Top 10 Annoying Riding Habits

* Disclaimer: It is possible that this post may offend some readers. Please be advised that this list reflects solely my opinions and may not match yours! Read at your own discretion (peril?).

These riders are being respectful of each other on the trail.

Looks like based on the last post, we're in a "Top Ten" roll. This time, we will consider actual riding skills rather than character traits and maturity (although those also play a factor in every pet peeve below). Enjoy this tongue-in-cheek list coming from the opposite perspective - things NOT to do while riding!

10. Smack the horse as a reward. Your horse's skin is sensitive enough to feel a fly. There is no need to smack a horse to communicate your approval - instead, give it a soft, long rub with flat fingers. The message is much more comfortably conveyed and as effectively understood by the horse.

9. Loud vocalizations - either in reprimand or reward. First off, the horse can hear voice cues given in a normal tone level - or even calm and low, almost under your breath. Secondly, riders that must announce their appreciation/disapproval appear to be doing it for the sake of others around them rather than the horse. Why else speak so loudly?

8. Ignore the hollow back. It truly is difficult to identify when you are riding a horse with a hollow back, but seeing the hollow back is not brain surgery. Riders must spend time watching other horses as they move. With an educated mentor, notice when a horse is hollow. Then, take the (sometimes difficult) steps to change the riding in order to correct the horse's movement.

7. Create excuses for stumbling horses. Although correct trimming and shoeing is important, and some tripping can be caused by lamenesses/uneven footing, please do look at the balance of the horse while being ridden. Is he on the forehand and if so, what is the rider doing to help prevent any further damage to the horse's body and joints?

6. Blame the saddle/bridle/pads/farrier for the problem. Absolutely check out the equipment, but please don't stop there! Next, check out the rider - the horse is always only a mirror of the rider!

5. Avoid correcting obvious rider faults. Be one of those riders that rides THE SAME WAY for twenty years! Better than that, because of their many years in the saddle, they are confident enough to criticize others while turning a blind eye to themselves, even if their horses are sending them loud and clear messages.

4. Am I a magnet? Some riders cut off/trail behind/run into other horses on a regular basis. In fact, the harder you try to steer clear, the more determined they seem to be to interfere with your riding space. They don't seem to know the dimensions of their own horse, nor have an outside rein to discourage fading to the outside to prevent near-misses.

3. Stopped riders. When riding in the ring, please keep moving. A halt is different from a stop in that it is a movement. However, if you are going to stop your horse, even in the middle of the ring, please dismount and leave! Let the other riders keep a flow in their riding and not have to dodge you. To take it one step further, move with the flow of the other riders rather than against it.

2. Trail riders who take off in front of you. That is clearly a safety no-no but so many people still do it without thought to the poor soul behind who has the herd-bound or not so trained horse that feels left behind. ALWAYS check with your riding partners before heading into a faster pace.

1. Don't bother listening to the horse. Of course, this one always tops my list!

What are some of your rider  pet peeves?

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Other articles you might want to read:

Why People Are Stupid: Reblogged from SnarkyRider. Warning: the video may be upsetting to some.

Enjoys Being Brushed! Also from SnarkyRider, on how a sale horse is being presented.

A Song and My Very Own Chestnut Mare: Is it true what they say about chestnut mares? Also, enjoy the song by Marie-Lynn Hammond. 

Top Ten New Year's Resolutions for Horse Riding: I know New Year's is long past, but these resolutions can be very long-lived and are worthy to be mulled over again and again.

Top 6 Ways To Ramp It Up For Show Season

Preparing for the show season may not be as easy as it looks. There are many aspects that go into getting to the show ring, and even more that need to be done before you even set your first trailer tires onto the road.

Have a great time at the show!

6. Set your end-of-the-season goals. What can you realistically expect to achieve by the championships?  Break each goal down into a series of mini-steps that work you back to where you and your horse are now. Start at the beginning but set a timeline that enables you to achieve those long-term goals about a month before your championships. If you'd like a goal-setting workbook designed especially for the equestrian, click here.

5. Build momentum. Setting a routine is an essential component to showing. You need to develop momentum in everything from knowing what equipment you need to take with you for the show, to establishing habits for packing all the extras that you will need once you are off-property.

4. Take your horse on a field trip. Just like people, horses need time to develop their routines. Although your horse may have loaded perfectly by the end of last show season, taking him on a trip to another friendly and low-key facility will enable him to get into his groove. He can get the feel for unloading in a strange place and performing immediately after arrival. Have a blast during the field trip and you will help develop a positive attitude that will transfer to the show ring once the pressure is on. Take more than one trip if necessary. Your horse will tell you when he has found his routine.

