I’m curious - how does stress affect your riding/training?

[Risuena]

This is kind of a spin-off from a post of mine a few months ago where someone astutely mentioned the possibility that stress outside of riding could be contributing to some riding anxiety, plus some recent posts that touched on the same thing.

I had an interesting lesson recently. The previous week’s lesson was a blast and I was excited to jump some bigger jumps (for me) again. Long story short, the past week was super stressful at work and I found myself feeling tentative even before I got to the barn.

The lesson went fine, not horrible, though I did NOT ride well at all (my horse earned some extra carrots). What occurred to me at the end was that I just didn’t want any pressure. I felt like I spent all week in my “stretch zone” at work and wanted something easy and fun, solidly within my comfort zone. (I do ride out on the trails etc, but I have a regular jump lesson on Saturdays)

I’m just curious if others have run into this too? How much does outside stress impact your riding, and how do you deal with it? Commiseration welcome!

[Scribbler]

For me, riding alone and trail riding is relaxing. I don’t take lessons or commit to any time frame of goals when I’m feeling stressed or under pressure in the rest of my life. If I’m running out of daylight time to ride or I’m really distracted by stuff in my life, I might stay off the horse for a day or two and do handwalking or groundwork.

But basically I find I feel better after I ride.

[Willesdon]

A few years ago I was really loosing confidence, even though riding the same horses and doing the same things, and I couldn’t understand why it was happening. Then I got new meds and improved control of my diabetes. Night and day. Instant return of riding confidence. So yes, IMO external stress definitely affects ones riding performance.

[TheDBYC]

Shite Eventers Unite was started after the founder came to this exact realization.

[Victorious]

I’ve never heard of Shite Eventers Unite, but I’m very curious!lol! Could be the group for me! I have a hard time managing my energy, and I have to constantly remind myself to turn my energy down. I find that if I have an upcoming show or lesson, my energy(probably actually anxiety) creeps in again and I inevitably will have a crummy ride. So stress definitely affects my riding-but it’s usually stress that is somehow related to the riding. Outside, real-life stress always seems to dissipate for the time I am in the barn or saddle, only to return on the walk back to the house. In this way, horses have been an absolute gift in my life. I have a better understanding now of how to manage anxiety about shows etc, but it still needs to be managed-it will probably never go away for me.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

I’m a very anxious person by nature, and I think it’s hard not to have other life factors affect riding. Of course, the best mentality is just to put that all away once entering the barn, and meet the horse on the horse’s own terms. But given that job stress can impact money, and health issues can affect riding, that’s hard to do in practice. I love it when I leave the barn feeling stronger and better able to face the problems outside of the barn.

But it’s also important not to beat yourself up, IMHO, if that’s not always possible. I also think it’s important not to judge people who may have lots of life stressors going on who relax through riding. At so many barns, I see a judgmental attitude of people who just hack their horses and aren’t “pushing themselves” with a younger, more difficult horse, or moving up the levels (whatever those levels may be). As long as the rider is riding the horse as best she can, and isn’t hurting the horse or anyone else, be compassionate about what may be going on outside the barn for that rider.

[comingback]

I don’t have a regular lesson day…it changes week to week. But if I know I’m going to have a crazy work week, I try to schedule it when the next work day is relatively quiet, otherwise I’m likely to be a space cadet with the focus of a gnat.

That being said, I will still ride to give my brain a break. Just not a lesson. It helps me decompress from the stressful day.