A S K dr.
Q:
carrie
I have a new horse and I am heading into the show ring after only two rides. How do I trust myself to connect properly with this mount so that we both feel safe, fluid, and receptive to our new partnership?
A:
Building trust with a new equine partner has a lot to do with the story that you tell about yourself as a rider and competitor. Every time you get on a horse it is as though it is the first time as both horse and rider are at least a bit different each day. Horses are prey in the wild, so they will come to the partnership with questions about their safety. It is up to the rider to dial into these questions and answer them sufficiently for the ride to go forward with ease and connection. During my own experience with this scenario I approached my first few experiences with my new partner in the show ring by being very clear about the track and cues I planned to use to show him the route. I had to bring a steady confidence to the warm up, rather than asking him questions as I had when I tried him. When we approached the show ring, I told him that the agreement we have is that I will be clear about the plan and he will execute, just as it had been in the warm up ring. When entering the ring, I told him where the first jump was and how we would be approaching it with words out loud! Since we were jumping a lower level than normal (1.10) the adrenaline that sometimes over-rides my focus in the higher levels did not overtake, and I was able to remain focused on each jump individually. I talked to him quite a bit as we went in order to be sure I was being clear with my messages. By the third round, I was able to trust myself to connect to this horse without quite so much overt action, but I remained clear that I needed to tell him what I expected each step of the way. In turn, he reciprocated with a kind confidence that left us both feeling inspired to do more together as our journey unfolds. If the connection with a new horse is a bit more challenging, I encourage you to take your time. Remember that the horse approaches this partnership from the perspective of prey and feels the need to keep its safety at the forefront. If you have not yet connected to your alpha rider self, the horse may pick up your concerns and confuse them as its own. Even if you are not feeling confident, remember that you have a brain that can create a narrative about what is happening and the words you use (even in your mind) will directly influence the dynamics of this partnership. So take some time to get clear about your leader-self by remembering how you have been a leader in other situations, and then bring this intentionality to your ride. It may seem abstract at first, but knowing this aspect of yourself will ultimately allow your equine-human relations to flourish.
102
¡ spring 2019