“For learning to occur, we must first be able to accept that something is wrong”.
Failing is hard. It’s tough to realise that you’ve tried so hard for so long, and the wheels still fell off when it truly mattered, and once again you failed. It’s crushing, deflating and ego-bruising to the point that you wonder why you even bother, and from there begin to question your ability as an equestrian; gradually over time losing your confidence, and self-esteem to ride or even spend time with your horses. It’s hard to feel motivated when you just seem to fail.
Don’t worry, I get it!! I’ve been there too!! I walked away from horses for many years because I felt I failed so badly (that’s a loooong story for another day!!).
And then I learned how to process failing. That failing is actually an important step towards learning. And the only way to improve is to fail.
The 1st step is becoming aware, because initially ‘You don’t know what you don’t know’. As soon as your awareness grows, it’s like your looking at your horse and riding through a whole new lens – everything has changed! This is the stage where it’s important you stay open to learning, and not judge or second guess yourself and everything you do. Accept that you didn’t know, and now you’re ready to learn and grow.
The 2nd step is to put a plan in place to improve. Break things down into simple bite sized pieces to avoid overwhelm. This is where a quality coach is invaluable to provide you with positive support and advice on where to focus, and which part to work on first.
Admittedly this journey won’t be without tears or frustrations, however if you’re as passionate about your horses as I am, you’ll understand when I say that it’s totally worth it!!
If you’re feeling frustrated or confused with your riding, and not sure where to begin, feel free to drop me a message and lets chat. Sometimes it’s as simple as getting things out of your head to help you understand what it is you need.
Mel
