How often have you heard someone say, "Practice makes perfect"? I think we can all agree that success does take practice, but I think the way that we practice is often not considered as much as it should be. So does practice make perfect or does practice make permanent? I believe that the only way practice would make perfect is if you are practicing perfectly.
Now let me start off by saying that mistakes happen and there is no way to fully avoid them. In fact, they are a big part of the learning process, but practice and learning are two totally different processes. It wouldn't be a good idea to go out and practice something you are not confident with, right? Well, unfortunately, this happens a lot. Think about it this way... there is a reason that you had your learners permit for several months before you were able to go out driving by yourself. Most of the important points of driving were hopefully explained to you during the first few times you sat behind the wheel, but think of the many times your instructor corrected a wrong instinct or reminded you to do something you had forgotten as you developed this new skill. Now put this into riding terms... When I first teach a rider how to ride a leg yield, for example, I have them ride down the quarterline, apply a soft inner leg using their outside rein for straightness and their inside rein for flexion. We start slow and deliberate so the horse and rider can create good muscle memory and learn a correct feel. Sounds simple enough, but while they are repeating the exercise, I am constantly watching the riders aids and the horses reaction to help correct the many possible mistakes that occur while learning. Even though the rider begins to learn what is correct and how to correct faults, they are still very much in the learning stage. If this rider were to go home and began practicing leg yields, would they become perfect just by repetition? Most likely not. Most of us have found out that horses are very good at tricking us! What it feels like and what it looks like can vary wildly at times! This is why having a knowledgeable coach with you during learning phases is very important. Once an exercise or movement becomes second nature, you can go out and confidently practice them. Consider the way you practice other aspects of the horse and handler relationship as well. Correct lunging habits, ground manners and traveling procedures are imperative to a confident, successful partnership. If your horses ground manners need improvement, consider scheduling a lunge or ground lesson, so that you can begin to form new habits to practice. If you don't have a set plan in mind before you begin a session, it is very easy to become a reactive handler instead of a proactive one. The definition of proactive is being in control of a situation by making things happen or by preparing for possible future issues. If you have had your horse for a while, you probably are aware of his typical reactions, so you should use that to your advantage by practicing how you will react during future issues. For example, if my horse tends to get sticky when he is nervous, I can practice applying leg as soon as I feel an issue begin. It is also important to be aware of your natural instinct as a rider, so that you can avoid future pitfalls. If you tend to get grippy when you feel nervous, practice concentrating on softening those grippy spots on a relaxing day, so you train the ability to do so for the future. I believe that the most important area that is impacted by the way you practice is in regards to confidence. I often hear riders say that even though they were scared to ride, they did it any ways. This can be a very subjective topic. I am in no way saying that every time you feel a little nervous that you shouldn't ride, but a lot of riders find themselves feeling scared to be in the saddle more often than they feel confident to be there. Horses are powerful animals and their abilities deserve to be respected, so feeling nervous on a cold, windy day or after a big spook is totally normal, but if you are consistently nervous on your horse, you are practicing that state of mind. Fear affects your ability to relax, concentrate and communicate clearly. If you are working though a bit of riding anxiety or have been fearful for a long time, there are many ways to improve your confidence and to begin practicing new habits that will stay with you during even the spookiest of situations! Although horses cannot read our mind, they are very perceptive and need a confident leader in order to feel confident themselves. You do not need to be a naturally confident, "take charge" rider to give your horse confident leadership. There are many ways to build confident habits and reactions that will transfer to every horse you meet. Next time you work with your horse, take a look at the habits you are practicing, because you are practicing whether you realize it or not and if you always practice perfectly then maybe practice CAN make perfect!
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What is your riding mission?
