Wednesday, March 11, 2015

When your horse doesn’t bring his A game

The other week, we had a lesson and Paddy was decidedly not interested in participating. He was distracted (something we’ve had trouble with in the past but has been less and less of an issue recently), tense, and at the same time so dead off my leg it was laughable. As much as I find these rides frustrating, I need to learn how to ride through this behavior. Having my trainer there talk me through it all in her calm, patient way is really much more productive than me trying to work through it on my own right now.

But here’s the frustrating thing – no matter how much my horse isn’t tuned in, *I* have to bring *MY* A game. Every. Single. Ride. Paddy’s not a schoolmaster to take care of me if I’m not having a great day. He’s not particularly forgiving of my mistakes – if I ask wrong, he doesn’t just do it anyway because he knows what I want even if I wasn’t 100% correct. Or if I’m crooked, he’ll happily be crooked right along with me. He’s not going to buck me off or do anything naughty, but he’s also not going to cut me any slack.

And yet, I have to cut HIM slack no matter how he’s feeling. If he decides that calling to the horse in the barn is more interesting than responding to my inside leg, it’s not like I can yell at him to PAY ATTENTION. No, I have to be patient and calm, repeat my aids, and insist that he listen to me. I can’t pull, get mad, or any of that – I have to channel my inner Zen and just remember that I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing and eventually he’ll get back with the program.

There are days when I’m stressed or really tired, and don’t feel like I can get my A game together. If I don’t have a lesson, I’ll usually just take Paddy for a walk on the trails, or maybe on the road, or give him a day off. I need to have the mental and physical energy to ride through whatever he throws at me, and some days I just don’t. I know myself well enough that it’s better not to get started on something I’m not confident I can ride through to a positive outcome.

What about you? Do you have to bring your A game to every ride, or is your horse more forgiving?

This post is all lies. I am ALWAYS perfect in every way!


33 comments:

  1. Moe doesn't care if I bring my A-game when we're jumping. He jumps regardless of what I may or may not be doing, which is both good and bad. On one hand, he'll go over anything in front of him that vaguely looks like a jump. On the other, I can rarely persuade him to slow down or not leave very long even when I am riding at the top of my game.

    Gina isn't particularly forgiving, although she'll cut me some slack here and there.

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    1. Moe sounds like quite the guy, with his can-do attitude. Who needs speed control or a good spot? ;)

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  2. Riva requires that I bring my A-game to every ride - she is always thinking, it seems, one step ahead of me, which means I need to be two steps ahead mentally. Definitely challenging!

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    1. It's challenging and for me it can be daunting on some days. Glad I'm not the only one!

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  3. How much do I love this post??? Let me count the ways!!! I can so relate to/identify with everything discussed. As a not-very-talented adult ammy, even my A-game leaves a lot to be desired. Like Paddy, my horse is not ever going to do anything naughty, but at the same time, he isn't going to offer anything additional.

    Learning to change the plan on days that I just don't have the right energy/time/mindset to bring my best effort to the table is something I am only just now learning to do. It is a skill I am still developing.

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    1. I think I've been spoiled by a horse who tried so hard to do everything right, no matter how iffy I was. Paddy tries, but I really have to be on top of every last wisp of Haffie Hair or else some part escapes.

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  4. I definitely don't always have my A game. I'm lucky in that my horse is a TOTAL people pleaser and wants to do what I ask of him. He usually gives me the benefit of the doubt if it's a concept he understands. Something new? I have to be on my A game 100%

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    1. Simon is so awesome - he is definitely a trier and seems happy to step in to "help out" if needed. You're so lucky!

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  5. Oh yes, Hafl is now even doing flying changes but ONLY if I am doing everything a 110% right! And he is not doing a proper canter stride without me being absolutely aware of my posture, legs, move that stupid hip and what not. I mean he KNOWS what he'd to do - he is simply waiting for the right question...overall, be happy that it is like that...too many people around me have horses that do everything even though the rider is doing a ton of mistakes - progess for the rider: ZERO! So, way better like this ;)

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    1. Haha, I agree, it's good to have a horse who is not perfect unless you're perfect - it makes you a better rider! The problem is, I am rarely perfect, lol!!!

