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Learning to prepare yourself and your horse to ride in the moment takes awareness and some trial and error. Once you learn what works for you, the key is to seek that personal level each moment you ride.

Since there is variability in your mental and physical states each day, and your horse’s, it takes awareness and effort to psych up or calm down to the level at which you perform well. To do this, you need to be able to read your own mind and body and assess your horse’s condition.

Often riders complain because their horse does not feel right. The solution to this issue is to focus in the present, determine where your horse is, and take action to get your horse where he needs to be to ride well, in practice or competition. Figure out what you need to do to get your horse going well, and then work at doing it by focusing each stride on what you want to happen, using patience to develop it. If you don’t know how to get your horse to where he needs to be to go well, ask your trainer what to do rather than just thinking “he doesn’t feel right,” “he is too lazy” or “she is too strong today.” Take action in the present, during each stride to get your horse riding well.

Finally, trust yourself and your horse every moment you are riding! Let go of consciously trying to force what you want to happen and go a little “unconscious” by trusting your instincts and skills while feeling what you want your horse to do. By doing this, you will fnd that you are allowing yourself to develop effortless performances—those amazing moments in time!

In those transcendental rides, they feel completely “one” with their horse, in perfect balance and rhythm. They feel no fear, the ride seems unconscious; they are totally immersed and their performance is effortless and in control.

Attention is narrowed to only their partnership and the course. Often, it feels like time slows down, their mind becomes very quiet, and they are so focused that they are not distracted by sounds or sights. These experiences occur because the rider is performing completely in the present.

While these experiences often seem to “just happen,” it is possible to practice so that occurrences are more frequent. Many athletes who have won everything they possibly can, seek motivation to practice and perform by setting themselves up to get into these “zone” moments in practice and games, and trying to see how they can keep those moments going. There are ways to mentally practice during each ride that will help you get in the “zone” more often.

When riding in the “zone” the rider’s attention is focused in the moment. The mind is are free of self-critical or judgmental thoughts about performance; they are “just riding.” Riding in the present means focusing on feeling the horse under you, feeling each stride, and making the appropriate adjustments for proper pace, balance, straightness, and intensity.

That is the present. Worrying about something that happened in the past, or thoughts about what “might” happen in the future are distractions.

The goal for the present moment is focusing on what you want to happen, what you want your horse to do. Step into the ring, develop the proper pace and balance in the frst few strides. Start at the ingate by making sure your horse is awake and connected at the walk. You might want to get your horse to move off your leg at the walk, then come back, or do a few leg yields to make sure your horse is listening to you. Learn and know your plan for the course ahead of time, so you can begin getting in the “zone” prior to entering the ring. Going around the course, the focus remains in the present, maintaining the balance, rhythm, pace, and bend each stride. When doing this remember to breathe! Try to get your breathing in rhythm with the horse. Breathing gets the oxygen to your brain and muscles, so you can think and maintain muscular strength.