When I first meet a new rider, I like to listen to their goals. Most riders express a desire to develop harmony, trust and clarity with their horse. I am often given goals that sound something like this: - I want to avoiding making errors as a rider/handler - I don't want to make mistakes while I'm learning new concepts - I want to avoid confusing my horse while I'm learning - I want to keep my horse happy and confident These are all fabulous goals to have for every rider (regardless of level), but as a rider starts to develop, many begin to change these original goals, instead of add to them. I do not believe that riders intentionally depart from these original goals, but as success and accomplishment start to blossom, they are often forgotten. Striving for clarity and harmony is not just for the beginner rider, it is a goal that should be at the forefront of our daily interaction with horses. Whether you are a Grand Prix rider on a seasoned horse or a beginner rider just starting out, remembering your original mission is key. Why do our missions change? As a rider develops new abilities, new goals are needed in order to progress. This part of the process can be very exciting, but it is also a point at which your focus can become blurred and when your focus is blurred, it is easy to become derailed. One suggestion that I rely on in a variety of situations is to go in with one focus. For example, if you are at a horse show and go down centerline wanting to sit up straight, keep your hands down, keep your fingers closed, steady your leg, make your circles round, use your corners.... odds are that you will forget a great majority of these things once your hear the judge ring their bell. BUT, if you ride down centerline with the goal of a steady rhythm, you can concentrate on maintaining a steady rhythm throughout the entire test and it will improve everything! Another example, in regards to daily schooling, is that I try to head to the ring everyday with one main exercise or concept that I want to accomplish for the day. If you head to the ring with several different goals and it is just not the right day for either you or your horse, someone is going home frustrated. Feeling frustrated or like you have failed can really shake the confidence you have in your mission. This feeling can be avoided, or at least minimized, by simplifying your objective. If you and your horse accomplish that goal with ease, you can walk back to the barn full of confidence and bring that into tomorrows ride. Now there are several different reasons that riders alter their mission... - Success: Success is one of the easiest ways to loose focus on your original goals, isn't it? I mean, if you have already succeeded, why do you still need those old goals? I don't think this is something consciously done, but it is very easy to begin feeling this way. There is a reason that the training scale is presented in the form of a pyramid... each new stage sets on the previous one and they are added in a specific order. For example, rhythm and regularity are the first step and everything is built off of this. Even when you have reached the pinnacle of collection, you are still expected to maintain that very first stage of rhythm and regularity. So when all of your hard work and dedication begins to transfer into success, don't let it shift the focus off of the foundation of your original goals. - Failure: Failure is tough. It is tough on the rider, tough for your trainer and tough for the horse in some cases. Although we all try our very best to prevent it, everyone struggles from time to time. One of my favorite sayings goes something like this, "There are three types of competitors out there: those who have failed, those who will fail and those who won't push themselves hard enough to fail." This is so true. Failure is not the end, but a lot of riders take it as such. There are two ways to react to failure; you can allow it to shake your confidence and disrupt your goals or you can use it as incentive to improve. - New goals: This is a tricky one. There are many different ways that new goals are brought into the picture. When you buy a new horse, begin riding at a new level or begin riding with a new instructor, all of these circumstances will bring on new goals and a new focus. This is normal and, in many cases, necessary, but have confidence in your original mission. Every riders mission should include confidence, clarity, harmony and happiness for your horse(s). If your new goals do not include these concepts, you may want to start asking questions. - Bumps in the road: A bump in the road is not necessarily a failure. We are human beings, capable of everything from total brilliance to complete destruction, and we are working with wild animals with their own thoughts and emotions.... there are bound to be some bumps in the road! A very wise man once told me to look at bumps in the road as files that are smoothing out the path that you and your horse are on. If we change our goals or shift our focus every time things get a little tough, we may never stick it out long enough to know if it would have been successful. Chief Rider of the Spanish Riding School Karl Mikolka says that a good pilot rides through the turbulence to find the calmer air. I'm not a pilot, but I'm pretty sure the way you do that is by looking up and adding leg ;) These things happen to everyone at one time or another, but if you keep focused, it will not derail your mission. Plus, a great side effect of staying focused is that it doesn't matter where you are riding, who is watching you, how packed the schooling ring is, where that squirrel went... etc. you have a job to do and you are going to get it done! So my question for you