Anyone else lost motivation to ride lately?

Perfect_Pirouette

Perfect_Pirouette

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 February 2009
Messages
4,437
Visit site
:mad:I competed last weekend and up until that he hadn't had a day off for 2 weeks! I've only had him about 8 weeks and have rideen him 6 days a week since then.

Lst week, I thought, right he can have Monday off as he was such a good boy the day before out. Thought I would also give us both a break from the school for a few days as well when I did ride and just hack. However last week I just had no motivation to ride whatsoever. I hacked him Tues eve which was nice as it was lovely and warm. However didn't ride Wednesday, rode Thursday, should have ridden Friday but honestly just couldn't summon up the energy. It was cold and windy and rainy so didn't.

Saturday I took him in the school for a bit, again was cold, windy and not very nice and yesterday I took him for a quick spin around the block but had to really force myelf to ride. We got caught in the downpour and got absolutely SOAKED! :mad: Also just had such a busy couple of weeks and not sure if it's perhaps taking its toll and I'm starting to feel it.

Anyone else have weeks like this??I don't really, I have done occasionally before but it normally only lasts a couple of days.

Just to say, I'm by no means a fair weather rider, I ride literally whatever the weather, rain, hail, wind etc.

Now it's Monday. I know I should ride tonight,tomorrow and Thursday night this week as I can't ride Wed or Friday but I'm sitting at my desk feeling so exhausted and the only thing I want to do after I've done him tonight is put him to bed and go home and go to bed myself but know I should ride.

Not sure what's wrong with me. I honestly think it's the weather as I just feel cold all the time and it's so grey and miserable and windy and CONSTANTLY threatning to rain all the time
 
I think we all go through a phase at times, wouldn’t be human otherwise and sometimes it can do both us and the horse good to have a bit of a rest bite, least then you come back with more enthusiasm and a fresh outlook I think.

It’s always good to set yourself goals too as sometimes it's easy to loose track on what really is important, maybe that would help? even if you folk don’t ride competitively, if you set yourself targets, even if there not ridden ones, like ground work or just sprucing up your horse and giving them a bit of makeover.

Trying out different activities on your horse that you’d normally not bother with or booking yourself a lesson trying something new, like a polo taster?

Not to mention a wee bit of retail therapy, that certainly doesn’t go a miss.

:)
 
I seem to have been like this all year - also I think, due to the weather!

I should go hack today, but don't fancy it. Wouldn't mind schooling, but ground so wet I will wreck the field if I do......
 
Well we do compete but won't be competing now until August so think that could have something to do with it. However that was meant to be a good thing as I was going to work on everything over the next month or so and come out properly ready for next comp.

Had booked for trainer to come over however have had to cancel as got a new saddle that needs adjusting and saddler can't come out for another 2 and half weeks. (Can still ride as have his current/old saddle) but don't want to have lessons in current saddle as I just really struggle to ride well in it. So thought I may as well wait until dressage saddle is properly fitted.

Strange thing is we have LOADS to work on, his canter needs to improve drastically for a start. I just don't seem to have any motivation. Think I'm just pretty tired tbh. Also, when I ride I don't seem to be able to get anything else done as don't get in til about 8 and then by time I've cooked dinner, sorted stuff out for work the next day it's time to go to bed :eek:
 
Yes, the weather has been rubbish! You have done a fair bit of riding, a couple easy weeks isnt going to harm. I get married on Saturday so have found Ive been a bit too busy to ride somedays but have managed to get my horse exercised 5 to 6 times a week. Last week he had wednesday off I think it was as the weather was rubbish and I couldn't be arsed and then he had this sunday off as I was busy.
I hacked today, I have a lesson tomorrow, i'll hack on wed. Maybe school or jump on Thur and then he will have 3 weeks off over the wedding and honeymoon. I feel slightly stressed about giving him time off but he hasn't had a holiday for ages and ages.
I think it is sometimes us who puts pressure on ourselves to ride when the horses wouldnt mind if they have the odd day off!
If I am finding I can't be bothered once I am on board I am fine but if I really really just can't be bothered or the weather is truely rubbish I don't ride as I think it is just counter productive otherwise!
 
I'm just worried about him getting fat lol :o He's lost weight and fittened up recently and I'm really pleased....and want it to stay like that lol.

