SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Sidelines Caps
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Tuesday, September 25 2018 / Published in General

Age Is But A Number; Proper Prep Can Increase Safety

Margie Sugarman
Photo by Lauri Foster

Margie Sugarman is a leading board-certified psychotherapist and sports consultant based in New York. Margie’s desire is to enhance performance through the connection between the mind and body, and her current client list includes Olympic, professional and amateur athletes across the country. Her experience employing various therapeutic modalities has helped equestrians win classics, junior medals and grand prix. Do you have a question you want Margie to answer? Send questions to editor@sidelinesnews.com.

I am an “older” woman who returned to riding after a 35-year absence. I aspire to jump around at least 3’, which I’m physically capable of. However, the fear of being hurt, the thought of failure and not wanting to be gawked at or embarrass myself have suddenly stopped me from jumping around. I need a systematic way to get back into the game. Help!

Life is for living … and as long as you’ve got your pain relief for achy muscles, bath salts and any other means of dealing with soreness and stiffness, you can zip up your boots and head to the barn. However, there are a few things you can do that will help you physically before you tighten the girth.

Remember that we do lose some flexibility as we age, so stretching will increase your range of motion. Cardiovascular fitness is of utmost importance. Exercises like biking, swimming, running or brisk walking will help tremendously before you sit in the saddle.

Of equal importance is your core strength. Pilates and/or yoga address those core muscles while improving overall strength. The more physically fit you are when you put your feet into those stirrups, the more secure and confident you’ll be when ultimately riding around the course.

Returning to the ring more seasoned will bring some advantages that being younger lacks, such as the ability to speak up and discuss things openly with your trainer; use this wisdom and awareness to your advantage and voice your feelings, setting clear expectations. Your trainer should be challenging you but not overwhelming you. You must make sure you and your trainer click. Some younger trainers have difficulty with “older” riders because they are so accustomed to working with the younger rider and might feel nervous about being judged. There are many trainers out there … find the right one or your goals might never be reached.

Once you’re back in the saddle riding around and ready to jump, the nerves and anxiety might engulf you like heat when opening the car door on a sunny summer day in July, or leaving your air-conditioned home and stepping outside in the middle of August.

Foremost, it’s important to be seated on an equine partner that you have confidence in. Remember, you are only half of this riding equation.

From the fear of falling off to the fear of getting hurt, there are quite a few emotional components that can hinder your progress. You might consider specialty equipment such as a body protector or safety stirrups. Although they won’t prevent a fall, they certainly will make you feel safer and help with a “softer” landing should something happen.

Once you’ve gone through all the practice at home and jumped the jumps over and over, then it is time to bandage your horse, pack your tack trunk, polish your boots and head to the show. This is when those dreaded “what if’s” drown out your favorite song from your playlist and flood your mind. This fear, created in your mind by projecting that something negative might happen, results in anxiety, self-doubt and thoughts of turning around and heading out to breakfast. It’s here that you have to pull yourself together and remind yourself that those “what if’s” are really “almost never’s.”

At this point, think back to your recent riding lessons. They must have been pretty good or your trainer wouldn’t be meeting you at the show. Put yourself back in the saddle and in your mind re-ride those courses you rode so well at home.

Remember the feeling of accomplishment you felt, the smile you had, the happy, loving pat you gave your horse when you completed the course successfully at home … and then decided it was time to show.

Riding, for many, is like the sun to a plant. It is an essential part of making one feel fulfilled and whole. Enjoy this second opportunity and embrace it; your desire to ride outweighs your fear of falling. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be asking, you wouldn’t be taking lessons and you wouldn’t be polishing your boots.

Double D Trailers Info

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: margie sugarman, sports psycology

What you can read next

FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge – January 26, 2013 Reaches Goal of $1.5 Million to Benefit 34 Palm Beach County Charities
Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star Capture $30,000 Mar-O-Lago Club Grand Prix at WEF I
The Sky’s the Limit as Midnight Heart and Taylor Cox Reach for Starry Wins at USEF Pony Jumper Finals

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Jessica West always rode any horse that was availa Jessica West always rode any horse that was available to her throughout her Junior career, so she knew she had an advantage when she decided she wanted to ride on an NCAA team in college. Now a senior at @@auburnu and majoring in psychology, Jessica has enjoyed everything about the equestrian team and is ready to move on to her next adventure. 

Read more about Jessica at the link in our bio!