3. Practice your show requirements. If you are showing in dressage, know those tests inside out and backward! If you are going for a hunter/jumper round, practice the common courses you will likely see in the show ring. Practice the patterns for western performance, and break down the barrel runs into mini-components that require the horse to go through the motions of show day.  If you compete in competitive trail, take your horse away to a friendly trail system and ride half the distance of your event at competition speed. Try to "win your ribbons" at home before you even leave your own sand.

2. Pack a good attitude. Know that you and your horse are going to do your best on the given day under the given circumstances. Set your reasonable goals for the day and try to achieve them. Ribbons are the icing on the cake, but I guarantee that "if you build it", the ribbons will come! However, if everything falls apart, don't despair! Just go home, regroup, and get back on the horse for another day. It happens to all of us!




1. Do it all again! It is true that it takes several shows for you and your horse to get accustomed to all the routines and variations in your day. Showing in the morning will feel very different from performing in the afternoon or at the end of the day. Different locations will offer differing amenities and both you and your horse need to experience and adapt to those changes. There is no replacement for experience, and with practice, your day will flow smoothly and effortlessly.

So get out there and start ramping it up for your show season! Is there anything you do differently from the list above? Let us know in the comments below!

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Ready for something completely different? If you liked what you read here, you might be interested in the Horse Listening Practice Sessions. 

This is NOT a program where you watch other people's riding lessons. Start working with your horse from Day 1.

Click here to read more and to join one of the most complete programs on the Internet!

Horse Listening

Horse Listening The Book
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Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

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Read more here:

https://www.horselistening.com2012/08/13/five-secrets-to-winning-at-the-horse-show/

https://www.horselistening.com2012/03/06/be-productive-with-your-nervous-energy-at-the-horse-show/

https://www.horselistening.com2011/12/16/do-you-have-the-x-factor-at-the-horse-show/

https://www.horselistening.com2011/09/30/dressage-judging/

https://www.horselistening.com2011/09/04/so-ya-think-ya-got-something-to-prove/

 

Be Productive With Your Nervous Energy at the Horse Show

Butterflies in the stomach.

Fear of the unknown.

Dealing with a multitude of eyes watching your every move.

Wondering if your responses to the horse are "right".

 

 

There are so many feelings that run through you when you head to the horse show. Most of us feel the tension and nervous energy run through us as we enter the warm-up ring or head to the show ring. We watch others as they watch us, and at the very least, we feel nervous or even worse, we might feel intimidated or insecure.

All of these feelings are completely normal but in the moment, it is important that you know how to make your show experience the best possible. The tension that builds in you during the warm-up ride can be very useful if you know what to do with it.

First, acknowledge the nervous energy.

The jitters you feel are GOOD and can help you achieve even better results than you would on a normal riding day "back at the ranch". Use the energy to focus internally - feel your joints, your seat, your legs and hands, and work with even more clarity toward helping your horse in his performance.

Jazz up your attitude!

Use the tension and energy to allow yourself to pick up mentally; rather than letting the tension disable you, use it to catapult your frame of mind into a party zone. Enjoy yourself and your horse! Mingle with your friends and competitors. Bask in the glory of the day, watch the beautiful horses and riders, and let them give you the buoyancy you need to perform at your best. Expect the best from your horse, but come from a place that allows mistakes and cuts him slack when needed. Create a buzz in you and your horse, then let the chips fall where they may.

"Zone in" to your horse.

Wrap yourself into a virtual bubble and visualize just you and your horse. Feel the horse's movements and respond sympathetically but supportively. Focus on the specific movements of your class and work on releasing both you and your horse's tension through the warm-up session. Then let the focus take you to your best performance!




Finally, remember that you are doing your best on that day, in those circumstances. The stars may not all align as exactly as you would like, but learn from every trip and strive for your own personal bests. Know that the ribbons are the icing on the cake - if you achieve your goals, you did what you came to do!

And remember to thank your horse, for you would not be at the show if it wasn't for him!

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Ready for something completely different? If you liked what you read here, you might be interested in the Horse Listening Practice Sessions.

This is NOT a program where you watch other people's riding lessons. Start working with your horse from Day 1.

Click here to read more  and to join one of the most complete programs on the Internet!

 

Horse Listening

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Horse Listening Book 4
Click to learn more.

If you enjoyed the above article, you may enjoy the following ones as well:

Do You Have the "X Factor" at the Horse Show? Some tips on how to be your best at the show.

Scoring the Hunter Round: A guest post written by a Senior Hunter Judge - all you ever wanted to know about how a hunter round is judged!

So Ya Think Ya Got Something To Prove? Then don't go to the show. Seriously.

Is Dressage Judging All That Bad? Weighing in on the controversy.

 

Do You Have the “X Factor” at the Horse Show?

You know it when you see it...

the flawless performance

the harmony

the sense of joy

the ease of the ride

the expression in the horse

the glow from the rider.

