat about how you can more easily recognise when it is time to move on, where your partnership with your horse is concerned.

    I think this is an important topic to be addressed, as sometimes riders are ‘shamed’ into remaining with a particular horse long after they should have cut ties.  

    Many equestrians believe in the ‘forever home’ and, if the circumstances are right, I too believe in this.  Our first pony, Holly, was an important part of our family for well over 20 years until she passed away.  However, this is just not the case for a lot of riders and this is when a tough decision should at least be considered, if not made.

    Sometimes the situation is just not working out, or no longer working out.  If this is the case, both you and your horse could benefit from having a different team member to work with going forward.

    Here are a few ‘red flags’ that may just indicate this is the case for you with your horse…

    The ‘Passion’ and Enjoyment are No Longer There

    Horse riding should be enjoyable.  Actually, it should be something you are absolutely passionate about.  If you think back to when you first began on your journey to becoming a ‘rider’, I can bet that very little stood in your way of getting into the saddle!

    There was this excitement present leading up and throughout every single ride. Things like your schedule, the weather and other responsibilities were worked around so that you could make the time to ride.

    The more passionate we are about something, the more likely we are to ‘bump’ it up on our list of priorities.  Simply put, we make time for the things we love to do. 

    However, if you find yourself getting into the saddle less and less, that is a definite ‘flag’ regarding how you are feeling about your riding. Horse riding no longer features on the list of your current priorities.

    If you are making excuses as to why you can’t ride, do yourself a favour and try to figure out why horse riding is no longer as enjoyable for you – and, possibly, your horse. 

    You Are No Longer Growing and Developing as a Rider

    Maybe you find yourself in the situation where initially, you and your horse were well matched.  You were both growing and learning on a daily, weekly, monthly basis.  However over time it became obvious that one of you was struggling to ‘keep up’.

    When you and your horse become ‘mismatched’, it really does become a challenge for all involved to remain interested in the work being done. 

    Often a rider will take a horse to as far as the horse can go.  Taking the horse further becomes a struggle or challenge for the horse.  It requires a monumental effort on the horses part to ‘perform’.  Put yourself in the horses shoes here; that cannot be enjoyable on a day in, day out basis! 

    Being mis-matched is also frustrating for you, the rider. You want to do ‘more’, however you know that it is unfair to keep pushing and asking ‘more’ from your horse…

    This can also work the other way, in that the horse can do ‘more’ and the rider either doesn’t want to, or is not able to.  In this case, you have to ask yourself is it fair to hold the horse back from reaching his true potential.  Especially if the reason you are holding on is a sentimental one…

    You and Your Horse Have Different Talents or Interests

    We all have different talents. As a rider, you are probably good at specific things.  Horses are the same, they often excel at a few specific areas.  When we start riding initially, we are generally open to all sorts of disciplines and activities.  We ‘test the waters’ with regards to what is possible from the saddle. 

    However, over time, most riders find themselves focusing more and more on developing their skills in a specific area of riding. They feel more attracted to a specific discipline.

    Our horses are the same.  They often enjoy doing certain activities more than they do something else.  Maybe its going on the trail, or perhaps they prefer to stay in the arena.  Maybe they love going cross-country, or they prefer honing their skills in the dressage arena. 

    Is it fair for either of you to, day in and day out, do something you don’t really enjoy doing? Surely it would be better for all involved to move on, and actually devote your time and attention to doing something you enjoy and are passionate about improving?

    If you find yourself here, I feel that making the decision to move on will allow both you and your horse to do what you actually enjoy doing on a daily basis.  A win for all involved.

    The Decision to Move On Simply Feels Like the Right Thing to Do

    This is often the most difficult situation to find yourself in when it comes to making a decision.  You might not be quite sure why, but it just feels like the ‘right thing to do.

    Imagine if you could take all the other circumstances off the table? How does it feel to just actually make that decision? If it feels like relief or ‘lighter’ – it might just be that it is the right choice. 

    Things are rarely black and white.  How does it feel in your body if you just ‘pretend’ you sold this horse?  If it feels good, then I am going to suggest looking into making that a reality for you both. 

    All Relationships Have Challenges…

    The final point I want to leave you with is to keep in mind that, if your relationship with your horse is growing, there will be difficulties.  Things will show up.  I am in no way suggesting that you sell your horse at the first hint of a challenge!

    However, if you have been trying for some time to ‘change’ things.  Or you have been merely ‘putting up’ with the situation for any length of time, it may be time to move on.

    Keep in mind that if you are feeling this way, there is a good possibility your horse is feeling a similar way. 

    If we truly have our horses best interests at heart, sometimes making the uncomfortable and difficult decision to move on, is really the best decision for all involved.

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

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