is this.... what is your mission as a rider? You may need to think back a bit to find the answer. Think about the things that were important to you when you first started, before training timelines or competition objectives entered the picture. As you begin to lay out your mission as a rider, avoid tailoring your standards to the level you are currently training or competing at. The things that we should pursue as a rider are applicable at every level. I desire the same confidence for a rider just taking their first trot steps as I do a rider going down the centerline of their first FEI test. A rider learning to balance a correct counter canter can achieve the same harmony as a beautiful line of one tempis. I try to give the same clarity of aids whether I am starting a young horses leg yields or improving the rhythm of a seasoned piaffe. The concepts of good riding are relevant at every level. They are also applicable to every horse, which at times, is easier said than done. It is a lot easier to pursue harmony and refinement on a horse that you have a great partnership with. It is very common for riders to "put off" working towards the goals of harmony or clarity until their horse gets to a certain point in training or until they are "the boss". If this resonates with you, think about the type of leader you would prefer to take direction from.... one that reserves good instruction for when you have earned it or one that gives the same clear direction no matter what you are struggling with? I know who I would chose and I'm fairly certain that your horse would agree! Now I am not suggesting a lack of correction, but I assure you that you can be a clear, fair teacher to all horses and this objective should be a goal of every rider. Every rider should have a mission that takes you on a path toward a harmonious, trusting partnership with your horse and you can begin that journey today. You do not need to be at a certain level or capable of a certain score to achieve harmony, but you can develop it where you are and bring it with you all the way to the top... There comes a time in your dressage journey when you and your horse are ready for more. Sometimes this means heading off to your first recognized dressage show. Deciding that you want to go is the easy part and once you do, you may have a lot of questions. There are a few things that do not change between a schooling show and a recognized one. You will still ride the same USEF dressage tests in your Sunday best, but there are some added requirements for competing at recognized shows. So once you and your trainer decide on your first show, here are some things to consider:
First, you will need to get a hold of the show bill. This will have all the information you need including your entry form and can usually be found with a quick Google search. The show bill will have the dates of the competition, the opening and closing dates (dates in which you are allowed to send in your show entries), stabling information, a class list and information specific to that venue. When you find the show bill for your competition, print it off and make sure that you have a copy of the entry form as well. Next, figure out if the venue far enough away to require a hotel? If so, decide on your arrival date (typically the day prior to the competition) and confirm the time that venue allows you to arrive with your horse. Some facilities prefer that you arrive after a specific time and this information should be posted in the show bill. Once you figure out when you are arriving, find a hotel close to the show grounds. Some competitions have a "host hotel" that offers a special rate for the show. Check around though, because sometimes the hotel they suggest is not always the best option. I like to be as close to the facilility as possible, so I can easily get back and forth to check on my horse. After you make your reservation, be sure to record your confirmation number and arrival date. I have driven 8 hours to a horse show, walked in to the front desk only to have someone look at me like I am crazy when I say that I'm checking in. They completely lost my reservation! Now those of you who know me, will not be surprised to know that I brought a printed copy of my confirmation email in with me (just a little OCD!) which was the only reason we had a place to sleep that night. So make sure you keep your records on hand! Now you need to start filling out that entry form! First, go over the entire entry form and fill out all of the easy stuff. Print your name, address, your horses information...ect. When it comes to your horses breed registration number, sire and dam names, don't worry if you don't know this information! Your horse does not need to be registered with a breed registry to compete. If your horse is registered, this information will be required for score tracking and breed awards. When it comes to filling out the "coach" and "trainer" information on the entry form, make sure you are aware of their definitions. Your horses trainer is the adult (over 18) who is physically present at the competition and is responsible for your horses health and welfare. More than likely, this is you. Your coach is the person who gives you lessons. So now you are ready to choose your classes. Find the test you want to ride on the class list. Usually all tests are offered on each day of the competition, so make sure you pick the correct class number. For example, Second Level Test 1 may be class #40 on Saturday, but class number #80 on Sunday. Each class is also divided into three groups: Junior/Young Rider, Adult Amatuer and Open. Junior/Young Riders are competitors under 21 years of age and an Open rider is anyone who accepts payment for training of