What makes a confident horse rider?

Maybe you've seen a less technically skilled rider get better results than someone with more ability in a competition, in riding lessons, or while hacking out.

Or maybe you've known a very skilled rider. But she won't ride her horse outside of the arena.

Or she rides really well at home but falls apart at horse shows, clinics, or anywhere away from home?

What causes the rider with more technical ability to perform less well?

The big difference is a confident mindset.

I'm sharing 7 mindset barriers that may be holding you back and tell you what you can do to get past them. So you can be a confident horse rider!

Barrier #1 – Focusing on what might go wrong impacts horse riding confidence

When your mind is running in circles about all the bad things that could happen when you're horse riding, it’s impossible for you to focus on what is actually happening in the present moment.

You're being reactive rather than pro-active.

To Be A Confident Horse Rider Do This Instead – Be here now. Your brain can only have one thought and one focus at a time.

So, bring yourself into the present moment by putting your focus on what's around you, on your horse and on yourself. 

In other words, what can you see, hear, feel and smell?

When you pay attention to what is really happening now in this moment, you can't also be worrying about what might happen in the future.

And, you can prevent things from falling apart – even if it’s only falling apart in your mind.

And that will help you to feel less anxious about horse riding.

Barrier #2 – Worrying about the outcome decreases horse riding confidence.  

When your focus is on the end result, you miss out on the journey. 

You miss important steps that are needed in the process of getting there.

To Be A Confident Horse Rider Do This Instead – Focus on each step of the process.  Again, stay present in the moment and avoid thinking too far ahead to the end result.

Ask yourself what's the next step you need to take - and think in baby steps.

You build a solid foundation for your horse riding confidence by identifying and then making each little step that you and your horse need to take together towards your desired outcome.

Barrier #3 – Feeling judged by others impacts horse riding confidence

Performance anxiety can happen anywhere other people will see you riding - in a riding lesson, at a horsemanship clinic or in a competition.

When you worry about what other people are thinking, you get in your own way.

To Be A Confident Horse Rider Do This Instead - Let go of what others might think about your performance. People are really more concerned about their own performance.

So, stop trying to read other peoples’ minds.

Anyone with a negative opinion will quickly forget about you and move on to another target. 

People who care about you will support you. The opinion of anyone who doesn’t care about and support you is not important.

Elsa is right ... let it go!

Barrier #4 – Taking stresses and distractions into the saddle damages horse riding confidence 

You had a bad day at the office. You had a disagreement with your kids or your spouse. You were delayed by traffic and now you’re late for your lesson.

Day to day stresses cause physical and mental tension that continues to affect you long after the actual event occurred.

It takes between 20 minutes and 2 hours for cortisol to return to normal levels after stressful situations.  

And that tension and stress negatively affects your horse, your patience and your ability to learn.

To Be A Confident Horse Rider Do This Instead – Leave distractions and stresses from your life at the barn door.  You really don’t want to take them along for the ride.  

If you really want to, you can pick them up on your way out of the door.  Or you can also just decide to leave them there permanently.

Slow down. Take a few deep, calm breaths. Stretch out your body. Clear your mind. 

If you can’t leave it behind, do yourself and your horse a favour, give him a scratch and carrot then walk away.

Barrier #5 – Perfectionism hurts horse riding confidence

It is unreasonable to look for perfection in yourself, your horse or your riding. Perfection is a fantasy.

Horse riding - like life - really is a journey. You will have good days and bad days. So will your horse.

To Be A Confident Horse Rider Do This Instead – Stop striving for perfection. There will always be room for improvement.

Recognize where improvement is needed without beating up yourself (or your horse). Re-read #2.

Barrier #6 – Over thinking or over analyzing diminishes horse riding confidence

Riding well requires being able to feel your horse. It requires awareness for your own body as well as your horse’s body.

When you over think, the left, analytical side of your brain takes control and limits your ability to sense and feel your horse (or your own body, for that matter) and to be aware of what is happening in the moment.

Being too much in your head takes you out of your body.

To Be A Confident Horse Rider Do This Instead – Think less.  Feel more. Engage the right, feeling side of your brain by tuning in to the rhythm and movement of your horse’s body, creating an image of how you want to feel (i.e. soft and light like a feather), or humming a tune that calms or inspires you.

Barrier #7 – Taking things too seriously reduces horse riding confidence

When you take things too seriously or only focus on results, horse riding stops being fun – for you and your horse. 

You aren’t having fun if you're constantly judging how well you performed or focusing on what went wrong in every ride.

To Be A Confident Horse Rider Do This Instead - Have fun and enjoy your journey.  You came to horses to have fun  Riding brought you a sense of joy, companionship and fulfillment.

Look for at least 1-3 good things about every ride.

And write it down in a journal. So you can refer back to it when you're feeling down - as a reminder of how far you've really come

Just like us, horses are social creatures that thrive on interaction and play. 

Some rides need to be about training, but every ride needs to incorporate fun and light hearted interaction to avoid making your horse (and you) sour and resentful.

The bottom line – Being a confident rider requires both technical skills and a confident mindset. A mindset that focuses on successes, possibilities and learning. You can do this!

Which of these barriers are holding you back? Which are you going to tackle first?

Cheers, Anne

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P.S. Here are 3 ways I can help you enjoy every ride.

1. Sign up for my newsletter and get my awesome FREE guide with 7 Mindset Shifts For Horse Riding Confidence! https://bit.ly/7mindsetshiftsfree
2. Join my FREE Confident Horsemanship Community Facebook Group http://bit.ly/2zLEXMc
3. Get a FREE chapter of my book Confident Rider Confident Horse - it can really help you build your horse riding confidence http://bit.ly/CRCHfreechapter