3 Ways a Growth Mindset will Change your Equestrian Life
Traditionally, riding programs and instruction has used a fixed, competitive, extrinsic mindset to teach and motivate riders. How many of these feel familiar.
“If you ride like that at show you’ll be an embarrassment to our barn.”
“Just for that, drop your irons.”
“You’re too _____ (insert fat, thin, weak, tall, small, distractible, etc.) to ride well.”
“She is a natural.”
“That horse is ______ (insert stupid, dangerous, perfect, an angel, etc).”
“She is a better rider than you.”
All of these phrases, while commonplace in many barns, are not only hurtful but are holding you (or your students) back. Notice, they cast a judgement as if it were fact, a sentence rather than an opportunity for growth.
In a world where most of us ride for fun, as a hobby, it simply doesn’t make sense to create such a comparative, negative, punishments and rewards based environment in our barns.
The good news? Society has shifted towards a growth mindset, which can help us in our riding immensely. I see a huge difference in my students that come to me from a trainer that uses a fixed mindset program, and you can experience these changes too.
What is a growth mindset?
A growth mindset is the idea that with hard work, effort, and determination, you will improve. Sounds simple, right? But the idea that you are “good” or “bad” at a thing, whether it is posting without stirrups, handling a scary situation, or your timing in a jump takeoff, is the very mindset that is keeping you back from improvement.
Instead of telling yourself that you are “good” or “bad” at something, tell yourself that you are improving, when you work hard you see results. And then do it! Give yourself the space to actually practice the things you want to improve on.
Some strategies
Visualize
Science has proven that visualizing your sport is just as powerful as actually practicing. So sit down, close your eyes, and imagine yourself on your horse, practicing the thing that you are struggling with. This is such a simple way to practice because you don’t need to drive to the barn, tack up, walk for ten minutes, and then finally practice, only to then have to cool out, untack, and drive home to shower. This takes a two hour practice and breaks in down to a five minute exercise that will translate to actual results and a better ride next time.
Journal
Keep a riding journal and write about all of the things that you did in your lesson or ride each day. Write not only about the actions, but how you felt about them. What could you have done differently? What did you do better than last time? The best thing about this is that after a hard day (because they will still happen), you can look back in your journal and remember how far you’ve come in the past month, year, or even decade. It’s an investment in your current riding career, but also future you.
Rose bud thorn
This can be done out loud with a friend or trainer or included in your journal. Write down three things after each ride: your rose (highlight), bud (something that is developing or that you are looking forward to), and thorn (something you wish had gone better).
Some new barn phrases
Instead of perpetuating the hurtful and stagnant fixed mindset of traditional barns, let’s rewrite the narrative. Use specific, attainable, and descriptive statements that focus on a realistic and objective assessment of where we are now, as well as a path to where we want to be.
“We show so that we can learn about what we need to improve on and what we’re doing well.”
“Let’s build some more strength and balance by dropping your irons.”
“You have _______ (long femurs, short legs, a high center of gravity) so I want you to practice ______ to help keep you balanced.”
“She looks so harmonious with that horse.”
”That horse needs to learn how to ________ (stand still, push from behind, settle and focus).”
“She has been practicing a lot longer than you, maybe in ten years you will ride like that too.”
This is a daily practice, so keep at it! Start noticing how you talk to your barn friends, your horse, and yourself and start working to change your mindset.