Strides for Success

Tag: Mindset

  • Accepting the ‘Messy Middle’ in Your Horse Riding

    Accepting the ‘Messy Middle’ in Your Horse Riding

    Accepting the Messy Middle in Your Horse Riding
    Have you ever begun sorting something out, a room or a wardrobe perhaps?  Halfway through, you find yourself in the middle of a bigger mess than when you began the process.  In fact, it is usually at this point that you begin asking yourself why, in the name of all that is good in the world, did you begin in the first place!
    Your riding is similar.  Often, as riders, we need to actually realize that things are going to get messier, sometimes quite a bit messier before they begin turning into what actually wants to see in our riding. 
    When I am working with riders, I often see them cling onto certain elements in their riding.  Things that they feel they have ‘mastered’ already.  Unfortunately, often when we find ourselves overly attached to a certain thing or way of doing something, that is the very reason we need to let it go.
    [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1136-The-Messy-Middle-in-Horse-Riding.mp3″ title=”The ‘Messy Middle’ in Your Horse Riding” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Here’s why your having trouble keeping things tidy while making progress in your riding…” hashtag=”equestrian” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]
    The thing we are so proud of or attached to becomes the very reason we stop moving forward and stop seeing progress with whatever we are doing.

    ‘Letting Go’ of Certain Things

    There is a process that most things in life adhere to when it comes to learning and growing.  This process involves things regularly being cast aside or ‘put down’.  This is in order to create space for new things to show up.
    Holding onto old things and old ways of doing things is very often what is blocking you from reaching the next level when it comes to your riding. 
    Take a halt for example.  I can bet that how you halt today with your horse looks very different from the very first halt you ever asked for with a horse.  Most rider’s first halt involves an embarrassingly over-reliance on the rein aids – and not much else!  Whereas now, yes, your rein aids are still part of the process, however, you have let go of the sole reliance on them and rather begun including other aids in there as well.
    It is important to recognize that what got you to where you are right now in your riding is not what is going to take you to the next level of being a rider. 
    You will have to ‘let go’ of certain ways you’re currently doing things.  This can be aids or habits.  It can also be a way of thinking about things.  And then, you must find new things to begin picking up…

    ‘Picking up’ New Things

    What is important to remember when it comes to collecting new methods and skills is that they must serve you where you are right now.  Learning to discern the ‘right’ things you need at this exact point in your riding is a skill many riders overlook.  In fact, a lot of riders don’t even realize it is something that they must learn to do!
    In order to get to the next level in your riding development, you will have to begin leveraging new skills and ways of thinking in your riding. 
    Again, if we take the halt example from earlier, it was not that you simply stopped using your reins too much to ask for a halt.  It was rather that you began learning new ways to ask the same question.  New skills.  And while someone probably told you this, you also had to get your mind to ‘buy-in’ to the fact that this was possible for you to achieve.
    I think that the issue begins when we reach a new level and get really excited and proud by how things ‘look’ at this new place.  We are reluctant to then ‘break it down’ again in order to go further… But breaking it down is what is usually essential if we want to move forward with our horse and our riding.

    Accepting it will feel Uncomfortable!

    Change is uncomfortable for our minds to process and handle.  Your mind is designed to keep you safe.  And the old adage ‘better the devil you know’ is how your mind really works here.  When it knows it, even if it is not positively serving you, your mind is happier.  Even thinking about doing things differently can often be uncomfortable for the mind.
    “Everything you’ve ever wanted is at the other side of your comfort zone” is so true.  I would love if you could, right this moment, accept that getting comfortable with getting uncomfortable is the way forward for you and your riding. 
    It will almost always feel uncomfortable to leave something behind.  Remember, what you have right now feels comfortable for ‘right now’.  But you want to move forward.  So putting a few things down, and picking up a different few things, is necessary to do this.

