Strides for Success

Tag: time

  • The Right Type of Consistency in Your Riding & Training

    The Right Type of Consistency in Your Riding & Training

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    What would happen if you went ‘all in’ on one specific area of training or developing with your horse for the next 90 or so days?  If you laser focus every interaction to support and strengthen the thing you want to improve or make happen? As I’m writing this, there are about 90 days left in the year, which ties in nicely with goals, etc.

    However, whenever you’re reading or listening to this, I want to encourage you today to begin your own 90-day journey with your horse… Starting today.

    Two things are absolutely essential for successfully training and developing horses and riders; time and consistency. 

    90 days is the timeframe for this particular focus or intention. Consistency is how you show up and the actions you take, over and over again. And if consistency is a challenge for you, remember that you are almost certain to be consistent with things. It’s just the wrong things or actions that you’re being consistent with!

    But You Struggle to be Consistent!

    Is this something you believe about yourself? I did too, however, I was wrong. Let me explain… Lately, I’ve noticed that I have been telling myself more and more that what I am lacking is consistency and discipline in my daily routines and life. ‘But I’m just not the type of person who enjoys consistency’ is something I regularly hear coming out of my own mouth during conversations! And I honestly believed this. For YEARS! Until I began to tear it apart… Was this true?

    What I discovered is that I actually am fairly consistent. I do tend to do the same things and think the same thoughts.  My challenge is not consistency – my challenge is being consistent with the ‘right’ things. 

    And I’m wondering if you’re a little the same? When I looked back over the past 3 or so months, I can definitely see there has been a lot of consistency in my actions, words, and thoughts. It’s just that most of those things do not, in any shape, way or form, help me to get closer to what I actually want. Now, obviously, this is not the easiest thing to admit publically.

    But I feel that just realizing this about myself now gives me the power to change it. And I’m hoping that it will help you too…

    Is it the Right Action?

    Once this new truth dawned on me, I began to get really clear about what I wanted. To be honest, my vision had not changed much. It was just my actions to get there that had. So, I began thinking about what I could ‘swap out’ regarding my actions, words, and thoughts that would get me there faster. Staying in bed until the very last minute each morning was one of them (I think I may have gotten consistent with this one while we were at home in Ireland recently!).

    If I really want to start my day off in a way that would set me up for a great day – right now, that will involve getting out of bed BEFORE everyone else. And being consistent about it. 

    When I think of my horses, if I really want to make riding on the beach once a week with my horse a reality, I am going to have to take action to bring the horses to THIS farm. Not driving 45 minutes to go to them at the other farm. And if I want to work on my mare’s learned habit (she was used in the riding school for the year I was in Ireland) of rushing at poles and fences, I am going to have to clean up the arena here and start retraining.

    I can bet that you already know exactly what you need to swap when it comes to what you’re being consistent with and how it’s impacting your riding and training with your horse… 

    Be Consistent This Week

    So once you are clear on what you want and you have begun to notice your current consistent actions; change them. I want you to focus on something you can change THIS WEEK that will start you off in the right direction. Maybe it’s booking a lesson with a trainer so that you have to turn up and ride. Or it could be organizing a babysitter so that you can spend an extra hour with your horse without feeling rushed. It could be focusing on your straightness, posture, and position in the arena, instead of hammering on your horse all of the time…

    The key here is to identify something you’re doing consistently that is not serving you and then intentionally change it to something more aligned with what you actually want as a rider. 

    And the magic is that once you notice the first thing, thought, or action that needs to change, others will begin to show up! Trust me, transforming your riding and your horse’s training comes down to doing a few basic things well and consistently.  You just need to figure out what has to be tweaked for both of you to get going on your journey.

    Prove Your Consistency

    I’m hoping that you’re on board with giving this a go in your riding. If so, I suggest writing all of this down in your riding journal. Write what you previously had been doing and what you’re planning on swapping that out for. Then use your riding journal to track yourself.

    Begin proving to yourself that you’re not only consistent, but you’re consistent in the ‘right’ things. The actions, thoughts, and words that move you and your horse where you want to go in your training together. 

    Think along the lines of “Previously had been spending 60+ minutes grooming and tacking up with only 10 minutes riding. Will work on being groomed and tacked up in 40 minutes so I have 30 minutes of riding. (I know lots of riders who are guilty of this one, hence me including it here!). 

