Psychology

Changing Equine Disciplines

Updated:

December 13, 2022

kelly plitz reining, colten powell show jumping, colten powell bronc rider, kelly plitz reining, tina thompson eventing, tina thompson endurance, changing horse discipliens, tania millen

Pivoting for Lifelong Learning Opportunities - Riders often pursue the same horse sport for years, competing up and down the levels depending on their horse and how life unfolds. But some riders choose to change disciplines altogether — by choice, necessity, or because their horses want to do something different. It’s something riders at all ages and life stages may experience but the learning curve for a new sport can be steep. We interviewed three riders who are embracing new-to-them horse sports and meeting the challenges that brings.

Riders of a Certain Age: Your Guide for Loving Horses Midlife and Beyond

Updated:

November 13, 2022

older riders, riders of a certain age book, horse book reviews, reviews for equestrians, tania millen reviews, fran severn book review

Are you a midlife novice horsewoman wondering about the ins and outs of having a horse? If so, this book can help. It’s clearly designed to answer questions for women who are finally living their dreams of riding or owning a horse — whether they’re new to the horse world or returning after a long absence.

Breathe Right For Better Horse Riding

Updated:

October 6, 2022

effective breathing techniques for horse riders, how to breathe properly when horse riding, overcoming nervous breathing when horse riding

We breathe more than 20,000 times a day. Most of the time, we don’t give it much thought, since we do it automatically and all seems to go well… except when it doesn’t.

Horse Competition - Are You Performing in the Zone?

Updated:

August 12, 2022

psychology riding horses, april clay horse psychology, horse competition nervousness, staying calm riding horse show

What does it mean to “ride in the zone”? Most riders will say they have experienced it. Some would even say it’s the very reason they ride. It’s an effortless feeling when everything is going your way. If you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting that famous zone, or want to know how to get there more often, read on.

Horse Sport Psychology - Facing Fear - Real and Imagined

Updated:

August 5, 2022

horse rider fear, scared riding horses, psychology horse riders, annika mcgivern, equestrian psychology

The Mediterranean waters glistened below me. As I stood on the edge of the rockface, contemplating the 25-foot drop into the clear blue sea, it felt like my body was screaming at me to not jump. My knees were shaking, making my legs feel unsteady. My mind felt fuzzy and slightly disconnected from reality. I was more acutely scared than I had been in quite some time. But here’s the thing: I really wanted to jump. I was in Croatia and the sea was warm and inviting. I had watched about 10 people make the same leap quite safely and I knew, rationally, that it really wasn’t that high. I was determined to push through my nerves and do it, but in that moment I wasn’t entirely sure my body would let me.

Practice Emotional Resilience for a Better Horse Ride

Updated:

July 28, 2022

annika Mcgivern, horse rider psychology, how to stay calm atop a horse, psychology for equestrians, mental horse riding, anxiety horse rider

If you could choose the way you feel every time you sit on horse, what emotions would you choose? When I ask this question of my clients, their responses usually include the words calm, present, happy, relaxed, and confident. If you agree, it begs the question: Why don’t we feel this way more often in the saddle?

How To Be a Better Barn Boarder

Updated:

May 19, 2022

Nikki Alvin-Smith horse trainer, jobs of a horse boarder, how to run a horse barn, finding the right horse barn, finding a home horse

Being a popular and appreciative boarder at your barn ultimately benefits both you and your horse — your word will be better regarded, your disgruntlements better addressed, and you and your horse will be valued members of the barn community.

Burnout in the Horse Industry

Updated:

March 12, 2022

how to manage a horse and life, annika mcgivern, psychology of a horse rider, horse life balance

How to Bounce Back - As I sit down to write about burnout, I step back through time into memories of moments where I felt overwhelmed by frustration, exhaustion, and an agonizing feeling of not achieving. A feeling of not measuring up to expectations. When I was in this mental place, every unsuccessful show and difficult ride left me feeling stressed, anxious, and like a failure. The thoughts, Why do I do this? and I can’t do this any more! played on repeat in my head. I was spending so much time and money and I wanted success badly.

Sparky the Wonder (Senior) Horse

Updated:

February 4, 2022

relationship with horses, understanding horses, alexa linton, how old horses get, paddock paradise track system, natural environment horses

Vibrant Life Beyond 20 - Recently, I spent time with a horse named Sparky who is estimated to be over 40 years old. Understandably, you may be visualizing a tottering shell of a being, held together by medication and hay cubes, but this could not be further from the truth. Sparky is a sound, vital, cheeky, engaged fellow and the leader of the pack, although his teeth no longer work well for chewing hay. Out of curiosity, I studied his lifestyle, diet, way of being, and exercise routine with hopes of gleaning some insight to help me support my more “mature” equine clients as well as my own mare Diva, who turned 22 years old this past May.

Behind Every Successful Equestrian Rider is a Dedicated Team

Updated:

January 3, 2022

successful horse people, winona hartvikson dressage paralympic, kyle carter olympian eventer, stephanie valdes show jumping, tiffany foster little equestrian, horse riding olympics, canadian horse riders

Elite equestrian riders often credit their success to a dedicated team of professionals who work together to optimize both the rider’s and horse’s performance. However, successful teams go beyond the standard mix of farriers, grooms, owners, saddle fitters, sponsors, sports psychologists, and veterinarians. Three prominent Canadian riders—amateur show jumper Stephanie Valdes, 2020 Paralympian dressage rider Winona Hartvikson, and seasoned Olympic three-day eventer Kyle Carter—there’s much more to building a winning team.