    Some Boundaries Must Be Moved

    We all have boundaries in our lives and in our riding.  Boundaries are there because they have served us in some way in the past.  However, we regularly outgrow our current boundaries; and reaching the next level in your riding is a great example of this.
    In order to grow as a rider, you will often have to mindfully move the boundaries you have put in place in your riding. 
    I go into far more detail about this inside of Groundwork For Riding, however, let me quickly explain this here and now for you.  A boundary is like an agreement.  Sometimes it can be an agreement between you and someone else, maybe your horse.  Or sometimes it is an agreement you have made with yourself.
    Often we create boundaries without even realizing it. However, they are easy to recognize once you begin to apply mindfulness to how you are feeling as you ride.  Each time you begin feeling mentally uncomfortable, you are getting close to an existing boundary. 
    Pay attention and notice your feelings. They will allow you to identify where you have created boundaries; and what boundaries are no longer serving you in your riding.  Remember, they served you at some point, but to grow or expand, they are actually now what is holding you back.

    Learning to Coordinate New Things

    So as you begin ‘letting go’ of some ways of doing things or ways of thinking in your riding, you pick up new things.  And, just like if you actually fill your arms with new items, it will take you a while to find a comfortable way of making these things fit together and serve you in your riding.
    Many riders expect to learn something new and for it to automatically fit in with all the other things they are already doing in their riding.  It won’t.  
    You will either have to create space for it, by putting something down.  Or coordinate it with the existing things you are doing or carrying.  This new ‘learning to coordinate’ is what makes progress seem and feel messy for riders.  However, it is an essential process for you to go through in your riding.
    It is also a process that you will revisit again and again, as you begin to approach each new level with your skills and development as a rider. 
    This is why I personally enjoy the training scale method for developing horses and riders.  It allows you to revisit the same principles, but through the filter of something new depending on where you are in your journey.

    Plateaus in Your Riding

    Regardless of what you put down or pick up, there will come a point where you will begin to feel comfortable and coordinated carrying the ‘stuff’ you have acquired at this point in your riding journey.
    It is when we stay at this level of comfort for too long, that we begin to feel like we are on a plateau as far as progress is concerned. 
    I believe it is important to celebrate your ‘wins’ and reaching the next level in your riding.  But I also think that it is equally as important to begin looking at the next level in your riding.  Identifying what the next level is for you and your riding will allow you to begin figuring out what needs to stay and what needs to go in order for you to get there.
    There is a limited number of things you can coordinate when in the saddle.  This is because some things working against or being counterproductive to other methods and ways.  Clarity is required if you are to really succeed in moving forward.
    And if you do find yourself knee-deep in the ‘messy middle’ right now, in your riding, celebrate it.  It simply means that you are well on your way to reaching a new level – and a new comfort zone – soon. 
    Horse riding will always challenge us, mentally and physically.  Don’t allow an emotional discomfort to hold you back from having better conversations with your horse going forward.
    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Resources that Will Help with This Topic

  • Boundaries; How They Work for You In Your Riding

    Boundaries; How They Work for You In Your Riding

    Boundaries; How they work for you in your riding
    Have you ever had a horse step on your heel while you were leading them?  Or maybe it was your toe while tacking up or grooming?  These are pretty memorable experiences due to the amount of pain they cause!
    Horses are great at being really transparent around the consequences of doing something, or not doing something.  And if you have experienced some version of the above, it is due to ‘not’ doing something… Laying down boundaries with your horse.
    [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1130-Do-You-Have-Boundaries-In-Your-Riding.mp3″ title=”Boundaries; How They Work for You In Your Riding” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”How strong are your boundaries in your riding?” hashtag=”equestrian” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]
    Boundaries are so important when it comes to making progress as a rider. In fact, I have seen a marked difference between the results riders get in the saddle boil down to whether or not they have, and then actively enforce their boundaries.

