Hit a Wall in Your Riding? How to Get Around It

When you train at something long enough, sooner or later you're bound to hit a wall. The same is true of riding – despite schooling and lessons, at some point you may find yourself unable to advance past a certain skill or aspect of riding. So, what do you do if this happens?

Don't Panic

Remember that every rider, no matter how talented, has struggled at some point. There's not a single person to whom everything comes easily. The difference between some of the top riders and those who are less successful is that top riders have learned how to get around these obstacles. You can, too. It’s all a matter of finding the right solution.

Try a Different Approach

If you’re struggling with a particular skill or aspect of riding, the first thing you will want to do is to try a different approach. Evaluate yourself to make sure that you are riding properly and effectively, and then look for a solution to your problem. Can’t keep your leg secure over a fence? Try working in two-point at the trot and canter on the flat. Sometimes the simplest solutions are all that we need to get past seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Work with a Different Horse

Riding is complicated by the presence of two living beings – both the rider and the horse. Sometimes if you’re struggling or hitting a wall in your riding, working with a different horse for a period of time can help you to reevaluate your situation. A different horse will have a different way of going, and can help you to relax or focus more intently on your riding and the issue at hand. You may be better equipped to progress with your regular horse after schooling a different horse in the paddock a few times.

Break Down the Issue

We can run into walls when we try to advance too quickly. Jumping too high or schooling a higher level movement is almost bound to be trouble if you don’t yet have the foundation to ride well at these higher levels. Take a step back and look at your skills at the lower level – are they as strong as they should (and could) be before advancing to more difficult movements?

Work with a Different Trainer

Sometimes the walls we hit are more significant than a simple movement, and we might feel like we’re not progressing in our riding at all. If you find that you’re struggling in your riding, taking a lesson or two with a different trainer, or even switching trainers entirely, can often solve the problem. Each trainer has his or her own unique approach, and the way that they present riding to you and evaluate your riding will differ.

While you will likely hit a wall in your riding at some point, there are ways to get around it. How have you overcome difficulties in your own riding?

Image Source: ingimage.com

Original Source: Hit a Wall in Your Riding? How to Get Around It

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