How does this apply to your riding?

Would you like to “get ahead”?

Progress?

Or maybe try something new?

Then go ahead.

You CAN do it.

Having the desire to get better is only half of the story.

The other half is knowing what to do and then taking the steps forward to getting it done.

Your horse doesn’t magically know how to do flying lead changes (okay, maybe that’s a bad example because when left alone, most horses DO do flying changes. Just watch any horse out in the field – they have auto changes!) but if you take the correct steps in training, programming and systematic development then you can accomplish most anything with your horse.

But,

There are considerations.

1. Taking the correct steps.
2. Program
3. Systematic development

These things have to happen.

Taking the correct steps

Knowing your end game or where you would like to end up is only half of the battle. The other half is knowing how to get there.

It reminds me of when we were travelling (by bicycle – you can read it here) across South America, Chile and Argentina, Patagonia. We knew where we wanted to be at the end of the week,

But,

We really had no idea how we were getting there. We took side trips and unplanned mechanical detours.

In short, we took the long way around to see and enjoy the trip as much as possible. That and the fact that we had no plan and no route we wanted to or should have followed.

We mostly aimlessly travelled around with an end point for the end of the week.

Equate it to your own recent outing, your trip to Walmart or Costco for example. You KNOW

EXACTLY
Where
To
go.

You know the roads, the turns, the traffic, the stop lights and even, most probably have your own favorite place to park once you get there.
and
you arrive there seamlessly.

But
When you ride your horse,

Do you have the same detailed plan to follow? And here I don’t mean a turn by turn ride, but rather a basic roadmap of exercises to follow to get you to your next step or goal.

Do you know, at the end of the week what you would like to have accomplished? 
Or
At the end of the month the things you would like to have completed?

If you don’t, set up a meeting with me and I can help you through it. Complimentary session to get you and your horse on your way.

Program

The program is all those steps fit together into one neat package.

What you work on this week and how it fits into what you work on next week.

I’m currently working with a student whose horse was rushing at the jumps.

We just didn’t aim to correct that.

What we did was develop a 10 week program that gave the horse and rider skills so that the jumps were part of the exercise. No more rushing.

What students often say is, “no one has said that to me before,” 
Or
“I never thought of it that way.”

It, to me, makes no sense to go willy-nilly working on something if you have no idea where it fits into your program.

Your program, which you should consider a year, takes you through the “off period” as well as peaking for horse shows and important events.

Each month is divided into smaller training periods (weeks) and the training periods subdivided into daily training.

Which is where:

Systematic Development

Comes into play.

How these training periods fit into one another.

It is the big picture. And dividing that big picture into smaller “pictures” to establish your plan.

Think of it as a puzzle.
And you are putting that puzzle together.
But how do you know what to put together if there is no picture to refer to.

That is what will happen if you don’t have a systematic system.

You will use trial and error to get that puzzle together.
Sure you can start off with the corner pieces.
Then the straight sides.
Then you sort the pieces by colour.
And shape.

That is your system for putting a puzzle together.

Now you know those pieces.

But what about all the pieces inside?

Is it going to be a horse jumping a jump in the puzzle?
Or is it going to be a western rider?

You may need some help with that.
That is why there is a reference photo on the front of the box.

What does this have to do with your riding?
Everything.
If you don’t:

• Taking the correct steps.
• Have a Program
• Systematic development

You will never reach your desired goal.

Start now and think about you where you would like to be with your horse at the end of the season. 

You are not alone – contact me I can help you.

Until Next time

~Laura

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