When Can I Ride Again?
At the time of this writing, many of us are in a season with the COVID-19 shelter in place orders where we may not be able to even see our horses much less ride. Even if this pandemic has past, you may be in a situation where you are unable to ride. Believe it or not, there is opportunity for you to improve your skills as a rider even when you can’t ride.
There are many things you can do off of the horse that you may not have made time for when life was normal, and you were in your regular routine. Now is the perfect opportunity to build some basic skills necessary that will help you with some of the more technical, physical riding or strategic skills. And, you don’t have to be in the presence of your horse to work on these skills. I’ve created a worksheet to help you develop some of the ideas below. If you’d like a copy, just click on the link below.
1. Becoming Self Aware: Knowing your “Why”
Knowing “why” we do anything is key to being successful. In order to accomplish great or hard things, we have to have a strong enough why. Self-awareness is a critical skill when it comes to every part of our riding.
Why do you ride? Think carefully about this simple question. Take the time now and jot down a few of your ideas on the worksheet or in a journal. Understanding your riding values can create clarity. What is most important to you? Is it having fun? Being confident? Is it the competition? Maybe you are new to horses and have a goal of learning how to ride. Why do you want to learn to ride?
Here’s the truth my friend. You can accomplish anything. You just have to have a strong enough why. It must become part of who you are. Decide what is most important to you in your riding and create actions that will empower you to live by these values each time you visit the barn or ride your horses. Bring that purpose to the arena with you every time you ride.
2. Visualizing Your Own Perfect Future
The power of mental imagery. The ability to create or recreate an experience in the mind. Professional athletes use this technique all the time to improve performance. The reason? Countless studies have shown that the mind does not know the difference between something vividly imagined and something real, meaning that the body will respond in much the same way.
If you’ve ever watched a diver or a gymnast during the Olympic games, you’ll notice them going through the motions of their dive or their vault right before they actually step onto the board or platform. They are using mental imagery to practice their moves. Why do riders walk a course of jumps? They are imagining themselves on their horse riding the course, counting strides, figuring out where they will turn. They are using mental imagery.
I like to use the skill of mental imagery in a couple of different ways:
Your Future Self
Try this exercise. Close your eyes and picture yourself at some point in the future. Perhaps one, two or even three years from now. What does your riding look like? What does your horse look like? What do you look like? What skills do you have? If you compete, what competitions have you participated in? Where do you live? Do you board your horse or do you have your horse at home? Maybe you are living in a different place.
Whatever it is, get a clear picture in your mind about what this future self looks and acts like. What thoughts do you have about your horse and your riding? Who are your mentors? Who are your friends? What adventures have you had with your horse? Write what you see on your worksheet or in your journal.
This is a valuable tool that you can use in every area of your life. When making any decisions about your riding or your horse, are those decisions in line with your vision? Ask yourself “What would my future self do in this situation?”
Your Perfect Ride
Another way you can use mental imagery is by focusing on one ride, that perfect ride. Perhaps you’ve experienced that perfect ride in the past or maybe it is yet to come. Much the same as the athletes preparing for that dive or vault, picture in your mind your perfect ride. What does it look like? What does it feel like? What are you thinking? How did you prepare for it? Add in some challenges and some unforeseen obstacles. How do you overcome them?
I heard a story about a prisoner of war that was imprisoned in a small enclosure for years and years. Everyday for hours and hours, day after day and week after week he would play 18 holes of golf …. in his mind. When he was finally released and able to get back on the golf course, he played as if he had never lost any time. How can this be? Because….the mind does not know the difference between something vividly imagined and something real. What a gift this is! We just have to practice using it!
3. Cultivate Calmness: Breathe
Generally we get stressed whenever:
- We’re not sure if we’ve got the required skills.
- We’re not sure whether we’re able to meet expectations.
- We consider the outcome important in some way.
A calm rider who is able to ride in the moment is a rider that will have both fun and success. One way to manage the physical symptoms of stress and to cultivate calmness is to learn how to breathe. And this is a skill you can practice anytime you’re feeling anxious.
Stress, whether physical or emotional, is often associated with shallow or chest breathing. As you breathe in, your shoulders and collarbones rise up and the muscles in your abdomen contract. As a result, the amount of air you inhale will be minimal, so you will have to breathe more quickly to supply your body with oxygen. The problem is, the faster you breathe, the more wound up you’ll feel. Therefore, one of the most effective ways of dealing with anxiety (or jitters) is to slow and deepen your breathing.
Deep Breathing Exercise
Instead of merely breathing into your chest, try to direct your breathing towards your abdomen. When you breathe in, your belly should inflate, like a balloon. When you exhale, it should deflate, contracting into the direction of your spine. Practice breathing in for a count of 2 and exhaling at a count of 4 opening your lips slightly as you breathe out. You may need to practice this quite a few times before you are able to do it comfortably. Repeat as many times as necessary until you’re nice and relaxed. This can be done anytime, anywhere, even on top of your horse!
Exercises that can bring you into the moment from the distraction of the future or past are valuable for anytime we’re feeling anxious or fearful. A simple practice centered around your breathing will help you to better understand your thoughts and gain a sense for the moment.
Final Thoughts
I hope you found these ideas helpful. Hopefully we will all be back in the saddle, meeting with our friends, taking our lessons, and showing up for our horses very soon!
You can work through the exercises in the article by grabbing your free workbook below!
Enjoy the Ride!