Staying Motivated

Kathleen K · Well Schooled

Staying Motivated

Trouble Horse · Well Schooled

It sounds like you are mostly just trying to avoid further injuries and are displaying some common sense. I know I don't want to ride when I have injuries, and I certainly don't want to ride "spirited" horses at that time (or any time, really). You list a lot of key factors that are a sure bet on their own to kill your fun (no coach, bad weather, injuries, riding alone, spirited horse) but put together I'm amazed you go to the barn at all! Now that you've identified your difficulties, is there anything you can do to fix any of these factors? Get a new coach? Ride a friend's more reliable horse? Is the horse you describe your own or do you just ride him/her? If the horse is your own maybe you could do a swap with someone, or lease him/her out so you could ride another one ... there are options! You are wise to stay on the ground if you are not feeling "motivated" (although I don't think your problem is lack of motivation as much as it is lack of fun and not wanting to get more hurt). Remember to just do what your gut tells you and don't get on if you don't feel safe.

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Kathleen, I agree 100% with Trouble Horse. If you already have injuries, it's really hard to get motivated to ride a horse that might be a bit of a handful.
I certainly would not be motivated at all - and I think that's our natural safety instinct kicking in!
A new coach, some goal-setting and a steadier horse would all do wonders to get you back in the saddle come spring. Also, riding is such a social sport. Perhaps there is another barn where you could ride where there are lots of people. :)

-- Edited by Barbara F on Thursday 24th of February 2011 07:27:45 PM

Kathleen K · Well Schooled

Very valid points.

Unfortunately coaching is out of the question - I'm a poor university student. Over the summer, when I'm out of school and working full time, I will see what I can do. I think this is my biggest issue. Lessons gave me a reason to get my butt to the barn, no matter how bad the weather was or how lazy I felt.

The injuries are a huge part of it too, but I don't think they are going away anytime soon... I took two years off from riding so that my back could heal, rode for about three months, got dumped in June and I'm still in physiotherapy for my injuries! If I waited until I was healed to start riding again, I'd never ride.

Other horses are an option, but I don't think the horse is the issue. She's crazy, but I adore her, and I enjoy riding her regardless of how much pain I'm in. It's just actually getting motivated enough to get on that is the issue. I have tried to make myself ride other horses, but somehow, I always end up bringing her back from the field. She isn't my horse - I just free ride her.

When I'm at the barn, I'm as happy as can be. Even if it's just brushing horses in the field, I'm happy. But actually getting to the barn? That's my issue... It's always too cold, or I'm too sore, or I'll go tomorrow, ect, ect.

Jennifer Lamm · Yearling

I find that hanging out with my horses, taking music, and just being with them leads to all kinds of interesting stuff that I make up to do..... :) horses can be the best teachers. So you do have a coach.

justice · Grand Prix

Is there anyone reasonably near you/your horse that you could buddy up with now and then? Trade lessons/coaching? Some else might feel the same as you and be glad to have the company? Maybe?

I also heartily agree with JLamm, your horse IS your best teacher as far as getting to know HORSES is concerned : )

Jackie Cochran · Advanced

It is hard to get motivated when every movement can hurt.
I had to essentially stop riding for 3 years because of lower back pain that resulted from a head-on collision car wreck. Then my MS, then undiagnosed, got way worse. When I finally realized I had to get back to riding or I would not be able to walk, my back was very weak. I strengthened it by crawling around, I figured that was what babies did to get strong enough to walk, maybe it would work for me. So for several years I hand weeded my horses' grazing paddock crawling around, aiming for an hour or two a day. This strengthened my whole body, not just my back. When I got back to riding after around a year of my crawling exercises that awful pain had disappeared. As a side benefit I became a lot more aware of the horses' leg movements which improved my riding.
I know you must be a very busy lady. Get some knee protection and start crawling around for a little bit each day at home. This seemed to relax some chronic muscle spasms in my lower back, it may help you too.

Kathleen K · Well Schooled

JLamm - Yes, horses are definitely the best teachers! This mare has taught me more than any person (or other horse) ever has. She really makes me think.

Justice - I have a few people who I can do this with, but nobody really makes long term commitments. Between school, work and horses, it's hard for everybody to make the time. It's definitely something I would love to arrange though.

Jackie C - Ouch! Taking time off riding really sucks, doesn't it?

Crawling is a really good idea - very smart of you to come up with it! Unfortunately I don't think crawling would work for me because I have terrible knees. I did an emergency dismount at a gallop in June (trying to save myself from being thrown into a fence and reinjuring my back) and it completely ruined my ankles and knees.

I swear, if I was a horse, they'd have taken me out to the back 40 and shot me already. :P

Any other exercises you could suggest?

Jackie Cochran · Advanced

The other thing I did that probably helped my back some was walking with two canes (I still do.) This also helped the pain in my back and my legs, helped stabilize me walking, and allowed me to gradually work up to walking faster. One of the symptoms of my MS in wandering sharp pains, walking with two canes both helps minimize the occurances of these pains and reduces the pain when it occurs.
Face it, our physical design started out as four legged walkers. Going back to walking four legged (crawling or with 2 canes) helps our back muscles relax.
Plus walking with two canes can really tune you in to a horse's trot.

horsekrazcort · Yearling

Welcome to the club. I once had a trainer who told me at least one time in your life you're going to let fear stand in the way of what you want. And that is what I owe my lack of motivation to is fear. I took several terrible spills in less than a year and I was about to quit riding. But I was almost "forced" back into riding because my mare was returned to me unable to be bred. Let's just say she's a basket case under saddle with lots of baggage.
The other day was the first day we started introducing trot work. I was completely scared and when I asked for the trot and my 16.2 hh practically-a-warmblood thoroughbred sprung into her huge gaits I realized she wants me to be a strong rider because she can't do it alone. So I rode her strong and had some beautiful work that I was never able to achieve when I had her a couple years ago. After that ride, I have been craving it.
So it's not really what you can specifically DO to gain motivation. You just have to find what part of riding hooked you in the beginning. For me, I enjoy the challenge every ride has with every horse because they are just as much a thinking animal as I am. I say, get on your horse and open your mind to the possibilities. Forget your injuries (hard I know) and enjoy whatever your horse throws at you.

