Pressured to Ride?? By Don Jessop
Do you ever feel pressured to get on a horse when you feel you shouldn't?
Do you ever pressure yourself?
Horse riding is supposed to be fun. So why would you ever do something that feels like pressure? Is it because you feel like you don't want to look like a wimp? Is it because you feel like your horse needs you to ride?
First of all. You are a wimp. And so am I... compared to a horse, that is. A horse is 1,000 pounds of muscle and emotion. You're not even close to 1000 pounds. It's your God given right to second guess whether or not you should get on. In fact, the late Ray Hunt said. "Don't get on until you are sure that your sure!" He was a real cowboy. He could ride anything, but he still didn't ride anything until he "knew" he could ride it. He didn't wonder if he could ride it. He didn't let his friends tell him he should ride it. He tested, observed and progressed to riding like a master. Just like you should.
By the way, you don't have to be experienced to test, observe and progress. You don't have to be Ray Hunt or Rachel Jessop. You just have to stop listening to the pressure. Stand up and be brave enough to say, "I decide when to ride!"
Recently, a close friend of mine fell from her horse in a familiar situation. My heart goes out to her as she lays bandaged on her bed all day. I doubt she'll ever forget her experience, but I hope you never have to have her experience.
If you've properly tested your horse and still feel uncertain he or she is ready to ride. Listen to that voice, that gut feeling and test again, because something is missing. Then take a quick break and test again. Then test again. Through repetition you'll see what secret energy your horse is hiding inside. You'll unlock the reason you needed more preparation. Lots of horses pass the initial preparatory tests for riding and a few minutes later, fail them. I only ride horses that pass the test several times in a row. Also, I often get off later and retest. It's the best practice for safety.
If you feel safe, you can have fun. Your horse isn't bad if they fail the tests, and you aren't bad if you fail the tests. It all just means that you have to keep practicing.
Not sure what a good pre-ride test looks like? Comment below. The more comments I get, the sooner I get a video out to you.
In the meantime. I wish you success with your horses. I hold you accountable to be brave in the presence of pressure. And I'm here for you.
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10 Responses
Virginia mahler
I don’t ride my mare and I feel pressure too all the time. But when I get on the mounting block to put my leg over her back I just can’t do it so I don’t. I would love to see the pre ck. For riding. Thanks
Melody Orso
Please show me what a good pre-ride test looks like
Mary swann
I was with Eileen Coe and we waited while she changed her mind to join us and we did see Zeva calm down and we rode out Eileen is correct we need to stay connected to our horse and not get
Complacent especially when we are new with them we all learned something that day anxious for your video. I always
Feel people will brand me a chicken when I’m fact I know I am being careful and not setting myself up for failure my trainer says ride in your
Comfort zone and advance as you feel
Safe
Denisa Palinkas
Ready and not ready can look different with different horses. Rideable can also be different for each rider( imo). Being in environment that allows me to make that call for myself seems to be the biggest challenge. I like “I decide when to ride”Not my friends or my instructor or anybody else! Thank you. I will take that with me.
Anna
Thank you for reminding us that it’s okay to GET OFF if things aren’t feeling right. Getting off doesn’t mean your horse wins and you lose – it means we both win. I stay alive and no one gets hurt!
Traceylynn Hommel
Thank you so much for this article and the approach you took with it. This is the way I believe in with horses and horse riding. It makes for a more pleasant experience for both person and horse.
Eileen Coe
Oh gosh! You could have been writing this about me! I came off of Zeva last week – I can look back now and know what went wrong, what I did and didn’t do. I had that inner voice telling me that she just wasn’t at the place to ride, and I put the pressure on myself to ride. Zeva did settle down and we were doing great until we weren’t. I did the pre flight tests, and let so – so pass. I also did not keep my focus on Zeva, nor she on me. That is when she spooked, spun and took off at a gallop – and I came off. Believe me – tough lesson to learn! I look forward to seeing your video of the pre flight check. Thanks Don!
Marilee I Donovan
Oh, please get to that video on pre ride test as soon as you can.
Doreen Snow
Thank you again for another great article. A good reminder to listen to that inner voice. I have been having those exact thoughts about my young horse. I just do feel safe yet riding her. I started two years ago but something keeps telling me she is not ready. I’m very interested in learning what a good pre-ride test looks like. I’m always interested in improving myself.
Marisa Evans
July 27, 2018
I haven’t ridden in years. I have horses and feel fine on the ground. But there’s always a reason why I don’t need to ride. I would love a pre ride check video.