Improving Your Concentration – Day 25 Being A Better Rider

Improving Your Concentration

Well, here we are, 25 days into our being a better rider challenge. YOU have almost done it! Just think back to where you were 25 days ago. Can you notice an improvement in your riding? Since I have been doing this challenge, I have noticed a big improvement in my riding. Mainly because I have made it that I have to get out and do something with my horses every single day. No, every day was not a riding day, but I committed myself to work with my horses in some way, every single day. Improving your concentration will help you to being a better rider, really.

Which leads me to the topic of the day, improving your concentration. How many times do you find your thoughts wandering while you are with your horse? There are a lot of things to think about. The day you just had, or what you will have for dinner, or when will you find the time to clean the stalls? All of these questions are valid, and are worth thinking about. But not when you are with your horse. Not right now. Take steps to focus on the task you are doing. Be there, be present in the moment.

Living In The Moment

If you are working on halts, focus on the halt. And I mean really focus on it. Try not to let your mind wander. Only focus on getting the perfect halt. Then once you have been able to do a beautiful square halt, take a moment to reflect on how that felt.

Concentrate only on the halt. What does it feel like? How do you need to use your aids? Think only about the squareness of the halt. And then make it happen. Improving your concentration on the halt will make it really happen.

Then allow yourself a break. If you want to look across the field, do it. After you have concentrated on a particular task for a minute or two reward yourself (and your horse) with a mental break. And once you have been rewarded with a slight break, get back to work.Take another task, and concentrate on it. Do it to perfection, and then reward yourself with a mental break.

Repeat this process over and over again during your schooling session. You want to keep each concentration period to around 3 minutes, and then reward yourself with a break. You will find in time be practicing, your concentration will improve, and so will your riding.

The Payoff

If you can repeat this process three or four times a week while you are riding, in time you will be able to increase the length of time you are able to seriously concentrate on a particular task. This will definitely help you on your path to being a better rider.

Try this if even for just a few minutes every time you are riding or working with your horse. Not only will this benefit you, but it will also help your horse.

People tend to think horses have short attention spans. But in reality, we are the ones with a lack of attention. Our horses are just a product of what we have asked of them. If we can totally focus and concentrate on our horses while we are riding them, they will reward us with being active participants in our riding sessions. Your horse actually has a very long attention span, IF the task they are involved in holds their interest. Do you hold your horse’s interest? Or are you so busy with 15 other things that you are simply going through the motions of riding? I promise, your horse knows, and he will act, or react to it. So can you see how improving your concentration will make you a better rider?

Day 25 Complete

Well we are at the end of yet another day. I hope this project was helpful for you today. And who knows, it might also help you in your concentration with all aspects of your life, not just riding. Don’t forget to do your plank exercise and jot down your time. And go ahead and cross off day #25. Only 6 days left in our 31 day challenge now, so let’s give it our all these last few days!