THE BEST-KEPT SECRETS OF RIDING SUCCESS

Our emotions, taken together with the way we respond to these emotions, create what is often called “character.” More than any other factor, character determines the success or failure of your relationship with horses.

“Whoa,” you may think, “a dissertation on character is a long way from tips on how good riders get good.” But believe me, it is the best-kept secret of riding success. Why?

We riders experience the same wide range of emotions as all other human athletes—but with a difference: We aren’t alone. The horse we ride also has emotion. Plus, our emotions affect him, and his emotions affect us. When a baseball player is nervous as he steps up to the plate, his baseball bat doesn’t sense his anxiety and start shaking, too! But a horse can sense anxiety.

Just like us, each horse has his own unique character. Some are brave; some are timid; some are aggressive. Whatever their character, we can influence horses most effectively if we model our own character on that found in good riders.

CHARACTER IS A WORK IN PROGRESS

Just as we can practice the sitting trot, so we can practice a character trait like courage. Although we may not change as quickly or as easily at 30 as we did at 3, the potential for change is just as real as it ever was. But not if we don’t think so!

The essence of improvement is change. Change from one state of being to another state of being can be painful and fraught with emotional and some-times even physical peril. At the least, it drags you out of your comfort zone; that’s why most people hit a plateau and stay on it for life.

As long as there’s life, there’s hope for change. You absolutely have to accept this premise to become a better rider. Your emotional responses and character traits are just as subject to improvement as your mental and physical traits.

Having said that, I must acknowledge that some of the traits that make you uniquely “you” are more susceptible to improvement than others. That’s okay. Change what you can, and be smart about what you can’t. There’s only