#ncea #ncaa #equestrian #collegiateequestrian #huntseatequitation #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #collegelife #showjumper #hunterhorse #horseshow #sidelinesmagazine
In the unique and challenging sport of combined dr In the unique and challenging sport of combined driving, Jacob Arnold has proven himself to be a bona fide star. It’s been said that success develops from a recipe based on hard work, perseverance, learning and sacrifice, paired with a love of what one is doing. Since the time he was a boy, Jacob has had the right combination of all of those ingredients, which have culminated in a meteoric rise to stardom.

Beginning his career as a Junior, Jacob earned the coveted @usequestrian Junior Equestrian of the Year award in 2011. Since then, he has taken the combined driving world by storm, competing successfully in four @fei_global World Championships. He also won the USEF Advanced Pair Horse National Championship in 2020 and 2021, among other victories—all before the age of 28, in a sport that has historically been dominated by older drivers. Last September, he placed 12th—the highest of any American driver—at the 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs in a field of over 100 top-level drivers.

Read more about @jacobarnoldcombineddriving at the link in our bio!

@alex.banks.photography #combineddriving #drivendressage #dressage #driving #carriage #horsedriving #equestrianstyle #equestrianlife #horselover #drivinghorse #carriagehorse #showhorse #sidelinesmagazine
@rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the f @rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the first equestrian Major of 2022, winning the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. In doing so he also claimed an additional bonus for non-consecutive Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping wins, following his victory at CHIO Aachen last year. The German champion’s outstanding performance riding his trusted partner Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z once again makes him the live contender for the coveted Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

Catch up on all the action and watch the free highlights video on the Sidelines Show World blog (link in bio!)

#showjumping #rolex #grandslam #rolexgrandslam #showjumper #dutch #netherlands #dutchwarmbloods #equestrianlife #hunterhorse #hunterjumper #equestrianstyle #showhorses #showjumpersofinstagram #jumpinghorse #grandprixjumer #grandprixhorse #sidelinesmagazine
Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 ac Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 acres in Jupiter Farms, Florida.

Jupiter Farms is an equestrian community with a trail system and a sand riding arena at the park. Charming home features vaulted ceilings, custom trim, custom lighting in master bedroom that changes color with a remote. Granite countertops in kitchen and laundry room. New 2022 stackable washer/dryer. Privacy fenced backyard with beautiful tall pines for shade, many palm trees also on property.

Secure fenced  25’ x 25’ pen with wood fencing , for a horse, dogs or a garden.  Wonderful property in desirable Jupiter Farms. 45 minutes to Wellington, 25 minutes to Jupiter Dog Beach. Perfect oasis for dog and horse lovers, close to everything in South Florida. MLS# 10778333, Agents welcome.

$655,000
Contact 561-246-9317
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • Barnstead Inn Manchester Vermont
    Click ad title for more
    “Downtown Manchester’s only boutique inn and tavern” Privately situated. just 2 blocks from shopping and dining is our early 1800’s farm property converted into 18 rooms & suites. Local amenities such as complimentary skin care products in all rooms,

    [Read more]

  • CHAMPION EQUINE INSURANCE
    Knowledge, Integrity, Service lfetterman@championequineins.com 561-596-5408

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • A Paris Horse Adventure: Saut Hermes 2022
  • Better Business with Malvern Bank: Michael Meller’s Secrets to Success
  • Third Annual Painted Ponies Art Walk takes over Southern Pines, NC!

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Jung Ends as He Began — On Top — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™
  • ROLEX TESTIMONEE DANIEL DEUSSER WINS ROLEX GRAND PRIX AT 2022 DUTCH MASTERS
  • STABLE VIEW IN AIKEN POSTPONING ‘A’ RATED $400,000 H/J CHALLENGE SERIES DUE TO RESTRICTIVE MILEAGE RULE

Category

Recent Posts

  • Steffen Peters: Grateful to Pursue the American Dream 

    By Kimberly Gatto Portraits by Lori Ovanessian ...
  • Taylor Land: A Positive Outlook on Show Jumping

    By Cheyenne Lord Portraits by Kristie Scholten ...
  • Unbridled With John Roper

    By Britney Grover     John Roper absolutel...
  • Unbridled with Bev Bedard

    By Britney Grover     Other than leaving f...
  • Katie Duerrhammer: Driven by Love and Respect for Horses

    By Kimberly Gatto Portraits by Melissa Fuller &...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!