Losing your confidence is something that many can’t grasp if they’ve never lost it. But it can and will affect nearly every one of us in one way or another. When we lose confidence in one area of our life, it affects our confidence in other areas.

Losing your confidence doesn’t necessarily come from having an incident in the saddle. It can occur when we have had a period out of the saddle, feedback from an instructor or individual, overhearing someone negatively talk about us, going through personal challenges and even suffering a fall at home or recovering from an illness or surgery.

As we get older, we are more likely to lose our confidence as we start to notice the signs of aging such as your hair going grey, getting wrinkles, hormone levels starting to diminish and play havoc with your moods, your outlook on life and maintain or losing weight becomes a battle. We also start to notice the things we could once do with great ease are no longer so easy.

All and any of these things affect our confidence.

When you lose your confidence, you become self critical and conscious of yourself. The way you move, feel, ride and look.

Whilst you may appear to be happy and content on the outside. The truth is. You’re not happy. You can be angry, frustrated, overwhelmed, sad and unsure of how to move forward.

Losing your confidence makes you unhappy. And not being happy limits your enjoyment of your horse, your riding and your life.

Seems simple but it’s incredibly challenging when you are not sure where to start or what to do. Having a plan, support and guidance and being realistic in the time it will take is key.

• Whatever you decide to do, whether it be to have coaching sessions, join a program or set yourself small manageable tasks. You must understand that it will take a minimum of 6 months to make real progress or you risk being back at square one.
• You should decide what you are going to do, how frequently you are going to do it and how long you will do it for. During that time, don’t change the approach. Stick with it. Give it time to work.

Examples: Hypnotherapy, NLP Sessions, Menopause Coaching, Going to the Gym/Class, Rehab Sessions with a Trainer, Having riding lessons on a school master, Join a Transformation program or simply setting yourself little tasks each week.

• Many of us feel that we don’t need help or are embarrassed to ask for help but there will be times when it feels like the world is against you and you feel low. Not having someone to listen and guide you is setting yourself up for failure.
• You will naturally think negatively of the progress you are making, instead of remembering and celebrating all the wins.
• Having support not only keeps you on plan and moving forward. It helps guide you, pick you up when you need it, drive you forward when you want to quit, and remind you just how far you’ve come.

• It takes time to gain confidence back, acknowledge that. It’s not going to be a week or a month. But if you are consistent and keep moving forward you will become the confident rider you want to be. You will find joy in being with and riding your horse.
• You will have a more positive outlook on life.
• You will be happy in your skin and learn to make the most of every opportunity that comes your way.

Helen signed up for the Strong Confident Rider Program in 2022 with the goals of:

I want to be a calm, capable and focused rider. I want to be courageous and responsive rather than timid and reactive.

• Change the pictures and narrative in my head!
• I want my body to feel strong and confident
• I want to develop a heartfelt connection with Wally, to ride with an awareness of how I’m using my body and how this affects Wally.
• I’d like to be able to think something and Wally would respond with minimal aids.

Helen smashed her goals within months of joining and has continued on to the SCR membership program where she is living her best life with Wally.

The most important step you can do right now is to take action. Life is too short to ‘do it tomorrow’. If you had done it yesterday, you’d be one step closer to becoming more confident. Taking action doesn’t need to be overwhelming.

Simply take the time today to decide the first step in your plan. How do you want to work on your confidence?

• If it’s the riding aspect, are you going to book some lessons with a schoolmaster?
• If it’s more about changing the way you view yourself, are you going to work with a confidence coach or have Hypnotherapy/NLP sessions?
• If is improving your mindset, health, well-being and riding, are you joining the Strong Confident Rider Program?

Whatever route is right for you. Don’t waste any more time worrying. Take action today and be one step closer. Just imagine where you could be in 6 months time.

This Riders Core Article was written by Clare for Endurance Magazine – Summer Issue 2023

This is the first part of a two part article which provides an insight into why Riders may be struggling to use their core in the saddle. Despite how hard they try. 

What Is the Riders Core?

The word ‘Core’ is used heavily in the equestrian world, but few know what it really is, how to engage it and how it feels when you do. This is because it’s never really been truly explained to you, and most have never felt it in action.

Contrary to belief, your core consists of roughly 35muscles which are in the Anterior (front) and Posterior (Back) portion of your body. It does include your abdominal muscles, but it is NOT purely those muscle alone that are defined as your ‘Core’ muscles.

For your core to work, all these muscles must operate together supporting, giving, resisting, and contracting.

The Riders Core Summary

Many of the challenges riders face in the saddle are because their static posture is compromised.