    When you begin to see an actual written ‘log’ of you doing the right thing, it begins to develop your discipline in doing it more often. You’ll begin to see yourself as a consistent rider. And, hopefully, because these actions are aligned with your goals, the results will speak for themselves.

    Use Personal Voice Notes

    My final bit of advice when it comes to knocking it out of the park with a single goal for the coming 90 days or 12 weeks is to support yourself! I use voice notes for this purpose, so I’m encouraging you to do the same. I have begun using them again for a whole host of different things. Especially things that there is a good chance I’ll either become distracted, get sidetracked, or feel too tired to actually get around to doing.

    If you struggle with consistency in your riding or training, use voice notes! Simply record a voice note that lays out, step by step, what you want to accomplish with your horse for that session. 

    Do it BEFORE you work with your horse and go into as much detail as you can.  What’s amazing about this is that, as you are then later working with your horse, you’ve created the ‘map’ of that session already. Meaning that as soon as you begin to go ‘off track’, you’ll notice. And can then take consistent actions to bring everything back to where you want it.

    Your personal voice notes to yourself will help to train you to become more consistent with your riding and your work with your horse… And they are 100% private. Delete them after if you want :) 

    90 Days From Now…

    So, are you willing to go all in with one thing for your riding during the coming 90 days? Remember successful training requires time and consistency. Use the 90 days and find the few actions, thoughts, and words that you can use consistently to transform you and your horse.

    And if you would like more help with this, make sure you join Daily Strides Premium. It could just be the best $22 you spend on you and your horse ;)

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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  • What is Stopping You From Riding More? Part 1

    What is Stopping You From Riding More? Part 1

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    Now, if you answer this with ‘because we’re up to our eyeballs in snow’… Okay, fair enough! However, if you answer this with ‘I don’t know’ or an answer that you, yourself, can quickly tear apart…  This is for you!
    So many riders ‘say’ that they want to ride more.  But the difference between the saying and the doing can be a big one.  Which, when you think about how much enjoyment and connection we get from being with our horses, is a terrible pity.
    In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast, we’ll delve into five of the more common obstacles that can prevent more time in the saddle, and chat about how you can overcome them.  Whether it’s time management, inadequate facilities, or the pressure to please others, identifying the specific challenge you are facing is the first step toward a schedule that includes more riding time.

     1. Time Habits

    Notice that I did not say ‘a lack of time’. This was intentional.  You see, I think that most riders actually do have the time, but it’s how they are spending their time that causes there to be ‘lack’ when it comes to the ‘time for riding kitty’.  For me, I often find myself doing things that I actually no longer need to or want to spend time doing.  I do them out of habit.  And while, at some point, they definitely were necessary or needed to be done; now… Nope!
    Have an honest look at your time habits (I have a free workbook  HEREthat you can download to help you) and see where you can potentially reallocate more time to riding. 
    I also think that becoming really clear on your priorities will also help here. Are you devoting time to the things you say are your priorities? A quick review of the past week in your life, and your list of top priorities should clear this up for you and your horse.

     2. Lack of Facilities

    Not having the facilities to ride can also be caused by our habits.  Now, I realize that this might sound a little odd initially, but bear with me.  Just like our time, we can fall into these habits around specific areas and places. Maybe it’s a certain barn or stables.  Or a group of riders. Whatever the attraction initially was, the truth is that we become ‘comfortable’ there.  EVEN when that place, group, or facility is no longer serving us!

    In fact, just the thought of moving or going somewhere different can fee REALLY uncomfortable, and so we tend to ‘settle’. This is true when it comes to both riding facilites, but can also apply to resources.

    So, for example, if lack of time is really an issue, maybe you need to consider moving to a facility where your horse can be closer to the barn or stables. Or where there is someone there to actually bring your horse in and tack him up for you… And I get it that, as riders, we want to do it all ourselves.  But if this is stopping you from riding, it makes sense to begin exploring becoming a little uncomfortable, and making a change to support you now.