    Start with your ‘Non-Negotiables’

    There are lots of different areas you can have boundaries when it comes to riding and horses. In order to make progress, you need to have some ‘non- negotiables in place.  These create the rules that you follow when it comes to what will happen, and therefore what won’t happen, in your riding.
    A non-negotiable can be that you ride 4 days a week.  It doesn’t matter what else happens, you are riding 4 days a week.  Or it could be that you have a focused outline for a particular ride.  It doesn’t matter what happens before or during that ride, you stay with your outline and intention.
    Something I see happening a lot with novice riders is that they ‘jump ship’ as soon as a better offer appears.  
    The better offer could be an invitation from another rider to do something different that day.  ‘Let’s go for a hack instead, the weather is fantastic for it today”.  Another version of ‘jumping ship’ is allowing themselves to become distracted by ‘shiny things’.  Maybe a magazine article that focuses on a specific exercise.  Or a blog or Instagram post from someone they follow.
    Remember, consistency is essential when working with horses.  It can be applied either way and how you apply it will dictate your results…

    So What Is a Boundary?

    A boundary is when you decide on something specific happening or not happening.  It is like drawing a line in the sand and then beginning to build something along that line, so everyone can see the line is there.  And therein lies one of the most important things about your boundaries…
    You must clearly communicate your boundaries to those they impact or affect. 
    What will you allow to happen?  Or, maybe it’s a case of what won’t you allow to happen?  What is okay?  Or a case of knowing what is not ok… The only way that you can begin to actively create boundaries is to get clear about them first.  Know what you want.
    One of the easiest ways to discover when a boundary has been crossed is by becoming aware of how you feel.  
    Very often, feeling anxious, frustrated, resentful, annoyed, angry, afraid or most other negative feelings associated with horse riding, is due to someone (or some horse) crossing one of your boundaries.  The issue is that most riders just don’t know it, to begin with…

    Creating Your Boundaries

    If I was to ask you what are you willing to do to become a better rider, you would probably tell me a whole list of things.  Great.  Now, the same applies if I was to ask you what you are not willing to do.  It may initially leave you feeling a little ‘stumped’, but slowly you will begin identifying things that, for you, are not worth negotiating with to become better.  The value does not add up.
          • The time it requires from you each week
          • How you train
          • Who you train with
          • What you are willing to do
          • What you are not willing to do
          • Training methods
          • Training aids
          • Artificial aids
          • How much money you will invest
          • Your safety
          • The horse you work with…
    These are all things you should have clear boundaries on.  ‘I am willing to carry a schooling whip, however, I am not willing to apply it as a ‘whip’ to the horse’. Or it could be ‘I am willing to jump 90cm however, I am not willing to jump 120cm’.   Maybe it is that you are willing to get extra lessons two afternoons a week, however, you are not willing to invest more than $150 per week.  This will all depend on your unique situation and beliefs.

    Setting Boundaries with Your Horse

    Your horse needs to know what is acceptable and what is not.  When you, the rider, are ‘wishy-washy’ on your boundaries there is a direct negative impact on the relationship with the horse.  Both on the ground and in the saddle.
          • Standing still
          • Leading
          • Catching from the field or paddock
          • Grooming
          • Tacking up
          • Mounting up
          • Dismounting
          • Walk
          • Trot
          • Canter
          • Transitions between gaits
          • Bending
          • Lateral work
          • Your aids…

    Boundaries affect everything when it comes to riding and showing up as a trainer for your horse.  Do you allow your horse to walk or turn while you mount up?  The keyword here is ‘allow’.  What you let happen, over and over, is what you tell your horse is okay to do.

    Your horse’s behavior, both on the ground and in the saddle, is because of the boundaries he has been taught. 
    This is hard for many riders to hear.  It is easier to complain about how your horse is doing (or not doing) things, than it is to step up and realize what is happening is due to weak leadership on your part…  Ouch!  But usually true!  And please, I am sharing this with you from a place of love and compassion; you can change this in your riding!

