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 Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Equestrian Gallery
      • Stallions
      • Horses & Ponies for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Saturday, June 17 2023 / Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature

Taking a Break Results in Refreshed Return to Riding

Sports Psychology Column

By Margie Sugarman

 

I have been showing for five months straight. I have a couple of horses that I compete in the Big Eq and I frequently catch-ride hunters for other trainers. I love it all! However, this is the second time I’ve felt overwhelmed and pulled in different directions. I’m a junior in high school—all done virtually. I am finding it difficult to focus and concentrate on my schoolwork along with visiting schools and showing every week. Moreover, I’m trying to make a team so I feel I have to constantly be winning. How am I supposed to do all of this? I’d love a little time off to get things done, but I’m afraid of the reactions I’ll get from my parents and trainers.

We can probably all think back to a time when we were faced with doing a difficult math problem. You tried solving that problem, sitting and computing for quite a while but to no avail. The next day you got up and looked at that problem again—miraculously, you were able to figure it out pretty quickly. What happened?

Athletes need mental recovery time. Unfortunately, young people often think that the only way to do something well is to do it exclusively. This thinking impacts one’s identity. Pull the athlete out of that environment and they often question who they are.

What we need to understand is that the brain works in a two-part way:

 

  1. Conscious Information Gathering

We practice doing things, we try new things, we read about things. This is how we collect data.

 

  1. Unconscious Processing

We have the information in our minds. The next step is to process that information and figure out what worked and what didn’t work. How did we change things? What techniques did we use to accomplish something? The interesting part of this is that this step occurs when we’re doing something else, thinking about something else and/or when we’re sleeping!

Like a tank of gas, our brains have a limited capacity. We are limited in absorbing raw information at any point in time. What we learn needs to be processed. Once processed, the information needs to be understood. Once it’s understood it needs to become unconscious. Think back to how you learned to keep your heels down or how you learned the proper jumping position. You practiced and practiced. Perhaps you watched others or even read about it in a book. You slowly got better and better. Then suddenly it all clicked, and you were just able to do it.

Learning to do something truly happens when you no longer have to think about it. It’s finally unconscious.

You have been riding numerous horses a day, every day. You have been showing numerous horses, some catch rides as well, weekly, for five months. How much more gas can you get into your full tank? You start to feel overwhelmed with your responsibilities; you have other life things that need to be addressed.

The true challenge for most riders is figuring out the best way to take a little time off. One worries about their horse, their show plans, their points and/or their fitness.

The most beneficial time off is well-planned time off. How long should the time be? A couple of days, a week, a longer period? Once assessed, it’s very important to commit to that time and have the support of your trainer. The point in taking this time is to ensure one feels restored.

During your break, you should shift your attention to the aspects of your life that are crying out for you: visiting colleges, seeing family, spending time doing whatever you’ve neglected doing or you have a desire to do. In following your needs and wants at this time, you will feel productive and engaged—allowing you to feel that you’re not wasting time but accomplishing things.

While a physical break with a mental pause can be scary, it can also be a very important part of your training. Remember, you must pause in order to process the concepts. Taking this time, when you feel you need it, will allow you to ponder, rest and reflect—three important elements to your personal equation of success.

A mental pause ensures a refreshed return to your riding. Moreover, that tank is ready to be filled with new information, resulting in an improved performance.

 

Photo:

Taking a break from riding or showing can result in returning refreshed to riding, resulting in an improved performance.

Photo by Eye Was Here Photography

Pause and reprocess—reprocess and proceed!

Share this page:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Tagged under: margie sugarman, Sports Psychology

What you can read next

Swept Off Their Feet: Ali Sirota & Jeremy Kelman
Miracle on the Centerline
When it’s Time for the Next Horse or Pony

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.

Stallion Gallery

Visit Stallion Gallery

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • ASHLAND FARMS
    Ken & Emily Smith Training/Showing/Sales Wellington, Fl / Lexington Ky Ken 561-818-8495 Emily 561-371-1510 Chrissie 302-521-2476 www.ashlandfarmsfl.com emily@ashlandfarmsfl.com

    [Read more]

  • Tex Sutton Equine Air Transportation
    “Industry Leader for Domestic Flights” East Coast (352)497-6062 West Coast (626)482-2923 www.Texsutton.com

    [Read more]

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • “Jump for the Children” Benefit Horse Show Celebrates 40 Years & Over $3 Million to Duke Children’s
  • Woodside Recognizes the Best in the West
  • Get More for Your Money with an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Sarah Mills: Success From Scratch 
  • Brianna Meighan: Embracing Her Role as a Pony Mom
  • Charlotte Jorst: Working Hard at Living Her Best Life

Category

Recent Posts

  • Sarah Mills: Success From Scratch 

    By Tori Kistler Portraits by Becky Henderson Gr...
  • Brianna Meighan: Embracing Her Role as a Pony Mom

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Melissa Fuller T...
  • Charlotte Jorst: Working Hard at Living Her Best Life

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Melissa Fuller C...
  • Linda Drattell: Humor From Manure and Healing Out of Hearing Loss

    By Britney Grover Author Linda Drattell has fou...
  • June 2025 – Table of Contents

    SUBSCRIBE NOW! CONTENTS 18 Sidelines Spotlight ...

Copyright © 1987 - 2025  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!