     3. Facilities that Don’t Support You

    You will outgrow things.  It is inevitable.  The trouble comes if you, intentionally or not, remain tied to a barn, yard, or farm that no longer supports you and your horse in your journey together. Usually, this is where the yard was great initially. It had the right-sized arenas, or suitable trails to help you and your horse on the specific part of the journey…  But now, you have both changed.  Maybe you need a bigger ring or arena.  More jumps or poles.  An actual stable.
    There are so many things that change over the course of time with your riding and your training; it makes sense that the facilities you need will also have to change and evolve to continue to support you both going forward.
    And this can also work the opposite way.  Having access to only huge open riding areas if you are feeling less than confident can also put a pause on your riding.  Make sure that the facilities you do have access to are truly supporting you and your horse where you are right now in your riding journey.

     4. Not Enough Prep Being Done

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; to make consistent progress in your riding, you MUST have a strategic plan that you are taking consistent action on in your riding and training.  Riding for the sake of riding just will not work in the long run.
    Yes, you may have clocked 4 rides this week, each 35 minutes long.  But what did you actually do to move your partnership, or your training forward?  If the answer is ‘I don’t know’, or ‘nothing’, then this is where you need to begin developing your skills as a trainer for your horse!
    Planning out your rides will require you to have something to actually work towards (more on that in the next episode, Why Aren’t You Riding More Part 2). And then being able to work backward, ride by ride, to fill in the missing gaps between there and here. If you are feeling a little overwhelmed by this, start with just having a basic intention…
    Remind yourself of that intention throughout your ride and bring your focus back when you notice that it has wandered. This is one of the most simple ways to begin measuring the quality of each ride, versus the quantity.

     5. People Pleasing

    This one might seem a little odd initially, however, it is a very real block for many riders. I hear from so many riders about the challenge of avoiding the ‘Chatty Cathys’ at the barn or the yard!  You know the person (or people) who seem to always corner you into a fairly mundane chat – and 30 minutes later you’re still stuck there!
    If you only have a set amount of time to do all of the things that you want to do with your horse, this is something you will have to become a little more strict on!
    My advice is to greet and be lovely to the people. Then simply say something along the lines of ‘I’m going to have to keep moving if I’m to get through everything I have planned for today. You’re more than welcome to walk and talk with me’… Most people won’t!  They will go find someone else to chat to.  But this way, you have given them the option, and you will also get your tasks for the day done as well.
    Another way people pleasing can become a block when it comes to riding is to do with the V.I.P.s in your life.  Especially if horses and ridign is not a huge priority for them! And balancing this can be tricky. 
    In my experience, the best way to navigate this is to have an open, honest, and friendly conversation.  Explain that, ideally, you would like to spend X amount of the days or hours at the stables each week.  Then also create days and hours during the week that you are committed to them.  The key word there is ‘committed’.  I
    If you show up and be present with them when you say you will, it usually results in them becoming more supportive of you and your riding.
    If you need help making riding a reoccurring activity in your life again, make sure you check out Returning to Riding; a way that we can work together to get you back in the saddle and back on track to enjoy horse riding again.
    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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  • I Don’t Have Enough Time to Ride…

    I Don’t Have Enough Time to Ride…

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

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

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

    Making a Decision

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

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

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

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

    How Often Will I Ride?

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

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

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

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

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

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

    What Will I Do?

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

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

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

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

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

    Applying Discipline…

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

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

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

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

    Additional Commitments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Join me on the Journey…

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

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

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

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Additional Resources:-

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

    Horse Riding as a Parent – How to Make It Work

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

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

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

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

    Horse riding as a Parent

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

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

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

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

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

    1. Be Flexible – and Expect the Unexpected!

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

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

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

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

    2. Have a Plan for Your Rides

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

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

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

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

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

    1278 - Horse Riding as a Parent

    3. Get Support & Set Boundaries

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

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

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

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

    4. Involve Your Children

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

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

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

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

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

    5. Be Patient… This Will Also Change

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

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

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

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

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

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  • 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
  • Have More Success When Training Your Horse Alone

    Have More Success When Training Your Horse Alone

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    Are all the months starting to look and feel the same for you and your horse? Especially if you have been training your horse alone! Have you been experiencing a case of ‘same ride again’ on repeat, over and over again?  If so, here are 5 tips to help you to achieve more when training your horse.  Especially if you are working alone without a trainer or a coach to help.

