Equestrian Dreams: How to Assess Your Riding Confidence

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Last updated on December 10th, 2010 at 01:19 pm

It’s funny how your dream pops up at unexpected places and times. This morning, I was at court, perusing the magazine rack while waiting for my case to be called. My dream of becoming an accomplished equestrian was not anywhere in the forefront of my mind.

Then, I spied it – the latest issue of Equus (I don’t know who the other rider is at the juvenile court complex but I’d like to thank them for putting their Equus out when they’re done!). The bottom headline on the cover leaped out at me, After a Fall; Rebuild Your Confidence. While I haven’t had a specific fall, Lord knows my riding confidence is badly sagging.

The author, Susan E. Harris, talks about the FAT (Fear – Anxiety – Tension) cycle. I’m definitely stuck in that and it is severely affecting my riding.

She also gives at riding Confidence Scale:

5 = I’m feeling great – let’s go faster

4 = I’m feeling pretty good

3 = I’m OK (neutral)

2 = I’m apprehensive

1 = I’m about to cry – I want to get off.

I’ll admit that lately I hover between 1 and 2. I don’t know what to do about it. I’ having trouble getting my riding confidence straightened out to be able to ride effectively. Nikki and I do fine at the walk; if I ask for a trot, I get irritated little bucking in response.

The article in Equus had lots of good ideas for breaking the FAT cycle:

• make sure you’re riding the right horse
• make sure you’re working with the right trainer
• go back to the basics
• give yourself time
• don’t expect too much immediately

I know all of those. But doing is so much harder than knowing – right?

Thursday evening, my husband and I are headed to LaCanada for a look at our Rose Parade float before we show up on Dec. 20 and actually have to tell people how to decorate it. I’m looking forward to it, especially our visit with “The Candy Man” on Friday afternoon. So, Rose Parade is humming along and I can’t figure out how to get out of my seemingly everlasting riding confidence funk.

How do you assess your dream confidence, and can it be applied to riding?

‘Til next week.

Danelle

Danelle is a successful attorney who left 8 Women Dream in March of 2010 and is still working on her dream is to become an accomplished equestrian