Psychology

Leaping the Gap - From Riding Student to Professional Equestrian

Updated:

March 14, 2024

Tina Irwin Working Student Program, Maddy Scott Equestrian Crosby Gold, how to be professional equestrian, successful canadian horse riders

Many youth dream of becoming horse industry professionals — training horses, coaching riders, managing a stable or riding professionally at top level. Significant barriers stymie those attempting to pursue success, regardless of their talent and enthusiasm. There’s no streamlined path to follow that develops the needed horsemanship, business knowledge, training, and coaching skills required of professional riders, barn managers, and coaches.

10 Tips To Help You Build A Better Barn Business

Updated:

January 26, 2024

running a horse barn, owning a horse farm, boarding horses, how to board horses, renting riding ring

Horse business owners everywhere know how difficult it is to make money in the horse world. Every equine industry entrepreneur strives to figure out how to build a better and more resilient enterprise that will generate a reliable revenue stream and provide an enjoyable equestrian lifestyle.

Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence

Updated:

January 5, 2024

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Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Your Students - If you enjoy a leadership role in the horse industry, such as riding instructor, stable manager, or mentor, your role places you in a unique leadership position to demonstrate emotional intelligence and maintenance of a balanced life. You and those around you may face difficulty accepting a lack of control over your lives right now, but you have the power to become a role model. You can be the vehicle for positive change in today’s uncertain world by helping your students, boarders, and employees overcome challenges. Now is the time to take a moment to ask yourself what you want your legacy to be. Who do you want to be? How do you want to handle the curve balls in life? Do you want to live within the fear zone, the learning zone, the growth zone, or the action zone?

Winter Doldrums Got You Down? 7 Ways to Banish the Blahs

Updated:

December 17, 2023

riding a horse winter, enjoy a horse in winter, autumn horse riding, winter horse riding, horse psychology, equestrian psychologists

It’s amazing how that same body that tingled at the opportunity to go for a ride this summer is now locked in a horizontal position on the couch. Inertia seems to have set in, and it may take some serious convincing to get some movement going again. What can you do?

Psychology of a Successful Horse Rider

Updated:

November 20, 2023

how to enjoy horse riding, setting horse riding goals, equestrian psychology, horse rider psychology, annika mcgivern, succeeding horse rider

Motivation and Expertise - I want to be the absolute best rider I can be. But I’m also terrified that my best won’t be good enough. What do I do when it feels like it’s not working?

The Science of Schooling Horses

Updated:

October 27, 2023

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Keys to an effective horse training session. I’ve trained a lot of horses. After nailing up my sign as a “professional horse trainer” several decades ago, I learned quickly that overhead is high in the horse business so you’d better make some hay if you’re going to pay your bills. Consequently, I rode many horses each day, breaking young ones and tuning up show horses.

How to Enjoy Fall and Winter with Your Horse - 10 Ways

Updated:

October 21, 2023

Lindsay Grice, how to enjoy fall winter with Your Horse, meeting your equine goals, explore alternate activities with your horse, horse training, bonding with your horse, winter horse riding, autumn horse riding

Fall fairs, circuit championships, and club awards banquets signal the end of another horse show season. So how did it go? Did your shows, rodeos, or competitive trail rides meet your expectations? For the majority of horse owners, the answer to this question will likely be no. Stuff happens. And so we look toward the next year. But with chilly fall and winter weather looming, we all need some goals to motivate us to get off the couch and out to the arena on those cold nights!

Psychology for the Horse Rider - From Self-Sabotage to Success

Updated:

October 5, 2023

horse rider psychology, equestrian psychology, mantras for horse people, psychology horse people, mental wellness equestrians, annika mcgivern

Have you ever felt like you’re getting in your own way? If so, you are not alone. As equestrians, we can be at particular risk of “self-sabotaging” when moving up a level in competition. This article will explore why this happens and what we can do to work against our tendency to make things harder for ourselves than they need to be. It is possible to tackle each new level with self-trust, confidence, and effective riding. All we need is the support of some mental skills and strategies.

How to Fall Off a Horse

Updated:

September 6, 2023

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In January 2003, Penny Woodworth, who lives on Vancouver Island, BC, was taking a jumping lesson. “Smallish jumps, nothing exciting. My long-time error is looking down, which I did that day. My horse stopped, and I tumbled off. Not a bad fall at all, except that I landed with one butt-cheek on the ground pole. I got up and carried on, but I was crooked and stayed that way. After a week or so, still riding crooked and feeling shooting pains down my right leg, I went for physiotherapy. I had dislocated my sacroiliac (SI) joint. Regular physio treatments and exercises finally got it to stay in place and I continued riding.

Relationship Rescue: Communication is a Two-Way Ride

Updated:

July 1, 2023

improve relationship with horse, horse to human relationship, psychology for riders, psychology for horses

Riding is a relationship-based sport. You have a teammate who must somehow be made aware of your goals and develop a willingness to follow you. For beginners this is a given. For the rest of us, there is simply no excuse for not becoming well versed in the art of connection.