    Boundaries to Develop Your Riding (and Your Horse)

    This is often the easier one to address for riders as most riders are willing and open to learning how to improve in the saddle.  Your boundaries in your riding will often depend on how far you and your horse are in your riding journey.  They will also depend on whether or not you have allowed your horse to begin taking responsibility for how he is showing up in the ride.
    As a rider, one of your greatest responsibilities is to allow your horse to being ‘owning’ his part of the performance or the ride. 
    When your horse is green, it can feel like you are having to constantly correct and hold it all together.  Any softening or easing off from you will usually result in your horse losing what he is doing.  This can be straightness, shape, contact, relaxation, rhythm, suppleness…
    However, the only way your horse can begin to develop is by you setting the boundary and then stepping away from it.  As he ‘crosses’ it, you step back in and reinforce the boundary through a timely and correct correction. Then you step away again.
    Slowly overtime, your boundaries will become his boundaries.  Your boundaries will the how he strengthens himself and develops himself, physically and mentally. 

    Boundaries on the Ground with Your Horse

    We can use a different word for boundaries here; it’s Manners.  If you have ever watched two riders, one with clearly defined boundaries and the other without, working side by side – the benefits of boundaries become blatantly obvious.
    Riders who have clearly defined boundaries on the ground with their horses are, well, happier and more content!  Things are easier. Life at the barn runs smoother.  There are less or often no ‘power struggles’ between horse and rider. They are mindful of what they are doing.  Their horse is also usually more engaged in the process.
    Clearly defined and enforced boundaries allow horse and rider to truly work as a team, together. 
    Put this side by side with the rider who lacks consistent boundaries.  They are stressed, anxious, often even fearful.  The horse is literally pulling them around.  They are constantly ‘herding cats’ and ‘putting out fires’.  In fact, often just watching them is exhausting!
    How your horse is showing up at the yard is a reflection of how you are showing up.  

    Communicating Your Boundaries

    The final piece to successfully using boundaries in your riding is to actually communicate and tell those involved that you have that boundary.  The people in your life need to know and your horse needs to know.
    The success of boundaries depends on how well they are enforced. 
    Let your horse know what is allowed and what is desired.  Give him constant opportunities to work within your boundaries by allowing him to make mistakes.  Timely correction of mistakes is how he learns where the line is.
    Over time, he will know and respect your boundaries.  This also grows his confidence in you as a leader.
    Happy Riding
    Lorna
  • 5 Actions to Your ‘Better Version’

    5 Actions to Your ‘Better Version’

    5 Actions to your Better Version
    Can we sit down and have a quick and honest conversation?
    If you’re game, let’s go!
    As I write this, we are on the brink of a new year and a new decade.  The timing seems ripe for making some serious changes in your riding and your approach to riding.
    [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1129-Choose-Your-5-Actions-for-2020.mp3″ title=”5 Actions to Your ‘Better Version’” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”What would the better version of you do differently in the saddle?” hashtag=”equestrian” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]
    I would love you to be honest with yourself here…  I know that you know the answers to these questions.  Being honest will truly be the key to making progress with your riding moving forwards; regardless of when you are reading this.

    Your ‘Better Version’

    You have a better version of yourself already created in your mind.  This is the person that you want to show up as, but for whatever reason, you’re not.   This is the rider you ‘want’ to become, but there are things holding you back.  Things that are keeping you ‘stuck’ where you are right now.
    Now, this isn’t to say that where you are right now is bad or wrong.  However, there is a part of you that knows things could be different.  Things could be ‘better’.
    Let’s do a little digging and figure out what it will take for you to step into that person’s shoes.  What it will take for you to begin thinking and acting, therefore becoming, that person.  The rider you want to be for your horse. For you, this may be a more
          • Confident rider
          • Coordinated rider
          • Responsive rider rather than a reactive one!
          • Intuitive rider
          • ‘Quiet’ rider

    What Does that Rider ‘Do’?

    Now that you have identified that rider, I want you to imagine the ‘you right now’ side by side with the ‘better version’ of you.  what is it that they are doing that you admire or aspire to?  What is the difference between you and them?
    Putting the two versions of yourself side by side will allow you to see the differences.  List as many of those differences as you can.  
    Is it how they are showing up?  Perhaps it is their consistency?  Or maybe their mindfulness and presence?  Is it the way they dress?  Or where they ride?  It could simply be the mood that they hold before, during and after each ride.  Coordination is a big one for many riders, but rather than just saying they are coordinated, try to figure out why they are?  Are they fitter, or do they practice more?
    What is it that this ‘Better Version’ is doing that you are not which is making all the difference in their riding on a day to day basis? 