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  6. Oh god. I have to have my A-game EVERY time I work O. If I do, she gets to work. If I don't, she'll give me hell!

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    1. I think O takes the A-game to a whole new level...

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  7. Confetti is, in some ways, more forgiving - she'll give me the basics if she knows what I want and is interested in doing it. When she WANTS to do something, it doesn't really matter if I ask correctly or only kinda think about it or totally screw it up.

    If she doesn't particularly care - if we're schooling polite canters in the arena - I better be doing it right or I won't get it. She won't buck me off for asking wrong, but she won't give it to me if she's not clear that I definitely absolutely do want that canter. (And occasionally she'll be obstinate and not feel like cantering even if I'm asking right, otherwise I'd be thrilled she makes me do things correctly!)

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  8. I need my A+ game every time for Ginger. A+ because my A game sometimes isn't even enough. My other mare is much for forgiving, but not neary as rewarding, of course :)

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    1. Eeek, I can't even imagine trying to get out my A+ game!!!

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  9. Rico was relatively forgiving, he would go pretty well for me if I rode shitty, but he definitely went his best for me when I rode my best. With the baby horse, he goes as well as I ride, he doesn't really know enough to not. There are days where he's more distracted than I feel like he should be, but he's only just barely 4 years old and I can't blame him at all. I think in the future he'll be really forgiving, he tries really hard to understand what you're saying and definitely likes to guess at what you want if he's not sure.

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    1. Riding a horse who's a schoolmaster and will fill in some of the gaps is definitely a privilege. The greenies though... man, it's tough!

      PS. I am insanely jealous of TC and will try to steal him someday...

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  10. Lucy requires my A game too. If I don't have the mental energy to focus, I don't try to do more than stroll around on a loose rein. ...or take the day off.

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    1. Annette, totally with you on strolling around on a loose rein. Sometimes, you BOTH need to do that!

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  11. A-game. Every day. Every ride. Last night I brought my B-game. We had a C-ride. I don't have to deal with distraction very much, luckily! The tension game is strong, though.

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    1. Please send some of your A-game to me... I could use extra!

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  12. Courage goes well if I bring my A game (generally) and more lazily if I don't.

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  13. I always try to bring my A game at the very least.

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    1. Me too, but sometimes it's REALLY hard to find. I don't know how you do it, especially with four horses!

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  14. Not every ride calls for A-game-ery. My mare is pretty forgiving and if we are just plodding along on a trail ride, I can be relaxed and unfocused.

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    1. Agree! This is why I try to find things to do that don't require tons of focus if I'm not feeling like I can uphold my end of the deal. Glad I'm not the only one!

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  15. To be honest I don't think I can deal with a horse that requires A game every time. Especially because eventing can be dangerous, my mount needs to be able and willing to save my ass if I screw up. Hemie does that for jumping and XC. However, for flatwork even A game doesn't seem to be good enough. I need trainer game. ;P

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    1. There are rides when Paddy does not require an A-game - mostly trail rides and such. I just try not to create a ride where I know I'm going to need more energy than I have!

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  16. my mare is generally pretty forgiving - and takes pretty good care of me when i make mistakes - esp over fences. for dressage, she'll go well enough on her own (sorta kinda faking it) - but to get the real good stuff i have to be 100% on it

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    1. Oh yes, for the good stuff 110% is needed. But it's nice that you can sit back some of the time!

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  17. Harley listens and tries all the time. Not going to lie. It is wonderful. However, I still need my A game if I want the best quality work out of us and that is difficult because trying too hard creates so much tension. That is my challenge. Try without seeming to try. I definitely struggle with that. And years of lessons where my trainer yelled "more leg" really didn't help in the long run!

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    1. "Try without seeming to try" <- yes, that's it exactly! WHY IS THIS SO HARD!?!?

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