How to Get the Best out of every Ride
How was your ride today?
On many days, it may be tempting to answer this question negatively: “Bad,” or “Well, it was one of those days,” or even “I don’t want to talk about it.” I’ve certainly had times where I almost wish that I had not ridden. But I firmly believe that every truly great rider will always be able to answer this question with a “Good!” if not even a “Great!!”
When a ride is just not going as planned, keep these tips in mind. Being creative can change a bad day into a good day, a defeat into a victory.
ALWAYS be patient.
Patience is absolutely essential. Horses cannot be trained overnight; new concepts take time to learn. If you keep plugging away bit by bit, you’ll eventually master them. When you lose your patience, you set your horse and yourself up for frustration.
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Exhale slowly. Begin again.
Keep goals flexible.
Some days, you’re just not going to get the perfect pleasure ride when your horse is hyper and antsy. That’s okay! No matter what your goals might have been, adapt them to the circumstances of your ride. Being flexible is important. Sometimes you might have to lower your expectations. Again, that’s okay! Find something that you and your horse can do well. Maybe work on some little task until you have it down, rather than tackling all your tricky spots at once.
Sometimes horseback riding is best described as “one step forward, two steps back.” Be happy with that one step forward; don’t ask for too much.
Change things up.
Don’t let your horse become sour to a certain exercise, pattern, or task. Change their job before they have a chance to become frustrated with you or the activity. Once you accomplish a different task, ask for the original one again. This same tactic of changing up your current activity also applies when your horse is scared, nervous, antsy, or anxious. Use the same concept. Keep your horse’s mind off its fears by constantly changing its job.
Here’s where creativity comes in - always have new activities to use during a ride!
Remember you’re a team.
Don’t lose sight of the fact that you need to work together with your horse. Your horse is a living creature who is going to have “mood swings” and “bad days” just as often as you. They may be hungry or grumpy, tired or energetic, fresh or achy. How they feel matters. Observe their mood when you are grooming and tacking up. During your warm up at the beginning of a ride, start adapting your expectations if needed. Work with your horse as a partner. Don’t ask too little and don’t ask too much - find the happy medium.
You can always accomplish something good when you treat your horse as a friend and partner!
End on a good note.
Some rides it seems as if you can’t even win for losing! Everyone has those days, you’re not alone. The most important part of what you might consider a bum ride is how you end it. When your horse (or you) gets into a certain mood, it can be hard not to pick a fight. Deescalate the situation, calm you and your horse down, and end on a good note. Give your horse a chance to do something well, then call it quits. You aren’t giving in, you’re playing it smart.
There is something to be said for perseverance and determination, but sometimes knowing your limits and riding smart leads to greater success.