    Closing the Gap

    Finding ‘the gap’ is essential if you’re to get from ‘you right now’ to the ‘better version’ of yourself.  What stops so many riders from closing the gap is a fear of feeling discomfort.  Usually, this discomfort is an emotional one, and often it is a fear of failing.
    It is sad, but most adults have forgotten what learning something new is like.  We have allowed ourselves to become conditioned to being able to do something.  
    To the point where, when we do try something new, the discomfort of not fully knowing what to do or how to do it is too great to overcome.  We step back, away, from that feeling.  We remain stuck in our comfort zone.
    If you are going to really close the gap between you now and the ‘better you’, becoming used to feeling uncomfortable is the key to getting there. 

    Noticing Your Patterns

    Answer this; when was the last time you felt uncomfortable?  How did you react to that?  If we are not mindful of how we are dealing with these feelings, we are in danger of allowing ourselves to fall into patterns.  Patterns can either serve us, most of them did infect do that at some point – which is why your brain hung on to it.  But a lot of patterns are outdated and no longer fit or work for where we are right now in our lives.
    As riders, when we come up against something that we are simply unsure of, we often fall into patterns that are actually nothing to do with riding itself!
    This is because the pattern we choose feels more comfortable than the discomfort we are experiencing because of the new situation that we find ourselves in.
    Frustration is one example of this.  We allow ourselves to become frustrated when we can’t do something with our horse, rather than digging deep and looking for new ways of overcoming the block.  Dismounting is another.  Often this can be an aversion to confrontation in day to day life.  In riding, we literally just give up.  Dismount and be done with it.
    However, far from resolving the issue, this usually leads to even more problems in our riding.  The irony, of course, being that they all now exist because of something that has nothing to do with riding in the first place!

    Develop Compassion for Yourself

    The first step is to admit that you are learning something new.  This is causing all of these ‘feelings’ to show up.  It is also causing you to question your own abilities.  Your confidence in your abilities is being tested.  Imagine someone you love or a toddler in this same situation. What would you do?
    You would encourage, support and ‘cheer’ them all the way.  You would become a support squad of sorts for them as they figure this new thing out.  
    Well, you know what I am going to suggest next; become that cheerleader for yourself. Support yourself.  Find proof of things that you have successfully learned in the past.  Yes, there are thousands of examples.  Think of the toddler learning to walk.  They will fall down over and over.  But each time, they are encouraged to get back up and keep going.
    How you approach learning in your riding and as a rider will dictate whether or not you will ‘close the gap’ and step into the ‘Better Version’ of yourself. 

    So, Again, What Is Different?

    Let’s ask the question and see, after shifting perspective a little, if you can come up with a few actionable items.  What is the ‘Better Version’ of you in the saddle doing (or not doing) that you could, with a little discomfort, begin implementing in your riding?
    If you are feeling like this is your time to shine and grow as an equestrian and a rider, I am asking you to get uncomfortable. Commit to feeling a little discomfort where your riding is concerned in order to really begin seeing the differences you want in your riding.

    Your 5 Actions

    Choose 5 actions that you can begin taking (or doing) that close the gap between ‘you right now’ and the ‘Better Version’ of you that you desire to become
    Let these 5 actions become the safety ropes that guide you from where you are to where you want to be.  Literally, but doing these things consistently over the coming days, weeks and months, they will guide you to this new version of yourself.
    Consistent application of these 5 actions will allow you to really become the ‘Better Version’ in just 3 short months from now.  90 days…  
    What are your 5 actions? Let me know inside of my free group HERE
    Have a super, if a little uncomfortable, 3 months…
    Lorna

    Other Resources, Episodes and Posts Relating to This Topic:-

  • Your Mindset; What Do You Believe About Your Riding?

    Your Mindset; What Do You Believe About Your Riding?

