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Monday, August 07 2017 / Published in General

Retiring From Riding: What’s Next and How To Succeed  

Margie Sugarman
Photo by Lauri Foster

By Margie Sugarman

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.

Many athletes face depression after their career is over. What’s your best advice to a newly retired athlete on how to adjust to a new lifestyle? What are some of the common difficulties they will face in their adjustment period?

For individuals who have dedicated their lives to riding and being involved with horses, what happens when their time comes to an end? If you’re not a rider, then who are you?

Equestrians often train extensively for years — in many cases consuming the majority of their young lives with their parents (or themselves) making huge financial sacrifices in order to pursue their dreams. They often live on the road for a large part of the year and might find themselves sacrificing personal relationships in the process.

For many riders, leaving the competitive arena is a concept they don’t wish to think about in any great detail. However, whether they have or haven’t reached their goal in the sport, all athletes’ careers will eventually come to a close or a change in venue.

What happens to these athletes once they leave the days filled with rigorous training, extensive time spent traveling and the buzz and adrenaline flowing through their bodies from competing? Individuals experience this time with various feelings. Some are very susceptible to depression. It’s the let-down and the change from what they’ve known for so long along with the fear of the unknown and the question of, “What’s next? What will I do without my friends?” Others will be filled with excitement as they go on to new ventures in life without the burden and pressure of competing.

Many athletes struggle with adapting to a “regular lifestyle” where they’re no longer in the limelight. Moreover, in their eyes, they’re no longer “special.” Moving on from an intense athletic career can induce dramatic changes in one’s personal and social life. In turn, this can potentially impact individuals on a cognitive, emotional and behavioral level. Some “retired” athletes express feelings of emptiness and true depression. Consequently, one of the most important parts of this transition is to reconstruct and adjust oneself on the basis of building a new lifestyle. There are several techniques to help create a new foundation:

  1. Identify transferable skills: Perhaps the “retired athlete” will go on to study and earn a degree. The skills they’ve developed through their riding career — perseverance in attaining something desired, hard work, adaptability and performing under stress — are all important attributes in school and in life.
  2. Develop and pursue other activities: So much of the athlete’s life has been centered on riding. The time to try new things, discover other activities, hobbies or interests is now. To use the energy that was directed towards riding and pave some new paths can be fun and exciting.
  3. Develop new relationships: As one expands their area of interests, new people are met. Just like with riding, new relationships can and will develop.
  4. Consult with a professional to help explore further avenues and adaptation techniques: Athletes, by nature, are mentally tough individuals. This attitude can sometimes interfere with them approaching someone for help. Consequently, it’s very important for close family, friends, other athletes and coaches to understand that depression cannot always be seen and the athlete may never admit to it.

Changes happen in all parts of life and most of us are able to cope well if we have plans, strategies and adequate support to ease the transition from one part of life to another. Athletes are no different and will need time, social and emotional support and sometimes professionals to help them on their way to continued success.

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Tagged under: margie sugerman, q&a, Sports Psychology

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
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