Only ever going to be an average rider - sigh.

[AliceCrail]

To be honest, I think there is such a thing as working too hard. Riding is to be enjoyed, and while we all like to improve, the 'must improve' attitude can hinder progress.
I knew someone who was starting to get very into dressage, her horse was working sweetly and they were getting placed in novices. But everything was so fixed. She was so aware of carrying the hands, sitting tall etc, that she was continually tense. Her uninterested teenage sons would get on the horse, and ride like only teenage boys can, and the horse would become so much freer in it's paces.
Not a very helpful post admittedly, but just wanted to say that trying too hard can have a detrimental effect.

 

[Supanova]

To be honest, I think there is such a thing as working too hard. Riding is to be enjoyed, and while we all like to improve, the 'must improve' attitude can hinder progress.
I knew someone who was starting to get very into dressage, her horse was working sweetly and they were getting placed in novices. But everything was so fixed. She was so aware of carrying the hands, sitting tall etc, that she was continually tense. Her uninterested teenage sons would get on the horse, and ride like only teenage boys can, and the horse would become so much freer in it's paces.
Not a very helpful post admittedly, but just wanted to say that trying too hard can have a detrimental effect.

I think this is very true. There is a definite balance between working hard to improve and trying too hard. Also, sometimes having a break can actually lead to an improved performance afterwards. Self belief has a massive impact - there are some riders who are not technically the best but can do well because they totally believe in themselves.

Taking a different approach can also work wonders. I recently started equipilates and it was going well but for some reason we still couldn't get my hips to move very well. She therefore gave me some very specific anti-spasm exercises and within a week things have been transformed - my horses move more freely and i can turn them more easily. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try there are restrictions in our own bodies which won't let us do the things we need to do and most of the time we're not even aware of them.

 

[AliceCrail]

Equipilates is such a great idea! So obvious really, but not very popular.

I have recently been having some wibbles of my own, and found myself losing complete confidence in my abilities. I started hacking out with a friend who was just starting to ride again after 10years, which has taken the pressure off of me. Another friend has been pushing me slightly out of my comfort zone, with the result being I have been cubbing, xc schooling and due to take part in our first team chase this weekend. I took my mare in the school yesterday and the improvement to our flatwork was incredible! We haven't schooled in nearly a month, as things just weren't improving and both the horse and I were bored. Getting out and about has just perked us both up and given us both more confidence.

 

[coffeeandabagel]

Umm, I could be guilty of trying to hard - having a horse on loan who I know can do things plus trying to "always ride properly" for my rehabbing horse. Plus I have been diagnosed with throacic outlet syndrome on my left side which did get better but is now possibly coming on the right side. Physio cost me an arm (ha ha) and a leg and didnt help last time so i am taking amaltriptoline now. Sure I am very stiff and inflexible. Will hunt out equipilates class for the winter months. Have two clinics booked with new trainers and hubby is coming to video them. Will do some warm up exercises and stretches before I start them as well to see if that helps. One of my instructors did do some hip releasing exercises with me - I must remember them and DO them!

 

[Supanova]

The new books by Lindsay Wilcox Reid is good - the interesting thing i found was that i was doing all sorts of stretching exercises that were helping but not ultimately fixing my asymmetry and stiff hip problems. It is only the anti-spasm exercises where you actually feel like you are doing nothing that have really unlocked me. I think she is now recommending that everyone does these exercises before starting to build strength.