    Your Mindset; What Do You Believe About Your Riding?
    I am fascinated by how our minds work.  I love seeing the co-relation between our beliefs and thoughts play out in our physical day to day lives.  Meeting and chatting with riders for the first time is one of my favorite things to do.  I pay close attention.  I love listening to the stories they tell me about themselves and their riding.
    [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1127-What-do-You-Believe-About-Your-Riding.mp3″ title=”Your Mindset; What Do you Believe About Your Riding?” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”What do you believe about your riding – and is it potentially halting you and your horse in your tracks?” hashtag=”equestrian” twitter_username=”Strides_Success” ]
    So many riders have themselves convinced they cannot do something, and therefore take action from that place or that perspective.  The place where the thing they want won’t work.  This versus riders who believe they can do something.  They will take action based on their beliefs, and usually prove themselves right.

    Your Beliefs = Your Results

    What we believe is crucial to the results we get in our riding.  This, of course, is not just limited to riding.  It can be applied to any area of our lives.  I personally believe (there is that word, again!) that this is due to how we ‘show up’.
    Henry Ford was the one who said whether we think we can or we can’t, we’re right.  This principle plays out every day in your life. It is why you are in the situation you are in as you read this blog post.  It is why you and your horse are working on the thing you are working on – or not.
    Your beliefs are shaping your conversation with your horse. 

    Begin Questioning Your Beliefs

    Today, take some time as you drive to the barn or tack up to think about what you believe in your riding. So many of our beliefs are formed long ago, and while they may have been true and helped keep you safe then, they are actually holding you back now.
    A good place to start is to think about why you are doing things the way you are doing things. 
    Begin looking for areas that are no longer serving you in your riding and then begin the process of changing them.  This can be as simple as finding something contrary that proves this does not have to be true for you and your riding.
    Your brain will actively go looking for examples to prove you right.  By beginning to question what you believe is right, you can begin to see new situations and examples.  Those examples have always been there; however, it is just that now you have given your brain something else to look for.
    I have found that by looking for others who have done what I previously believed impossible is a great place to begin.  Seek them out – and then each time you find yourself thinking it can’t be done, think about that person and the example they are leading with.

    Mindset Awareness is Ongoing

    Finally, keep in mind that your mind’s number one job is to keep you safe.  Therefore, each new level you reach on your riding journey will result in your mind creating another set of beliefs as to why you should stay there.  You will have to continuously question why you are thinking a certain way and continuously look for new ways to think differently.
    Beliefs do not have to be part of your thinking forever… You can change your beliefs.  All it takes is an open and curious approach to ‘why’ you are doing what you are doing.
    Happy Riding
    Lorna
    If you would like to dive a little deeper into your mindset as an equestrian, I am inviting you to join me inside of the Equestrian Fitness Challenge.  It is free and the focus is on holistic fitness as a rider; emotional, mental and physical.  You can join, for free when you CLICK HERE

    Resources to help you 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:-

  • Taking Action on What You Learn in Your Riding

    Taking Action on What You Learn in Your Riding

    Learning is great. As a rider or equestrian, there is a never-ending stream of knowledge out there just waiting for you to dive into and begin exploring. However, learning can sometimes be the very thing that holds riders back from making progress in their riding.

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    You see, learning is only really useful if you go and then implement what you learn. And it is the implementation that riders fall short. They fail to take action on what they learn. All their newly gained knowledge just remains in their heads, never to be acted upon in the arena.

    I create a lot of free training for riders to use to help them make shifts and progress in their riding. Things like the 5 Days to Clarity Mini-Course or the Equestrian Fitness Challenge. What I see, over and over, is riders watching, listening or reading the training but then failing to take the next step.

    The vitally important step of implementing what they have learned.

    It’s a bit like the story about the dog lying on the nail; the nail is uncomfortable, but not enough for the dog to actually get up and move. He will rather lie on the nail and simply complain about how uncomfortable it is to lie there!

    I also see this happening with my paid programs. People invest money and then fail to take the required action… Lunging to Riding and the Clarity & Confidence Riding Program are just two examples of this.

