Over the past few years, I have been trying to evaluate why my riding is not progressing in the way I would like it to. I have been riding for my entire life. Day in, day out from the time I was three to my present, undisclosed age. (haha, ok I’m thirtynine).
As a young rider, I had quite a bit of success competing as an event rider. As an adult, I find it challenging just GETTING to competitions!
There are of course the obvious reasons…work and responsibilities beyond my horses being major factors, but there are also underlying issues that I am only just starting to resolve.
I am a hard worker. I have been raised to be a hard worker as all good Yankees are. I ride and care for my horses daily even in disgusting weather. I am committed to my riding to a zealous level. We are told that the first step is to just ride, no matter how many other things you have on your plate. Skip grooming if you must, but just get on and ride! I live by this notion and to be honest, on days that I don’t ride, I feel like I have missed something.
I am a perfectionist. I strive to be a better rider, horsewoman. I love taking lessons, watching lessons, reading theory. I am determined to make my horses better as I make myself better. I am slowly (!) starting to realize that this drive and determination may actually be hindering my progress.
Okay, so I have the first step covered; I get on and ride. So why do I feel like I’m spinning my wheels??! I look around me and people who are surprisingly casual about their riding seem to be not only GETTING to events, but getting around, having fun and doing pretty well!
It is starting to dawn on me that maybe just working hard is not the real recipe for success. Yes we can all point to people who have fabulous horses, fabulous amounts of spare cash and seemingly endless free time. Obviously they have it a bit easier that others, but in reality, they still have to ride those fabulous horses and they seem to be doing just fine!
So what am I missing? I think that we can all get ourselves bogged down when we try too hard. Whatever we are trying to accomplish becomes overly important and we lose our ability to look at the whole picture. I am just starting to realize that sometimes, giving oneself an easy day or taking a forced day off from riding is actually in one’s best interest.
There are times when work for work’s sake is just busy work. If you are already overworked, this busywork is just going to run you down and make you more tired the next day. I am starting to realize that if I’m exhausted or really stressed, I generally don’t ride very well and I definitely don’t think/analyze my performance well. So how is this act of riding actually helping me to improve? It turns out that it is not. It is certainly not helping my horses improve. My muddled demands only confuse them and their confused responses only frustrate me!!
So my new plan on the days when I am too worn out or preoccupied if I do “just ride” is…I go for a hack. Sometimes I even give my horse a carrot and take the day off! I am starting to conclude that the horses really don’t seem to mind either!! I know this may seem obvious to some people, but as someone who has heard the mantra that dedication is the secret to really succeeding, this is a real revelation for me!
I will have to report back and let you know whether this new phenomenon is THE key to becoming a fantastic rider. My guess is that it will not solve all of my problems!! I am hoping that what this new philosophy will do for me is to allow me to think more clearly and rationally as I ride. I think THIS is the second step towards really improving as a rider.
This is my new goal as a rider. Yes I want to compete. Yes I’d love to go to Rolex or Badminton or the Olympics. I will never give up on those dreams no matter how unrealistic they may be! In the meantime though, while I’m diligently working away, waiting for those opportunities to present themselves (or not!), I am determined to become a more present, in the moment, thinking rider. I will remain rationally objective even when my loyal partner is not feeling as cooperative, compliant or submissive as I keep hoping he will!
The path I see for myself accomplishing this goal demands that I am as clear and focused in my thinking as possible…and sometimes this will mean that I’m gonna take the day off!!
One Response to “Take A Day Off”
SmartysMom
As Jimmy Wofford says, practice does NOT make perfect, only PERFECT practice makes perfect. Translated to your, as one of my mentors would call it, “flash of the blindingly obvious” if your brain or body is not in a position to practice perfectly, not only or you not improving, good chance you’re going in the wrong direction.
So I think your insight is right on, and if you can’t even get together enough for a “perfect” hack, not getting on is a really good idea.
As for your partner? Horses have bad days too, and sometimes they’re best not ridden, or only ask to practice easy stuff they like, with lots of “yeses” to lift their spirits. I do a lot of in hand work (emphatically not the “natural horsemanship” variety) with lots of rewards (I use cookies; for a complete discussion of the use of cookies, read Karen Pryor), because I can watch, especially expression, and get a good idea of what’s happening for them physically and mentally. If cookies don’t make them smile, I either need to call a vet or maybe REALLY take a good hard look at how I am doing whatever I’m doing.
Just my opinion, of course.