Secrets of Making the Show Ring Fun Again
There may come a time in your riding career when you find yourself saying “why do I do this, why do I show?” It is usually contemplated under considerable stress, on the heels of a cycle of disappointment. You may end up white knuckling it through your show experience.
It happens for many reasons. But one thing is for sure; it is time to put the joy back into showing your horse.
Don’t forget about cooperation
Competition can make you very self-centered if you let it. Your thoughts can become consumed with “I” need to win and therefore others need to lose. Enjoyment easily goes out the window, and some very talented riders can end up walking away from something they love.
One way to look at competition is to see that it is also a cooperative act. You have to come together with people, agree on rules and codes of conduct, in order to compete. They do not have to be opposing constructs. Much fun can come from a focus on others. How can you give? Back to fellow riders, the shows you frequent? How can you support others? Getting out of your head and into someone else’s needs can give you back some motivational juice, try it.
Change your measuring stick
Everyone needs to experience success to feel motivated to keep going. Without a ribbon in hand, it’s amazing how many riders don’t know what success is. They are sometimes referred to as perfectionists and have a knack for killing their own motivation. Whatever we do in life, we need to feel as though we are making progress and having an effect. So if the fun has gone out of your showing, do a check on your measuring stick. Measure for effort, for risk taking, for horsemanship, for skill development. Remember wins come in many forms, so don’t limit yourself to just one.
Bring back the love
Why did you decide to ride and compete in the first place? Remember you as a young rider? What did you celebrate about horses? Chances are you felt very privileged to be around them. Bringing back the love of your sport can mean feeling grateful again. How are you lucky to be where you are? How many others cannot do what you are doing? The joy is in the doing. And don’t forget to be grateful to your horse. One of my favorite post ride routines to recommend is to simply say “thank you” to your horse. It reminds you – you are a team and you’re doing this together.
Develop a focus switch
Sometimes burn out occurs because thinking about competing and your sport never stops. Thinking turns to obsession. The trap of- if I just keep working on it in my head, turning it over and over, I will get better. You will not.
Just as a muscle in development needs to strain then relax in order to grow, your mind needs a recovery period in order to function efficiently. That means a plan of when you plan and problem solve and think about your riding and when you do not. And when that focus switch is turned to its off position, it doesn't necessarily mean you are in a lotus position without thoughts. It does mean there are no horsey thoughts being entertained. This could mean playing a game on your phone, listening to music, hanging out with friends. Even at a horse show, you need these off switch times.
Embrace the butterflies
One reason showing is not fun for many is the experience of performance anxiety. It can be tough feeling so uncomfortable. That knot in your stomach, racing heart and other physical changes in your body can have you wishing you had just stayed home. If you can accept the experience of butterflies as a normal part of your competitive life, chances are their fluttering will not escalate. They are after all, normal. Your body is changing to prepare itself to face a challenge. So the next time you sense those changes beginning, change the explanation in your head. Move from “oh no, nerves, I can’t compete” to “that’s my body doing its thing. Making me sharper, it’s going to be ok”. This one small change in your inner dialogue can do a lot for your comfort level, and your performance.
Nix the comparing
Competing can encourage comparison. That person is in a higher division than me. That rider has a better horse I could never afford. She has better skills. On and on and before you know it, walking into the show ring feels completely futile. Not fun. So put a limit on your comparing. Chances are you are not being fair in your sizing up. There are so many variables involved in horse sport, it is hard to do a straight up comparison. Instead, do something that is fair. Compete against yourself. Better your last ride. And if there are others riding better (and there always will be better and worse) then consider a different approach- thank them. Thank them for being skilled and showing you the way, helping you grow. That’s what the value of competition is all about.
Change your mistake formula
Too many riders have this formula: mistakes=failure. Now, given that mistakes will always be a part of your ride, and your life, this could be a problem. It could have you running scared from risks, riding tentatively and causing your horse much confusion. Remember that mistakes are valuable. Really valuable. Without them, you would not move forward. You would not become better. You would never take risks. So you really need them and should respect them. Consider changing your mistake formula to mistakes=opportunity+learning+growth. This can make shows a lot more enjoyable. Instead of riding to avoid errors you can ride to reach a new height.
Play the same game
If you like training, and feel comfortable there, you can learn to feel more at ease in the show ring. Sometimes, you have to remind yourself just how much they have in common. You have the same horse, the same skills, the same tack, the same coach. The same challenge, whether it is jumps or a test. Really, it is all the same. If you get yourself thinking on this track, you will remember just how ready you are to go in there and shine. And you know what? Shining is fun.
Need to get your showing on track? Check out the online courses at www.outofyourmindcourses.com!