Hopefully this helps you!

Nikki Salo · Grand Prix

Hi Kathleen, you've received some very good information already! I'll throw in my 2 cents :)

My favorite passion in the world is starting and restarting horses (of all ages and rank), I've had A LOT of injuries! If I know that there is a chance that I could become injured riding a horse, I'll wear a protective vest (in addition to my helmet), you've mentioned a back injury, maybe you'd feel more protected riding with a vest?

Another idea is, could you do some ground work with the mare before riding? You'll be able to assess the horse's frame of mind from the ground and go from there.

Setting small goals for yourself (that are achievable with some effort) can really help you get back on track, pencil in riding time, even if this is only once a week as a reward for a long week can help you stay focused and start to view your time in the saddle as a stress relief (reward yourself with riding, don't punish yourself!) after a busy week.

Just some ideas! aww

NaturallyUnbridled · Well Schooled

You may want to set a goal (or two) for yourself and your riding. It has always helped me to be more dedicated to my riding when I have a goal to work toward. It can be anything from post with no stirrups for 100 strides to winning a championship. Whatever works for you.

I recently wrote a Barnmice Blog (click to open) on goal setting and I think it might help you to create an action plan and find your motivation.

I hope it helps! Good Luck!

-Patti

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

I agree with Patti and Nikki in that setting small achievable goals, and rewarding yourself with riding is probably the best way to motivate yourself. Always use your common sense (as it seems you very much are), and if your mare seems a little too spirited to ride today, perhaps just play some games with her. If at all possible, let her loose in a round pen and play, or even just go sit next to her stall and enjoy each others company.

It may be less of a motivator when riding is what you love, to just go sit out at the barn, but I find that observing horses and trying to learn how they communicate can be a very enlightening experience, and often times can make up for not being able to ride. For a while I had a mare who had gotten pretty bad laminitis and was starting to get arthritis in her knees, and I didn't have any other horses to ride. I found that sitting out in a tree in the pasture, or sitting next to her stall for a while helped me get to know her better and helped me understand how horses react to certain things, and communicate (I also had a miniature donkey that was turned out with her). So, sometimes when you can't ride, there are other things that can be just as fulfilling. :) Best of luck!

dbliron · Advanced

Hi, Kathleen!

Welcome to the club! A client of mine remarked not too long ago to me that "it's fine for you, you always want to ride, so you don't have a problem with motivation". I had to explain that I often have trouble with motivation!

Like you, I'm great once I'm in the barn, it's the getting motivated, especially in winter and/or when I'm tired and sore, to put on all the layers, and face the cold, and make the trip...

As a professional, I had to learn that I could not allow myself to procrastinate about any of that - not for one minute. The moment I make the decision to go to the barn I have to get changed, and GO TO THE BARN. If I'm tough with myself about that small task, the rest is pretty easy.

Certainly there are also days when I get to the barn, and it would be easier to get sidetracked into doing things other than riding. I have a little game that I play with myself on those days: I promise myself that I will groom and tack up the first horse, and go into the arena and just ride walk. What happens is that I ride my usual walk warm up (sometimes I might spend 20 minutes in walk rather than my usual 10), and then I feel like trotting, and from there on I get the riding done. I have to ride several horses during the course of the day, and sometimes I play those little games with myself for every one of them; on other days I'm wild to get out there and get going, but that doesn't happen every day.

I think it's important to recognize that most of us aren't keen every day, and we can easily fall into the trap of letting other things become obstacles. I think the suggestion about meeting a buddy at the barn is really worthwhile - guilt's a powerful motivator, and the thought of leaving your buddy in the lurch might make all the difference. Perhaps you could think about how you're leaving your horse in the lurch, and that might help you to get back in the groove.

Good luck!

Hoti47 · Well Schooled

Give yourself an ultimatum... and stick to it... either I go to the barn... or scrub toilets and snake hair out of the drain...

Just like in horse training, make the second option really unappealing. If you had to choose, naturally you would want to go to the barn!

Set a schedule and stick to it... create a routine that just seems like second nature... and if you miss one night... scrub the toilet!

Eventually one of two things will happen... you'll either be riding / ground work training more... or you'll have a really clean toilet!

-- Edited by Hoti47 on Monday 7th of March 2011 03:55:29 PM

justice · Grand Prix

db... you get it : )

Kathleen K · Well Schooled

Thanks guys - you all have a ton of good ideas.

I have decided to set myself some goals. The first of these is to not worry about being motivated: The mare certainly doesn't care whether or not I show up, so why pressure myself? The second of these is to not ride - this sounds counter productive, but I think it will eventually get me back in the saddle. The mare is extremely difficult to catch, so I think I'm just going to work on that for now. I went to the barn today and she was fabulous - actually came up to me in the field, and stayed with me even after the carrots were long gone. Once she's easier to catch, riding won't be such a pain in the butt - no wandering around in the field for 30 minutes just to go for a quick ride!

Another part of the problem is that I don't actually own the horse, and despite having 100% access to her, I often feel awkward for some reason. If she was mine, I know I would be 1000 times more eager to get out and visit, because I do absolutely adore this horse. She is for sale, but I don't have the funds for ownership at the moment. Guess I should start saving, eh?