Success Horse Riding

Rider Success

©  2006 Cherry Hill      www.horsekeeping.com

Over the years, I have observed that most riders face common obstacles. However, rather than presenting my observations to you as a series of problems that you must learn to overcome, I'm listing them as factors that are important to the successful development of a rider. After each factor are descriptions of people at the opposite ends of the spectrum regarding that point. These factors are discussed elsewhere in the book Becoming an Effective Rider in more detail.

A positive, confident attitude. The person who faces the jump expecting to land correctly on the other side, vs. the person who remembers the time her horse refused or went over the jump badly.

A healthy ego. The person who has pride in her work and works to satisfy her own standards, vs. the show-off or know-it-all whose primary reason for performing is to show others her supposed superiority.

A fit and healthy body. The person who can breathe and cool her body during exercise and who is supple and of a healthy weight, vs. the person who overheats or is short of breath, stiff, or overweight.

Open-mindedness. The person who accepts advice as a gift, vs. the person who interprets advice as an insult or threat.

A pleasant yet strong personality. The person who says hello, is willing to help, yet goes about her work, vs. the person who is snooty, ignores most people, yet wastes time in idle gossip with a few.

Self-motivation. The person who works after school to earn lessons, vs. the person who must be pushed and prodded by parents or friends to participate.

Responsibility for hard work. The person who cleans the stall and picks out the horse's hooves each day, vs. the person who does it only when told or when the horse is sick or lame.

Emotional security. The person who reacts to disappointment with a plan to improve, vs. the person who reacts to disappointment with crying or losing her temper. Mental alertness. The person who understands what the instructor is asking her to do, vs. the person who repeatedly asks the instructor to explain the same things and cannot follow instructions.

The ability to analyze and self-evaluate. The person who can work at home and assess the quality of the work during and after the session, vs. the person who is afraid to try anything without someone there to tell her if she is performing it correctly.

The ability to plan a work session. The person who is able to choose a productive plan: the warm-up, the old work, the new work, and the cool-down, vs. the person who rides aimlessly into an arena and wonders, "Now what do I do?"

Interest in horse behavior, training principles, tack. The person who spends time reading, observing, and talking with qualified horse people, vs. the person who gets by with just what is needed for basic participation.

Time. The person who plans regular, unhurried blocks of time, vs. the person who makes time once in a while or uses short periods of time sandwiched hectically between other activities.

Adequate finances. The person who uses the money available to care properly for a horse and participate in an activity at an appropriate level, vs. the person who uses money for less important, superficial purchases while the level of the horse's care suffers.

A good school horse. A cooperative, well-trained horse of any breed or appearance, vs. a handsome or beautiful but flighty and insufficiently or improperly trained horse.

A good instructor. A qualified person able both to tell and show you how to ride, vs. a questionable, domineering individual who has difficulty explaining but can ride, or is a great talker but can't ride well.

A place to work on a regular basis. A level, uncongested, enclosed area with good footing that is always available, vs. a rough or wet area with unsafe fencing and inconsistent availability.

The proper tack. A saddle of the proper size and style that lets you sit deep in the middle of the seat and allows some degree of flexibility, vs. a saddle that is too big or too small or locks you into an incorrect, fixed position.