Originally published: Canadian Horse Journal, May 2015
There may come a time in your riding career when you find yourself saying “why do I do this, why do I show?” It is usually contemplated under considerable stress, on the heels of a cycle of disappointment. You may end up white knuckling it through your show experience.
It happens for many reasons. But one thing is for sure; it is time to put the joy back into showing your horse.
Don’t forget about cooperation
Competition can make you very self-centered if you let it. Your thoughts can become consumed with “I” need to win and therefore others need to lose. Enjoyment easily goes out the window, and some very talented riders can end up walking away from something they love.
One way to look at competition is to see that it is also a cooperative act. You have to come together with people, agree on rules and codes of conduct, in order to compete. They do not have to be opposing constructs. Much fun can come from a focus on others. How can you give? Back to fellow riders, the shows you frequent? How can you support others? Getting out of your head and into someone else’s needs can give you back some motivational juice, try it.
Change your measuring stick
Everyone needs to experience success to feel motivated to keep going. Without a ribbon in hand, it’s amazing how many riders don’t know what success is. They are sometimes referred to as perfectionists and have a knack for killing their own motivation. Whatever we do in life, we need to feel as though we are making progress and having an effect. So if the fun has gone out of your showing, do a check on your measuring stick. Measure for effort, for risk taking, for horsemanship, for skill development. Remember wins come in many forms, so don’t limit yourself to just one.
Bring back the love
Why did you decide to ride and compete in the first place? Remember you as a young rider? What did you celebrate about horses? Chances are you felt very privileged to be around them. Bringing back the love of your sport can mean feeling grateful again. How are you lucky to be where you are? How many others cannot do what you are doing? The joy is in the doing. And don’t forget to be grateful to your horse. One of my favorite post ride routines to recommend is to simply say “thank you” to your horse. It reminds you – you are a team and you’re doing this together.
Develop a focus switch
Sometimes burn out occurs because thinking about competing and your sport never stops. Thinking turns to obsession. The trap of- if I just keep working on it in my head, turning it over and over, I will get better. You will not.
Just as a muscle in development needs to strain then relax in order to grow, your mind needs a recovery period in order to function efficiently. That means a plan of when you plan and problem solve and think about your riding and when you do not. And when that focus switch is turned to its off position, it doesn't necessarily mean you are in a lotus position without thoughts. It does mean there are no horsey thoughts being entertained. This could mean playing a game on your phone, listening to music, hanging out with friends. Even at a horse show, you need these off switch times.
Embrace the butterflies
One reason showing is not fun for many is the experience of performance anxiety. It can be tough feeling so uncomfortable. That knot in your stomach, racing heart and other physical changes in your body can have you wishing you had just stayed home. If you can accept the experience of butterflies as a normal part of your competitive life, chances are their fluttering will not escalate. They are after all, normal. Your body is changing to prepare itself to face a challenge. So the next time you sense those changes beginning, change the explanation in your head. Move from “oh no, nerves, I can’t compete” to “that’s my body doing its thing. Making me sharper, it’s going to be ok”. This one small change in your inner dialogue can do a lot for your comfort level, and your performance.
Nix the comparing
Competing can encourage comparison. That person is in a higher division than me. That rider has a better horse I could never afford. She has better skills. On and on and before you know it, walking into the show ring feels completely futile. Not fun. So put a limit on your comparing. Chances are you are not being fair in your sizing up. There are so many variables involved in horse sport, it is hard to do a straight up comparison. Instead, do something that is fair. Compete against yourself. Better your last ride. And if there are others riding better (and there always will be better and worse) then consider a different approach- thank them. Thank them for being skilled and showing you the way, helping you grow. That’s what the value of competition is all about.
Change your mistake formula
Too many riders have this formula: mistakes=failure. Now, given that mistakes will always be a part of your ride, and your life, this could be a problem. It could have you running scared from risks, riding tentatively and causing your horse much confusion. Remember that mistakes are valuable. Really valuable. Without them, you would not move forward. You would not become better. You would never take risks. So you really need them and should respect them. Consider changing your mistake formula to mistakes=opportunity+learning+growth. This can make shows a lot more enjoyable. Instead of riding to avoid errors you can ride to reach a new height.
Play the same game
If you like training, and feel comfortable there, you can learn to feel more at ease in the show ring. Sometimes, you have to remind yourself just how much they have in common. You have the same horse, the same skills, the same tack, the same coach. The same challenge, whether it is jumps or a test. Really, it is all the same. If you get yourself thinking on this track, you will remember just how ready you are to go in there and shine. And you know what? Shining is fun.
Need to get your showing on track? Check out the online courses at www.outofyourmindcourses.com!
Originally published: Canadian Horse Journal, May 2015