    More Success When Training Your Horse Alone

    Let’s be honest here, we all want ‘more’.  We want to do things in as little time as possible, and in the easiest way possible as well.  And while the following pointers will certainly help you to do this, it is also really important to remember 2 other key ingredients when training horses.

    You must factor in time and consistency when working with your horse. If either one of those is missing, any results you achieve will most likely be short-term.

    So, while you begin working and using the following formula for each training session, make sure you are coupling it with those two most important of important elements as well.

     1. Focus on One Thing

    This is one of those ‘simple to say, but not all that easy to do’ things when it comes to riding. I mean, how hard could it possibly be to focus on one outcome for each ride?  Oh… More difficult than you think!

    Distractions are everywhere when working with your horse. You will notice ‘other things’ that need attention literally crop up around every single corner! 

    One of your greatest responsibilities as your horse’s trainer is deciding if each of those ‘other things’ is something that needs to be worked on immediately when training your horse alone.  Is it something that, without first really working on it, will actually prevent you from whatever it is you do want to achieve in that ride? Or is it something that can be the focus of another training session at another time?

     2. Be Intentional Before You Mount Up

    Regardless if you give your horse a 10-minute’ lick and a promise’ groom, or a 30-minute luxurious make-over, there is always more you can do inside of each session.  When you know what you will work on in the arena, you can begin to incorporate elements into your time before mounting up.

    For example, if your focus for the upcoming training session together is to create cleaner transitions into the canter, you could work on a little responsiveness while grooming.  Things like asking your horse to move ‘over’. Or asking for him to move ‘back’.

    It is worth remembering that you are ALWAYS training your horse, alone or not. From the moment he knows that you are there, the conversation has begun… 

    1254 More Success When Training Your Horse Alone 2

    3. Use Your Warm-Up

    The first 10 minutes of each ride with your horse have the potential to set the tone for whatever follows. So rather than letting it all unfold by chance, it makes sense to become more intentional with it.  If you already know what you will be working on inside of the actual working part of your riding session with your horse, use this time to visualize how it will look and feel when you achieve it.

    One of the best things we can do to support ourselves as riders is to begin taking the actions of someone who has already achieved what we want. 

    Maybe that looks like sitting up taller.  Or use the time to ‘fine tune’ your position and aids. It might involve some breathing exercises.  Closing your eyes and really get to feel what your horse is doing underneath you. The list is endless, and we have not even begun to mention your horse in the list!

    Your warm-up and cool-down periods are valuable time you can work on improving, connecting with, or developing your relationship with your horse, or your skills as a rider. 

    4. Dedicate 15 to 20 Minutes

    I think the biggest mistakes riders make are doing too much in a single session and then losing hope when they cannot sustain or see the results they were after for very long.  As I mentioned at the beginning, when you’re training your horse alone, time is an important part of the process.

    You will achieve more when training your horse alone if you can create more short, quality, focused sessions together. Rather than long, tiring rides that are too far apart. 

    When you know what you want to work on, commit to 15 or 20 minutes of quality work on it.  This will allow both you and your horse to develop your concentration, physical strength, and fitness.

    Regularly doing things will also allow you both to develop your confidence; in yourselves and each other. Both are key when successfully training your horse alone.

    5. Keep Track of Your Training

    Finally, as your horse’s trainer (yes, you are!), it is your responsibility to record and track your rides and your progress.  Relying purely on feelings and emotions when it comes to training is a recipe for disaster.

    It is only when you have actual evidence of each ride, and you review this evidence, that you can begin to see patterns that you can use to make even more progress. 

    It is also worth noticing what happens after you track for a significant period of time; your ideas about what works and what doesn’t become more clear.  You will begin to instinctively know, without even having to think, what to do in most situations you find yourself with your horse.

    The longer you track, the more you can begin to trust your feelings and emotions regarding your riding… And more ‘in tune’ you will become with both yourself and your horse. 

    For me, that makes all of the effort initially required to track worthwhile :)

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Find in the Gaps In Your Horse’s Training

    If you are interested in learning more about where you might be missing pieces in your riding, sign up for my new free training “ FIND THE GAPS IN YOUR HORSE’S TRAINING“.  This audio training can be listened to, via podcast app, to help you figure out where to begin working with your horse.

    You can sign up and get it, for free, HERE

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