    The What, When, How and Why of Riding…

    When you are learning to ride, knowing the above will make your life easier. it will also, usually, make your horse’s life more pleasant as well! I am not saying not the learn the above. In fact, I believe that all of the above are vitally important, especially the ‘Why’ behind whatever it is you are learning to do.

    Time and again, I see riders know what, when and how, but they completely miss the bit about the why. The ‘why’ is what allows you to take your knowledge and apply it to different situations.

    For example, knowing what, when and how when it comes to a transition is useful. Knowing why will allow you to then dig a little deeper when you are riding the horse who is not responding. Knowing why allows you to take the knowledge and use it in other situations and scenarios.

    Things Usually Get Messier Before They Get Tidier…

    Think back to the last time you did a big tidy up and clean out of an area or space. Maybe it was a room or a filing cabinet. It could have been bookshelf or cupboard. Whatever it was, I can bet that things got a whole lot more chaotic and messy before they began to ‘come right’.

    Riding is no different. When we are learning new things and then taking action on those things, there will be missteps along the way. A lot of missteps!

    It is almost like having to break things down and then mindfully and carefully choosing what parts of your knowledge you are going to use to build things back up again.

    Upgrading Can Make You Feel Nervous…

    A lot of riders will turn back when things begin to ‘messy’ for them in their riding. They shy away from the uncomfortable feelings of things ‘not working’. It’s often a case of ‘leave well enough alone. And this is a huge pity as, very often, continuing on through the mess is what is needed to actually clean things up and begin seeing progress again.

    There are things you are doing right now in your riding that are no longer serving you.

    Take ‘stopping’ or ‘halting’ for example. I can bet you that the way you learned to stop the very first horse you ever rode looks very different from how you will ask your horse to stop today. Was the first ‘stopping’ wrong? No, it was what you needed to learn back then and it was the adequate back then for you and your riding. However, now, that way of stopping is not serving you and your horse on the journey forward.

    As a rider, you will regularly have to leave beliefs, habits and specific ways of doing certain things behind. Upgrading the tools you are using is essential if you’re to move forward on your riding journey.

    Mistakes are Par for the Course

    So many riders fail to take action because they are afraid of making mistakes. If this is you, I have news… Mistakes are an ESSENTIAL part of becoming a better rider. Your mistakes are how you learn.

    Look for mistakes. Play the game of figuring out what caused it and how you can ‘course correct’ the next time you try.

    If you find that the same mistake keeps showing up over and over and over again, explore the possibility that it might be a symptom of something else, rather than the issue itself. Find the real cause and you will automatically eradicate the symptom.

    The great thing about this is that usually when something is causing one symptom, there will be a few more symptoms that magically clear up when the big cause is dealt with!

    Timely Corrections are What Count

    Once you notice something is off or wrong, correct it. You know that consistency is key when it comes to riding. This is absolutely true when it comes to making corrections in your riding. You need to be willing to jump in and correct either yourself or your horse immediately.

    Keep in mind that one correction is rarely enough. Sometimes we have to repeat the correction over and over again.

    This is where it is tempting to just ‘do it myself’ and try to control everything, particularly if it is your horse that has to be corrected repeatedly. However, I am going to strongly suggest that you rather stick with the correction.

    In order for your horse to make progress, he must also learn to take responsibility for his actions. Correct then allow. Then simply repeat, correct and allow. Over and over. He will soon no longer need to be corrected and will learn to do it by himself.

    Take Action on What You Learn

    It all boils down to being willing to try out what you are learning. Testing it in real life, when you’re in the saddle with your horse. Taking action on the things you are learning. Often riders are just not willing to take action. Sometimes they genuinely can’t, but other times they simply won’t.

    If you are struggling to take action on what you are learning, begin exploring why that is…

    Are you truly learning what you need right now in your riding? Is this piece of information the logical ‘next step’ for you and your horse? Or have you jumped on a bit and now the distance between where you actually are and what you have learned is simply too great?

    When you do begin taking action, I suggest recording your results.  Write things down. This will help you to see what works and what doesn’t for you and your horse.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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