Groundwork for Yourself
be more aware of your body alignment, balance, and breathing prior to a ride. Your horse listens to your body language to understand what you’re asking him to do, and if you grip the saddle when you ask for a lope off, or fidget around when you’re telling him to stand still, he’s going to feed off of your behavior when you’re in the saddle.
If you struggle with nervous energy when you ride, take time to include meditation and yoga into your weekly routine to help you focus on your thoughts and calm your breathing. Yoga can also be a great way to warm up your muscles and get a good stretch in before heading to the barn.
Here I’ll cover a few quick exercises you can do prior to your ride—or even during a ride—that’ll help you stay centered and more self-aware when you’re in the saddle.
Mental Collection
that helps energize and oxygenate your system.
You can sit, stand, or lie down—whatever is most comfortable for you. Start by closing your eyes and relaxing your shoulders. Take a deep breath in through your nose and then exhale. As you do this, avoid letting your mind wander and concentrate on your breathing.
Once you can hold focus on your breath, try counting to 10. Notice how far you can get before your mind begins to wander. The more often you practice this the easier it’ll become to manage your thoughts and feelings.
Before you get on your horse, check in with yourself one more time to ensure you’re ready to go. While standing next to your horse, hold your saddle horn and cantle, settle into your feet, wiggle your toes, and take a deep breath. As you take in a breath, scan your body for any tensions and breathe a relaxing breath to those places. This moment helps you connect with your horse and have good energy running through your body before you even mount up.
If at any point during your ride you feel yourself get anxious or nervous, bring your horse to a stop or a walk, relax your body, and begin to work on your breathing. (For safety always keep your eyes open