The Balanced Equestrian - Articles, News, Tips

The Balanced Equestrian by Kelleen Simons

Updated March 7, 2005

Staying on Top: Five Strategies for the Competitive Equestrian
By Kelleen Simons, LCSW, Life Coach

For the competitive equestrian, staying motivated and enthusiastic about riding is key to staying on top. After years of riding, it is not uncommon for some people to experience times characterized by feelings of dissatisfaction or boredom. These feelings may sneak up without warning, and are often accompanied by confusion and uncertainty about what to do.

Do you have strategies in place to prevent this from happening? Ask yourself the following questions:

How much variety do you incorporate into your time with your horse? It's easy to fall back on the same old routine and get stuck in a rut. How can you change things up a bit? Try something new: get out of the ring, trail ride, work cattle, move your jumps around, fine tune your horse's ground manners, ride at a different time of day, do some conditioning work. Not only will you feel refreshed, but your horse will, too.
When was the last time you took scheduled time off from riding? Allowing yourself 1-2 weeks off your horse a couple of times each year may be just what you need. Use this time to vacation, relax or pursue an interest for which you don't normally have time. If you feel like you must keep in touch with your equestrian side, use the time to do something other than riding: review videos of your riding, read a good book, research your horse's nutrition program, take an equine massage course, volunteer at a horse show. The goal is to return to riding energized with renewed interest.
Are you open to new ideas and perspectives? It's not unusual to outgrow methods, techniques, or instruction that once worked well. Some easy ways to open up to new ideas: audit or participate in a clinic, read magazine articles or books on your style of riding, view some educational videos. Then incorporate what you learn into your everyday riding to prevent yourself from getting stuck in a rut.
Are you emotionally attached to the outcome? Riding, unlike a lot of other sports, has many factors over which we have little control. If we only enjoy the moments when we are winning or having a great ride, overall dissatisfaction with our riding will be inevitable. The key to satisfaction is being able to enjoy the experience of riding, no matter what the outcome, all the while maintaining enough focus on your goals to keep moving forward.
Is there a healthy balance between your riding and other areas of your life? If you have worries about your job, finances, relationships, etc., they will hang over your head like a black cloud, affecting your ability to truly enjoy and focus on your riding. Spend some time addressing these concerns and you will find that your satisfaction with life, including your riding, will improve dramatically.

Kelleen Simons, LCSW, Life Coach, authors a free monthly newsletter for equestrians seeking greater balance, satisfaction, and success in all areas of life.