How to Make Your Horse Training Time Count

reflective of a partnership not a solo sport. And while we are on the topic of goal setting...
Your practice goal determines your focus for the day. And how do you determine what a practice goal may be? Well that depends.  Have you done your goal setting work for the season?
Lets assume you are the dedicated rider and you have in fact completed your planning. What you should have are a set of dream goals broken down into long term goals broken down into short term goals. Whew! But it doesnt end there. At the bottom of this tree are your practice goals the smallest link in the chain which may be something as simple as today I will work at holding by body position more consistently. Who would know this itsy bitsy focus could relate to being a grand prix rider? This is where many people fall down in their goal setting efforts. They know where they want to go they just havent looked into drawing a map to get there a really detailed one. Another great thing about using such detail is how possible your dreams will seem. No longer are they the stuff of fairytales or reserved for other people somehow more special than you. Practice goals have a very equalizing quality.
Be Really Present
If you were told to train somebody new at work you wouldnt begin to talk to them and then walk out mid sentence to get yourself some lunch or worry about your taxes. But we do this to our horses all the time. And much like our disillusioned coworker the horse will often veer off into its own agenda. The real unfortunate part is when we end up disciplining them for this lapse when we were the first to leave.
Staying present means learning to place and keep your mind on the conversation with your horse. In this way riding can be said to be a meditative act. Experienced riders will tell you they have learned to place their minds on their task and keep it there.  If it veers show some compassion for yourself and your horse.  Gently bring both of you back. Start up your conversation anew.
Good meditators like good riders dont start out with an inborn ability to avoid distraction. It is trained over time in both cases. To train your present moment focus start by picking a present moment anchor. This might
be the feel of your horse underneath you the track you are riding or the clop of hooves. Once you have decided on your anchor lock on. Place your mind there. Know it will wander. Bring it back and bring it back again. If you see this as a natural part of training yourself to be present you will have an easier time. If you start to curse yourself for thinking about lunch or where you put your keys you will only burn energy. Thats exactly the place you have to practice compassion for your waverings. Compassion after all is good for the soul too and the horse.