 

Can you find your "X factor" at the show?

Find your own "X Factor" at the horse show!

 

Attitude

Have that LOOK AT ME! air about you. It is essential that you go into the class thinking that this is a "performance". Be ready to show off! Believe that you and your horse are truly amazing. Try to attract everyone's attention (including the judge's eye) by having that extra sense of  expression. Turn their heads!

Accept constructive (or any) criticism with humility and evaluate later on. The show is not the place to challenge someone's opinion or try to argue your position. Just say "yes", do what needs to be done, and then consider all the other factors later when you get home.

Go in with a positive attitude. Have fun - enjoy the ride, because that's what it is really all about. Use any nervous energy to make you (and your horse) better, sharper and more "with it". Think of it as a party - you are out there to celebrate your horse as well as your own accomplishments with the judge and the other competitors.

Skills

Know your skill requirements/movements inside and out. Although you will always invariably learn something (good or bad) at the show, your goal should not be to learn anything new. The show is the place where you want to demonstrate your already acquired skills. Think of it as a "culminating task" - the test, the project, the demonstration. Study the requirements of the show and practice it all at home before even thinking about pulling the trailer out.

Have the horse technically above the level of the show. If there are components of the show that you or your horse are not fluent in, then stay home and practice. Or head over to a friend's barn and do a "not show" in an environment that will test your horse but where you can feel comfortable and focused without the added stress of the competitive atmosphere of a show.

Get to the point that you don't have to think about the movements. Muscle memory is where it's at! Both you and your horse should be so well practiced in the required movements that there is no thinking in the moment. Just do. If you can be working at that level of performance, you will suddenly discover oodles of extra time for you to consider things other than just skill - things like strategy and fun!

Goals

Set three (or so) goals that you want to achieve. Before you head to the show, consider three realistic goals that you want to definitely achieve. The catch is that these goals should have already been practiced at home. There is no room at the show for you to try something new - what  have you mastered already that you can "test" at the show?

Strive each time for a personal best. Again, reality is the key here. Although the point of the show is to compete against other people, your goal should never be to try to beat someone else. Instead, focus on beating yourself. What has been your best achievement to date? What would be just one small step higher? Have you been achieving this at home already? Can you work toward it at a show? It stands to reason that if you progress even just a little each show, there will be a lot of improvement by the end of the season.

Re-evaluate your performance at home. Save the debriefing of the show for later. If you are disappointed in the results, take the information home with you and consult your coach, or support crew. What went right? What went wrong? What did you learn about your horse? What did you learn about yourself? What is your new homework to work toward the next show?

Homework

Be fit - make sure you are both conditioned beyond the required level of performance. Both you and your horse have to be adequately conditioned to be able to physically and mentally handle the pressures of the show environment and schedule. As you build up toward the show, consider how much physical exertion will be required and slowly develop your stamina to that level.

Show at a lower level than at home. Always practice the more difficult skills at home. Do not take them to the show until they become the easy skills! Having adequate muscle memory dictates that the show requirements are easy for you and your horse - not vica versa!

Don't train at the show. Have you seen people trying to teach their horse something new under the stressful environment of a show? They insist that the horse has to "get it", right then and there. Avoid being one of those people. Neither you nor your horse will be able to learn a new skill in one warm-up session; you will only be setting both of you up for failure. If you find yourself training, you know you should not have gone to the show.

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Well, to be honest, finding your "X Factor" at the show is not an easy feat. So many things must fall together all at the same time. But you are not entirely powerless! Just focus on the above tips, and see if they help you achieve that little bit extra to catapult you to higher heights!

There must be other tips that help you get through your show day. Share some below in the comment section!

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Ready for something completely different? If you liked what you read here, you might be interested in the new Horse Listening Practice Sessions. 

This is NOT a program where you watch other people's riding lessons. Start working with your horse from Day 1.

Click here to read more and to join one of the most complete programs on the Internet!

Horse Listening

Don’t miss a single issue of Horse Listening! If you like what you are reading, become a subscriber and receive updates when new Horse Listening articles are published!  Your email address will not be used on any other distribution list. Subscribe to Horse Listening by Email

New! Horse Listening – Book 2: Forward and Round to Training Success

Available as an eBook or paperback.

More on showing here:

Five Secrets to Winning at the Horse Show: The fun part about winning is that winning isn’t everything!

Top 6 Ways to Ramp It Up For Show Season: Preparing for the show season may not be as easy as it looks. There are many aspects that go into getting to the show ring, and even more that need to be done before you even set your first trailer tires onto the road.

Be Productive With Your Nervous Energy at the Horse Show: The tension that builds in you during the warm-up ride can be very useful if you know what to do with it.

So Ya Think Ya Got Something to Prove? Then don’t go to the show. Seriously.