Confessions of a Timid Rider
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Groundwork Basics For Creating Confidence in the Horse and the Rider
Confession: I had never done any type of lunging or ground work until I owned my own horse. In the English disciplines, ground work is relatively uncommon. Occasionally you may see someone lunging their horse for exercise, rehabilitation, or before getting on to ride. Once my lesson horse seemed quite spooky so my trainer lunged him before I got on. I received some tips on lunging and a lesson in the saddle, which I found very interesting. Still, I had no practical knowledge myself. When Ferrous became mine, I was excited to do ground work. I began watching YouTube videos and reading how-to books for tips and tricks. Looking back…
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Icelandic Adventures: Horses, Northern Lights, and Iconic Landscapes
Confession: I love to travel and going to Iceland to see the Northern Lights and ride the horses are on the top of my bucket list. My husband and I travel together for our wedding anniversary ever few years. Covid-19 and the pandemic put a little delay in those plans, but despite it all we were able to fulfill my dream of visiting Iceland. Some may think I’m a little crazy for going during the winter but if you’ve followed along at all you may realize by now that I don’t mind the cold as much as I do the heat. More importantly, I was determined to see the Northern…
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Why Is The C- Word So Bad? Developing Confidence in the Canter.
When I was young the canter was my favorite gait while riding. Something about the rocking motion and the big stride gave me a sense of freedom. I still prefer a balanced canter above all gaits today. Yet, when I returned to riding as an adult, I was incredibly nervous to ride it. I know I’m not alone. I have watched my daughters grow up at the barn and gain in confidence and skill on their own time. A few years ago Zoe , my timid rider, accidentally cantered when Ferrous came into the trot poles too fast and cantered away, true to his Hunter training. She clung to his…
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Equestrienne: Rachel Smith, The Spiritual Cowgirl
Rachel Smith is an Equestrian Mindset coach from Rimbey Alberta Canada. She is a rider, trainer, and equine sports therapist with a passion for holistic health for equines and riders on body, mind and soul levels. From the time she was three years old and first met horses, she felt their magic on a soul level. Born with horses in her blood, even though her family was from the city, her grandma introduced her to horses. From a young age she had a way with horses and was exceptionally talented with them. She started taking lessons and learning to train horses and working in the horse industry in many facets.…
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Equestrienne: Alyssa Matthews, Discover the Horse
Alyssa Mathews is a lifelong equestrian and adventure addict, and in 2017, she set out on an adventure to ride every breed of horse in the world, in her quest: Discover the Horse. ... When finished, it will be the largest equine education project of its kind.
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Let’s Talk About Mental Health, Yes Seriously.
Confession: Depression, burn out, or severe anxiety…call it what you will but I’ve been experiencing it for months and it’s not pretty. I’ve been silently struggling lately. The demands I place on myself and by those around me have been so heavy. I’ve hidden away from friends, stopped writing, barely been to my sanctuary (the barn), and even stepped back from work. The truth is, I think I’m doing okay but then I realize that isn’t really true. All the things I use to cope with my ADHD and my anxiety, I’ve pushed to the side. Everything gets pushed to the side because it’s too overwhelming. It’s been a long…
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Stepping Out of the Box: Being an Outsider in an Insider Sport
Since childhood, we like to understand things in relation to others. As young as elementary school I’ve started to see cliques. Those that fit into neat little groups, or “fit the mold” and those people that are slightly weird or don’t seem to really fit in. There is comfort in the expected. I see this with my daughters and remember my own childhood as the shy girl with glasses, who got made fun of for being too quiet, reading too much, or being a snob. Junior high brought social norms and peer pressure to a whole other level, high school in a different way. By then I was firmly in…
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Ending On A Good Note- Training Challenge or Handy Excuse?
My trainer has always stressed ending on a good note with my horse when in lessons. It always made so much sense, when they get it right, stop and that is a positive reinforcement and reward. But if you are a timid rider like me, then often you use that cliche to stop before you challenge yourself or your horse. I was visiting a client and fellow timid rider who is struggling with a sensitive horse. She had a very scary experience in the arena with a new horse and has been reluctant to push him again even though it was likely pain-related and addressed. Knowing what may have caused…
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Do you Ride a Horse? Congratulations You are a Horse Trainer
I don’t consider myself a professional but after taking even one lesson from a professional horse trainer; I realized how much I didn’t know about my communication with my horse. More, I realized that everything I do from the moment I enter the paddock is teaching my horse something positive, or negative. Like with dogs, my interactions are creating reactions and I AM a horse trainer in many ways.
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Addressing Toxic Positivity: Why Riding At Your Comfort Level Is Perfectly Acceptable
When it comes to performance, mindset is everything. There are a lot of memes out there and accounts perpetuating toxic positivity. Toxic positivity is the belief that no matter how dire or difficult a situation is, people should maintain a positive mindset. It’s a “good vibes only” approach to life. The trouble with that is, when you have anxiety, depression, or tend to be an overthinker, being positive is easier said than done. Sometimes you just can’t get out of your own way then feel like you are a failure because you think you should think positively. It’s a vicious circle. Truthfully, sometimes we feel nervous or we don’t want to…
