Improving
Attitude and Confidence
© 2008 Cherry Hill ©
Copyright Information Whether
you're returning to riding after time off or first learning to ride, get in shape
before you get in the saddle. This will minimize injury and maximize enjoyment.
When you evaluated your rider readiness in last month's newsletter, perhaps you
found a few areas that could use improvement. Here you'll find exercises and tips
specifically tailored for riders to help with those trouble spots. STAGES
OF RIDER DEVELOPMENT
1 - Evaluate, then make a plan.
2 - Focus on attitude, confidence and enough
muscular strength to ride for about one hour.
3 - Work on flexibility to
attain a correct riding position and use the aids effectively.
4 - Increase
your endurance for longer or more demanding riding.
5 - Improve your timing
for advanced riding skills.
ATTITUDE
A good
attitude is a combination of motivation, optimism, diligence, patience, and honesty.
If you think you need an "attitude adjustment", start by finding or
making adequate time to devote to riding. If you approach riding in a hurry, it's
not only harder to have a good attitude but it's unsafe and often counter-productive.
Associate with happy, positive, successful
people, especially during your horse time. You want to avoid folks with unhealthy
egos, those that constantly gossip or bellyache, or those involved in illegal
or inhumane activities. Learn about visualization, mental imaging, and goal setting
and how they can be used to improve your riding.
CONFIDENCE
Confidence comes from knowledge, training,
and experience. It's no secret that confident body language convinces a horse
that you are in charge.Two keys to confidence are: 1. Ride a good horse
and 2. Work with a good instructor.
Even before you get to
actual riding, spend plenty of time with your horse: grooming, tacking and leading
so you become accustomed to each other. Your
Mentor, the Horse So that you can
concentrate on your riding, you need the help of a well-trained, patient, experienced
horse. Most good "rehab" or school horses are 8-20 years old geldings
but some older mares also exhibit great care and patience. Use a horse with an
exemplary temperament, one that is not only patient but willing, cooperative,
and alert, yet calm. You want a horse that is physically responsive to the aids
and balanced and rhythmic in his gaits. A sensitive, thin-skinned, hot-blooded
horse, even though well-trained, might react to accidental bumps of the leg or
weight shifts as cues. You are usually better off choosing a duller, more cold-blooded
horse that will tolerate the mistakes a rider makes when learning balance and
rhythm. Such a horse tends to go on steadily despite awkward rider movements.
Choosing
an Instructor There is no substitute
for a good instructor and a poor instructor is worse than none at all. So that
you learn correctly and you maintain a good opinion of yourself, your horse, and
your work, choose your instructor carefully. An excellent trainer may be good
with horses but ill suited to working with people.
Look for an instructor with a keen eye and the ability to give you accurate feedback.
You might think of your instructor as an experienced, talking mirror. The best
instructor is also an excellent rider, trainer, and observer; someone who knows
when things are going well and tells you; someone who sees when things are headed
in the wrong direction and can tell you in clear terms how to fix it.
Choose an instructor that is appropriate for your goals and capabilities. Some
teachers are excellent with beginning riders but do not have the proficiency to
take a rider further. Others do not have the patience to work with any but very
advanced riders and horses. An instructor with a famous name may not have the
time or interest required to work regularly with a re-entry or novice rider. Look
for an instructor nearby so you can take frequent lessons.
Give your instructor's methods a chance to work. If you are convinced mentally
that they will not work, they will not work. Be sure you can hear and understand
exactly what your instructor is telling you. Misunderstandings can undermine your
self confidence and your trust in your trainer.
Confidence Builder - the Mounting Block
One of the most awkward times in learning to ride is mounting and dismounting.
You could teach your horse to sit down for you to mount! But a more practical
solution is to use a mounting block. Especially if you are short, stiff, or coming
back from an injury, a mounting block puts your foot closer to the stirrup and
decreases the distance you have to lift your body weight. Whether you use a milk
crate, a bucket or an official mounting block, you will find mounting less stressful
to your knees and back. In addition, there will be less scrambling and saddle
twisting, which your horse will appreciate. You can mount facing the rear or the
front of your horse, whichever works best with your physical limitations. Use
a quiet, obedient horse because if he steps sideways just as you are getting on,
you could find yourself in a wrenching version of the "splits"! 
Read these other articles
in the Back In The Saddle series: Part One: EvaluationPart Two: Improvement | 2.jpg){kind=small}