Challenges such as:

• Collapsing through transitions
• Leaning/wonky in the saddle
• Losing a stirrup of feeling like you are slipping to one side.
• Reliant on the reins and/or being pulled out of the saddle by your horse
• Striking the wrong lead in canter
• Hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain, shoulder pain, back pain.

These are all symptoms that your body is not functioning optimally. It can be easy to focus on these symptoms rather than looking at the bigger picture. Your posture. If you try to resolve the symptom you will not correct the cause. But simply re-direct that imbalance elsewhere in your body.

There is a direct connection between your posture out of the saddle to in the saddle and how you function on the ground to how you ride.

To improve your riding, to allow your ‘Core’ to function its important to see the bigger picture. We all have a ‘Core’. Take a step back and assess how your posture is affecting it’s ability to function.

What is Rider Biomechanics

Rider biomechanics refers to the study of how a rider’s body movements, positioning, and muscle activity affect their riding performance, comfort, and safety. It encompasses the analysis of various factors such as balance, posture, and the interaction between the rider and the horse.

Rider biomechanics is important in equestrian sports, where small changes in the rider’s position or muscle activity can have a significant impact on the horse’s movement and performance. By understanding the principles of rider biomechanics, riders can improve their riding technique, reduce the risk of injury, and enhance their overall riding experience.

In addition, rider biomechanics can also be used to evaluate and select appropriate equipment, such as saddles, stirrups, and reins, to optimize the rider’s position and comfort while riding.

By assessing these factors, riders can identify areas where they may need to improve their technique and develop a more effective, efficient, and comfortable riding style.

Considerations of Assessments

It is important that any rider biomechanics assessment takes into account learned behavior, habits, and body responses that come from riding experience, as well as any injuries or traumas that a rider may have experienced.

These factors can play an important role in shaping a rider’s biomechanics.

For example, a rider who has experienced a fall or riding trauma may have developed habits or muscle activation patterns that are designed to protect them from future injury. These patterns may not be optimal for riding performance, but they can be difficult to overcome without the help of an experienced coach who understands the rider’s history and needs. Similarly, a rider who has developed a habit of leaning too far forward or gripping too tightly with their legs may need to retrain their muscles in order to achieve a more balanced and effective riding position.

Pros & Cons

Cons:

• Focus on form over function: Some riders may become overly focused on achieving a “perfect” position or technique, to the point where they force their bodies into positions they are not designed or conditioned to perform. A riders ‘perfect’ position is individual. Where their skeletal structure may mean it is not possible for them to obtain the ear, shoulder, elbow, hip, heel alignement. 
• Potential for injury from over-correction: In some cases, riders may overcorrect their biomechanics in response to coaching or training, leading to new injuries or imbalances. As above, the ‘perfect’ alignment is not possible for some riders. This should be recognised and advised by coaches.
• Overemphasis on individual technique: While rider biomechanics can be an important factor in riding performance, it should not be seen as the only or most important aspect of riding. Factors such as horse training, rider conditioning, and nutrition can also play a significant role in achieving success in the saddle.
• Time and resource-intensive: Coaching or training for rider biomechanics can be time-consuming and require riders to understand that correction is a process.

Research shows that improving functional movement on the ground can lead to improvements in functional movement on the horse. Developing proper functional movement patterns, such as good posture, core stability, and balanced weight distribution, can help riders maintain a stable and effective position in the saddle, which can in turn enhance their ability to communicate with the horse and improve overall riding performance.

Summary

Overall, rider biomechanics is a complex and dynamic field that takes into account the individuals skeletal structure, needs and experiences of each rider, as well as the unique characteristics of the horse they are riding. The key to improving the your riding biomechanics is working with a knowledgeable instructor or coach. And understanding that is is a process. Results are not achieve overnight but the benefits are improved technique, reduction in the risk of injury, and enhance yours and your horses overall riding experience.

Improving functional movement on the ground can have a positive impact on riding performance, by enhancing core stability, balance, and overall fitness. It allows you to focus solely on yourself without having to worry about a negative impact on the horse as you learn, develop and adapt. 

Other key points to remember is that riding is a unique and complex activity that involves many different factors beyond just functional movement, including horse training, communication, and tactical decision-making, that also play a significant role in achieving success in the saddle.

References:

• A study published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science in 2016 found that riders who participated in a six-week core stabilization program experienced significant improvements in riding performance, including increased stability in the saddle, improved leg position, and better overall balance.

• Another study published in the Journal of Equine Science in 2017 found that riders who engaged in Pilates training had significant improvements in their riding posture, including better alignment of the pelvis and spine.

• A review of the literature published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science in 2020 found that strength training and core stabilization exercises can have a positive impact on riding performance by improving riders’ ability to maintain a stable and effective position in the saddle.