horses and/or riders, everyone else will be compete as Adult Amateurs. So be sure to confirm your class number before you fill out this portion of your entry form. Now comes the most confusing part... membership numbers and requirements. In order to compete in a recognized dressage show, you need to be a member of USDF and USEF in some manner. First, lets discuss your horses options. If you plan on competing for more than one or two seasons, lifetime memberships are your best choice. A yearly membership for USDF costs $25, while a lifetime membership costs $95. Your horse will need a lifetime membership to be eligible for Regional Championships and this number will never need to be renewed again. A yearly membership for USEF costs $75, while a lifetime membership costs $200. The same information goes for USEF. If you want to try to qualify for Regionals at any point, your horse will need to be a lifetime member of both USDF and USEF. The pros to a lifetime membership for your horse is that it is a one time fee that you will never have to renew and it will make your horse eligible for all awards and championships. In regards to the owner and rider memberships, I prefer year to year memberships which covers everything you need. Once you receive your membership cards, you will need to make some copies. I like to try and fit all 4 cards (my USDF/USEF and my horses USDF/USEF) onto one sheet of paper. If you visit www.eqverification.org they will put all of your memberships onto one page for you to print as well, which is quite convenient! You will need to include this with your entry form and a copy of your Negative Coggins Test. Last, but not least, will be your stabling information. Make sure you clearly state when you will be arriving, if you want a tack stall (an extra stall for your tack) and if you are stabling with a group. If your trainer or friends are traveling together, you can request to be stabled together. In order to do this, you will need to all use the same group name (for example "Blackburn Dressage") that way everyone who uses that group name will be stabled together. Once you fill out your form, put it in an envelope with your membership copies, coggins and a check or money order and you are ready to send it off! You should get your ride times the week prior to the competition. Make sure you contact the show manager immediately if you find any errors. Hopefully this has helped you in the process of entering your first recognized competition. Now all of you have to do is memorize your test, groom your horse, clean your tack, hook up the trailer, fill the truck up, pack your show clothes... Happy riding!!! :) If you sat a group of riders down in a nice, quiet room and asked them if they thought it was a good idea to ride your horse when you are angry, they would probably all say no. Nothing good gets accomplished when you do things angry, right? Well unfortunately, we often don't realize that anger is creeping in, until it is too late. Riding and training a horse can be a very emotional endeavor. Just think about how exhilarating those rides are where your timing was just right and your horse understood everything you asked for. Those rides are amazing, but lets be honest, there are some rides when things don't go quite as smoothly as we would prefer. How we react in those situations can really make or break the relationship you are developing with your horse. George Morris says that every second you are working with your horse, you are either schooling or unschooling them. It can seem like a daunting statement, but don't let it scare you! Think of it as a challenge to use every opportunity you have with your horse to make your partnership stronger. If you keep this in mind, you will never ride angry.
During the journey of bringing horses up through the levels, one of the best lessons I have learned is to quit while you're ahead. As a total perfectionist, this was a really hard lesson for me to learn! It is very easy for that "one more time" to become another ten times and while thats not always a bad thing, it can easily become a slippery slope. While it is great to keep this in mind during your ride, sometimes you need to consider it even as you drive to the barn. Training an intelligent, living creature to trust you and respect you as their leader is a huge responsibility. We need to be mentally prepared to work with our horses no matter how our day is going. If you are running late, distracted or just in a plain old bad mood, it may not be the best time to train your horse... and there is nothing wrong with that! Go on a trail ride, hand walk your horse somewhere relaxing or just clean your tack, because tomorrow you will be better prepared to perfect those 10 meter circles. Our horses are like mirrors and this is fabulous when we are feeling great and everything is going right... unfortunately, it works both ways. In the words of a true master, "The biggest enemy to the partnership of dressage is impatience..." - Walter Zettl. I think the only thing harder than learning patience is keeping a hold of it. As we train our horses, we are always working towards teaching them patience. Whether it is standing in the cross ties or holding a square halt, we expect our horses to patiently wait for our next request. A good description of patience is the capacity to accept change without upset. I think of it as being content and relaxed where you are. This is a great state of mind to learn in! So next time your horse is struggling with a new concept or showing some resistance, reach for your patience and use it to listen to exactly what your horse is telling you... you may hear something very helpful! |
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