Dressage Today

Re: Controlling emotions while riding

FocusCalmPatience — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:47:35 GMT

I become a stress monster at the canter transition as well. I have ridden a couple of horses that have caused me major frustration with correct leads, bucking, etc when I ask for the canter. As such, I delay my transition and wiggle my position all around because I'm so nervous to ask. I am taking a "yoga for the dressage rider class" taught by a certified yoga intructor/dressage trainer. Sounds nuts, but I find him saying a lot of the same things my trainer says when I ride. Being aware of your body, getting everything relaxed, staying "emotionless" and calm. I will let you know how it goes-lol- I've only been to one class, but maybe yoga can help!

Re: Controlling emotions while riding

874019 — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:30:22 GMT

One of the best things about dressage is that the process takes you and your horse slowly through the gaits and you gain confidence and are ready for the nest step. I was having huge problems with my horse and myself in the canter. After starting at Intro and getting back to basics with a lot of walking before trotting and then a lot of trotting our canter is doing great and I am at training level and doing well..also won a HUS class and a HUS eq class yesterday...

Re: Controlling emotions while riding

dressagerider3 — Mon, 25 May 2009 16:47:33 GMT

I don't think there are any ways to 'controll' your emotions. They are responses to the situation you find yourself in at the time.That's probably why this is only a problem when you are alone. In your lesson you can rely on your instructor to diagnose the problem and tell you what to do about it. I would say that before you figure out what you need to do, first take a moment to 'apologize' to your horse. Your horse doesn't like this either. Then tell yourself before you get to the barn that you will ONLY work on basic stuff for that day. Things you know you can handle. Any time he gives you ANY response close to what you want stop and praise him. I see a lot of people 'arguing' with their horses and I always think it is communication issue. If a horse understands and repects his rider chances are he will try to give the rider what they are asking for.

Re: Controlling emotions while riding

Live4Horses85 — Sun, 24 May 2009 18:11:00 GMT

hey everyone, my name is Vicky and I'm 23 years old. Since we are on this topic of controlling emotions while riding..I have the same issues as the one who posted this topic..but I need advice on how to control my emotions and nervousness at the canter...I get really nervous and I choke at the canter and I used to love to canter all the time with my first horse who I had to put down a few days before xmas.. now that I've got my new horse whom I've had for over a year now I get really nervous at the canter and I've had a instructor get fed up with me which really didn't help me much..

I am now learning dressage with my new horse..We are working on his walk and trot and he is doing amazing. One of his problems is that he's heavy on the forehand not so much at the trot anymore but more at the canter..I want to work with him at the canter but I freeze up when I ask him to canter and I can never pull through with the canter even though I want to.

Ahhh I need help!

Re: Controlling emotions while riding

Squeaksmom — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:29:24 GMT

The question was asked in 2005. I'm sure by now she's found an answer!

Re: Controlling emotions while riding

874019 — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:11:50 GMT

Use the powere of imaging. Sit someplace quiet preferably outdoors. lose your eyes. Imagine going to the barn getting your horse grooming tacking up and then begin yor ride. The first time you do this only imagine you and your horse walking. All is well and peacefull. After your walk take your horse back untack groom and out away then got back to the house. Now open your eyes and reflect on your wonderful peacefulride. The nest day repeat and maybe add a little jog or trot work. The next day repeat and add more trot and a circle and possible some transitions. Each day in your imagined ride add a little more difficulty. As you increas your difficulty add the dtails of your position your horses movement balance etc. After a week or two adda challenging movement and have it go perfectly as you ride perfectly. Finally add a spook or disobedience from you rhorse and maintain you peaceful quiet response as you guide your horse back to the movement and obedience.

Re: Controlling emotions while riding

lisaharders — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 11:19:15 GMT

You are on the right track with taking a break, but could it be that your horse is just plain not ready for what you're asking? I have 1/2 Morgan mare (now semi-retired) who would get very flustered everytime she thought she couldn't do something. Her trot would get short and quick, and she would be a nervous wreck, afraid of some imaginary ax to fall, I guess. So, I started keeping treats in my pocket. I would ask for something easy, give a little tidbit. Ask for something a little harder, give a little more... by the time the really hard thing came up she was ready to turn herself inside out for me if I wanted her to. And as soon as we accomplished our goal for the day 3 times, the final "treat" was getting off and being put away. Gradually, I decreased the goodies, varying the rate of reinforcement, and she tried harder. To this day, she is 25, sound, and still willing to give it her all everytime she's asked, and she only gets treats in her stall when she's done, unless we get something absolutely unbelievable.

Re: Controlling emotions while riding

653439 — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 07:54:53 GMT

What a novel idea! I think we should use whatever motivates the horse and gives good results. I like to change it up to, we go on a long trail ride with friends one day, then do dressage another, then put up some crossrails to trot over. Keeps us both fresh.