Good luck for Sat, you must be very excited. I think wedding and honeymoon are pretty good excuses to give your horse some time off lol. Not just because you're cold and tired like me.

You're right, I think it's me that's putting all the pressure onto myself. He was still ridden 4 x last week so not like he just got left. I really do think it's the weather. I might just accept that I'm feeling pretty exhausted and just ride him tomorrow, thurs, sat and sunday this week and crack on next week whatever. It won't harm him and as you say, no point in riding (particularly schooling) if my mind isn't really on the job. I may ride tonight, will see how I feel once I've done everything and what time it is.
 
I've lost motivation but I keep riding, though to be honest it puts me in a bad mood! With me though it's because im fed up of riding alone, I can school fine and have my lessons but hacking has become so boring! Where I am (Exning side of Newmarket) the hacking gets boring after a few weeks, I've been everywhere I know of and as I have no one to hack with its rubbish :/ I keep going though and my horse enjoys herself whether she's alone or not, Im just fed up of it now!
 
He shouldn't lose any fitness or condition being ridden 4 times a week. They say 4 times a week is enough to maintain their fitness. You could just stick him on the lunge or loose school the days you can't be bothered? I sometimes think thats quite a good way to get them exercised with the faff of tacking up and trying to ride properly lol.
 
I've had little or no motivation to ride all year :-( My own horses are retired and its just not the same riding someone elses...

In the last couple of weeks I think I've found it again, I have the chance to exercise a school master mare and a podgy wee Highland, with the help of folk at my yard who kicked me into touch, I managed to ride both Sat and Sun this weekend and I'm riding again tonight, hooray :)

So bascially yes, I think everyone must feel like that at some point, sometimes for a couple of weeks, sometimes much longer.
 
Oh and thank you! I am really excited although I should be busy doing all the last minute touches not wasting time on here lol :).
 
Well tbh I've always been on busy livery yards with loads of friends. I now keep him about 100 yards down the road on a private yard (just me) I do hack with people as have friends down the road/ livery yard opposite) but schooling wise I always school on my own so yes, think that doesn't help. Also, noone around to motivate me lol. If I ever used to get days like this, seeing other people ride would spur me on but now I don't really have that lol.
 
It's the weather. Here it is just driving me crazy - constant rain and showers, warm and humid, who knows what to wear, and yes I struggle with which rugs to put on too, so have given up.

I think it's a stage we all go through, and it's nothing to worry about. I'm going away at the weekend, and Shy will have two weeks off - he will be totally delighted ;)
 
Yes - haven't ridden all week, cancelled my lesson on Sunday and no-showed my Wed PM dressage week before.

The weather is just awful, I've got a new dog and am marking A level scripts. Don't think ponio too bothered though!
 
I've gone through a horrible phase since I've started uni of not wanting to ride. The weather certainly hasn't helped matters as there hasn't really been an 'in-between' weather - it's either been a heatwave or flood risk!

Since doing more with the youngster it's really helped bring my enthusiasm back. Was actually excited to go to the yard last week, a feeling I haven't felt in years! :D
 
Well I didn't ride lol. Poo picked, gave him a good groom and did his carrot stretches and put him to bed. By time I did all that it was 7.

I am now in bed in my PJs and am going to get an early night in the hope it'll give me some energy as am riding tomorrow whatever.
 
Tb I ride is going bonkers at the mo, lunged him for a few days thinking he needed a few days break to build up his muscles, only just managed to get back on him today after much faffing and galloping around. Don't think I have much choice but to ride every day AND he's just pinged off a shoe, sigh!
 
I'm like this at the moment. Feel like I'm getting no where with my riding, lacking confidence all round and just not enjoying it. Plus driving 40 minutes to the yard doesn't help. Once I'm there it's not so bad but I still can't be bothered to put in the effort to school properly, more than half the time we just vaguely wander round the school with some circles and changes of rein thrown in, mostly in walk with a bit of trot. I can't hack alone so I'm stuck in the school and bored out of my mind.

I'm hoping eventually we'll have a breakthrough and I'll enjoy riding again!
 
Me :o After pulling muscles in my back it took nearly two weeks to get well enough that I could even think about jumping back on my boy without crippling myself again then when everything was ok back wise i did something to my knee! :eek::rolleyes: so now when I get off again my knee hurts something rotten like I've trapped a nerve :mad: so I've not really been getting out and about on my lad as much as I'd like :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top