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Saturday, July 08 2017 / Published in General

Variety and Taking A Break from Riding

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.

My son is 9 years old and a lot of his friends from school are starting to go away to sleepaway camp. From the conversations we’ve had about it, my husband and I think it would be a great idea. However, my son feels the need to stay back because of riding. My husband and I feel for two months it’s OK to be away from our horse! How can we convince our child that he’s allowed to take a break?

Parents want the best opportunities for their children. They want them to have whatever it takes to be happy and successful: good health, the ability to get along with others, to develop thinking and problem solving skills and a good self-concept. Children need resiliency skills: self-esteem, life skills, self-reliance and proper social behaviors. The camp experience offers a nurturing environment that supports the development of these building blocks of life and personality. Camp is one of the few institutions where young people can experience and satisfy their needs for physical activity, creative expression and true participation in a community environment.

There’s an illusion perpetuated by many people that in order to be really successful, the child athlete needs to specialize in one sport as early and consistently as possible. This school of thought holds the belief that the child who stays focused and involved will be a step above his competition while progressing faster and achieving more than a child who participates in multiple sports.

The problem with this approach of early specialization is simply the potential for burnout. Too much, too soon, too intensely, at too high a level of competitive pressure can throw a young athlete out of balance emotionally as well as physically. Making a sport so important when a child is young, to the point where there are no other fun sports, often stifles the joy and enthusiasm for that particular sport and in the end interferes with the child’s performance. The psychological component that accompanies this situation is loss of interest and culminates in dropping out of the sport altogether. However, supporting other endeavors, like going to camp and playing other sports can, and does, ultimately enhance performance.

Think of an ice cream analogy. Imagine asking a person if they like ice cream. They say, “Yes.” When you ask what flavor, the person says they’ve only tried chocolate and although they like it they’re a little tired of it. Well, give the person the opportunity to taste other flavors and you’ll see a whole new attitude about eating ice cream. The psyche is ignited with the thoughts of something new and different. The psyche appreciates chocolate more when it’s had the opportunity to try other flavors like vanilla, pistachio and raspberry. If chocolate ultimately becomes identified as the favorite, it’s probably more desirable because of the exposure to the other flavors. So it is with sports. The opportunity to partake in other athletic endeavors will build character, physical capabilities and ultimately a greater appreciation for the “favored” sport.

Your son needs to understand that all athletes have an off-season. This is the time they regroup, do other things and enjoy what they can’t during their “season.” This is an opportunity to try new things and share experiences with friends away from home and the family. This is a place where it’s all fun: swimming, campfires, boating, baseball, water skiing, late-night talks and jokes. Who wouldn’t want to go?

Presented the right way and reassuring your child you’re behind his desire to go to camp — it probably won’t take much arm bending! His horse will be waiting for carrots and a good ride upon his return.

 

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Tagged under: margie sugerman, Sports Psychology

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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

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Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
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An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
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For more information, you can contact 
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You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

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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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