Re: Controlling emotions while riding

marcyr — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 05:45:35 GMT

Aha! Someone else with a frustrating horse!!! I've recently began to understand one of my geldings a lot better, and it is helping with the frustration. He basically gets bored! When he does something I would normally get upset at, I stop and make myself say, "HMMM, HOW INTERESTING!" I then try to think about why he is doing what he is doing.
If I switch it up and do something different - something HE thinks is fun, many times, it will change his mood and he will be such a more enjoyable ride. For instance - he is very lazy and doesn't like to go forward. I put a bucket of oats at each end of the arena and pointed him to the bucket. When he got there, he couldn't believe he could actually eat the oats. I would let him eat a couple of bites, then turn him to the other bucket - in the turns I would work on turn on the forehand or turn on the haunches. By the end of the session, he was cantering to the other bucket by barely touching his sides. Believe it or not, I had a great time too! I took him by such surprise, in our regular schooling sessions the rest of the week, he worked wonderfully! Now, I am not one for bribery, and this was a one time shot for him, but I try to throw something he thinks is interesting every once in awhile, and then he tries a lot harder for me. By the way, some of these ideas came from the Parelli program. I ride fairly traditionally, but use a lot of natural horseman philosophy.
By the way, I am sure you didn't mean you wanted to be emotionless while riding - because I think we all really just want to have FUN and feel good about what we are accomplishing!

Re: Controlling emotions while riding

Draftrider — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 04:17:36 GMT

I used to get the worst nerves for auditions and performances, bordering on panic attacks, but it never transfered to riding. To get it under control, I would listen to what I call bubblegum music, something light and upbeat. For riding, I would just strecth, and work on what was bothering me.

Re: Me, too!

854542 — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 21:16:37 GMT

That is so apropos MorganRider, thanks! The first instinct is to grip harder when, in fact, just letting go gets so much better results. Thanks for the reminder on Walter, I have his book and will open it up tonight!

Me, too!

653439 — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 17:49:27 GMT

Horses are just like children and easily pick up on and mirror or respond to our emotions. I have some tense days and sometimes fears (from bad experiences with a previous horse). I have a very supportive friend/instructor. When I have my wound up emotional states, she takes me back to walking. I can do WTC, small jumps, hours of trail rides across various terrain. Yet, when fear grips me, I go back to leading my horse on the ground, then getting on and walking for a while then a series of walk halt walk halt. Then if I feel better I go on to trot, etc. I do alot of warm up with very loose reins at a walk. And always try to end on a good note.
I have a Morgan, also, Lippitt bred, just turned 7. He's grown up alot this past year and we're doing so much better than I ever have with any other horse. He is becoming a close partner and that feels so good. Sometimes he takes care of me when I am fearful, if I just loosen the reins and don't grip.
It's interesting that to get the best out of your horse you have to let go. Anyone ever seen the Walter Zettle videos? I think Sylvia Loch has the same philosophy. You have to be relaxed and giving and then the horse can, too.

Re: Controlling emotions while riding

854542 — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 17:11:50 GMT

I just wanted to add that I am going to a horse trial this weekend and of course, whilst trying to practice my dressage test, ended up having the ride from h@ll because I was allowing myself to get emotional. I came back to this and got a lot of encouragement and good techniques to work on and keep myself cool. Thanks everyone for sharing!!!

Re: Controlling emotions while riding

854542 — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 23:53:57 GMT

I've done some research myself on this topic (but can't wait for Janie's article!) and for me it comes down to mental skill training and being internally instead of externally focused. Internal - it's about achieving for achievement's sake (how much better I rode this movement today than yesterday), instead of working towards winning a ribbon or other external factors (impressing my friends, my husband, my trainer!). Good luck!

Re: Controlling emotions while riding

869176 — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 01:27:05 GMT

Quote:

Hello,

I own a 17 year old Morgan gelding, and we compete in PT80 (Canadian level) eventing. He's quite a challenge to ride, in that he tends to hold a grudge, and he seems to like bulging a shoulder and finding new, inventive ways to evade. The last time someone else rode him a few weeks ago (fellow dressage rider), they dismounted saying, "I tip my hat to you for sticking with him."

I know that with horses, it's very important to never show emotion when you make a correction- simply show them another way without getting angry or frustrated. I know the importance of keeping calm, relaxed, sympathetic, and patient.

I tend to be a bit of a tense, worrier/perfectionist type, though, and doing all of the above is very hard for me. Sometimes, I feel very relaxed and content and have a great, almost meditative ride. But if my horse and I are having a bit of an off day, I sometimes get frustrated and have a hard time keeping patient. I feel that I really need to get over this before he can really trust me; we definitly have a connection but I don't think he completely trusts me yet (which I understand, and I feel terrible for it).

I'm always told to do this:

Breathe deeply, stay relaxed through my whole body, and take a break. Reflect on what I'm doing wrong that is causing him to react (I don't think it's ever the horses fault), and try something else that we do well until we are ready to try again.

I know to do that, and I am getting better about it, but it's just not that easy for me. If I can feel it turning a bit sour, I have the hardest time in the whole world taking a break- I feel like I MUST work through it or the world will collapse. Even when I do take a break, and I reflect on what's happening, when I go back to the trouble spot, it still starts again.

How can I stay emotionless and not frustrated while I ride? It never happens during lessons; just when I school by myself. It happens every few weeks; mostly everything is fine but sometimes it's just a bad day and I don't know how to handle that and not take it personally.

Thank you for your time and advice!

P.S.- That's us schooling in the attachment at the top of the page.

I couldn't have said it better myself! I too am struggling with this problem. I am starting to figure it out though. What seams to help me is that when i start to feel frusterated i take a walk break and then go back to something i KNOW we can do. And then end on a good note and pick back up the next day. I know its easier said than done stopping when you want so badly to get it right. One thing i always have to keep in mind is that progress (especially in dressage) is never linear. Good Luck!! And remeber that riding should be FUN.

I am new to this forum. Reading this post made me join because i can relate to what you all are saying and the suggestions are going to be helpful for me too.