Horse shows can be increasingly stressful and difficult for any horse enthusiast. There are many ups and downs that all riders face day to day riding their horses.
On the Law of Attraction’s Facebook page, 10 tips are given to help us get through the tough times. Though they are intended for everyday life, we can also apply them to horse related situations as well.
Many riders are so competitive that they sometimes forget why they started showing horses in the first place. It is supposed to be a way to share a special bond with your horse, but along the way, many lose perspective and forget to have fun.
There are always days where nothing seems to go right; wrong diagonals, extra lead changes, your horse throws a shoe, you go off pattern, or your horse decides to spook right in front of the judge.
Just remember to ask yourself whether these mistakes and bad days will really matter six months or a few years from now. It’s always about keeping the big picture in mind and putting things in perspective. The ten tips below are great reminders.
1. Everything Can and Will Change
No matter the struggle you are currently faced with, it will change in due time. Think about this time last week, last month or last year. Chances are, you were stressing over something completely different at that point in time. Your horse may have been having a difficult time learning a new event or maneuver. Then, all of a sudden a light bulb comes on everything just clicks. Whatever you are worried about now will eventually come and go, so try to make the best of things while you are at it. Change is inevitable in everything, including horses.
2. You Have Overcome Challenges Before
Remember that thing you were worried about last week, month or year? You overcame that struggle and pushed on to where you are now. Remember when your horse kept picking up his pivot foot in the showmanship? Or, you kept breaking gait over the lope logs in the trail? In the arena, and in life, you will always be challenged in various ways. The different challenges that we deal with teach us many life lessons that can be applicable in many situations. When you are faced with a tough decision or circumstance, just remember that you will overcome this obstacle just as you have in the past, and will in the future.
3. Use It As A Learning Lesson
We learn from our mistakes and that is what makes us whole. That last pattern where you totally blanked and cued your horse wrong certainly taught you what to do differently next time you enter the pen. Horses are not robots and horseback riding is not a perfect science. Growth takes time and learning from our past mistakes to turn us into better riders and better horsemen.
4. Not Getting What You Want Can Be A Blessing
Life isn’t perfect and we don’t always get what we want. However, this can often be a blessing in disguise. When we don’t get what we want, we can be mad, angry, upset or even disappointed about what was in our way and keep us from what we wanted. Sometimes a rider’s goals of winning a world championship doesn’t come to fruition but many turn that frustration into motivation to work even harder. One thing to keep in mind when faced with these inevitable feelings is that everything happens for a reason. Though it may not be clear now, it will all make sense in the long run.
5. Allow Yourself to Have Fun
We all have difficult times throughout our lives. From problems big to small, we can all get caught up in our issues. However, we need to keep in mind that we show horses for fun. Horses are a hobby for most of us and even those who are in the business of horses love them and care for them deep down. We typically do this because we have fun in the process with our horses and horsey friends. Letting yourself get your mind off of things and let loose a little is a great stress reliever.
6. Don’t Pay Attention to Other People’s Negativity
In any sport, people will have negative outlooks. From nagging about their own experiences to judging other riders, you will likely find various sources of negativity. This can bring us down and truly have an effect on our mental health. It is important to keep in mind that other people’s negativity does not concern us. Learning how to distance ourselves from the negativity of others will help us keep a positive mindset when dealing with problems of our own.
7. Remember Your Strengths
You have strengths. Repeat that to yourself. When we are faced with challenges, we te
nd to look down on ourselves. You may not be the best showmanship exhibitor and have a lot to learn in this class, but you are an excellent rider who does above average in these classes. Keeping your strengths in mind can also be important with your horse. Not all horses are created equal and some are better joggers than lopers and vice versa. Focusing on positives is important when we are faced with tough situations.
8. Anything Is Possible
It may sound cliche but anything is possible if you just believe. The power of positive t
hinking and focusing on improving is a much more productive way to spend your time than to think you have no chance. Every dog has its day and soon, your day will come to. Though it may not seem like it now, everything that you are pushing for and working towards will come together and pay off in the end, you just have to stay dedicated and believe in yourself.
9. Greatness Takes Time
Though they are born with tons of natural ability, horses do not come out of the wom
b loping slowly down the rail with their heads in the perfect position and ready to win blue ribbons. Great things take time. From horses to people, we all must master our craft before we can expect to be successful. This is especially important when you move on to a new horse or a new class. Perfection doesn’t happen overnight and Rome was not built in a day. Horses and their riders work hard to make it to the top of the pack.
10. Always Something To Be Thankful For
It doesn’t matter the time, place or situation; there is always something to be thankful for. Often times, we focus on what is going 
wrong instead of what we are learning and improving on. Though times get tough, we can always count our blessings and give thanks to those who have taught us what we know. The horse community is ever evolving, but one thing we can all do is say thank you to those who have pushed us to become the riders that we are today.
Summary
Being thankful and believing in yourself might sound like obvious answers when we ask how to get through a hard time. However, keeping these ten tips in mind will help ease your pain and help you refocus your energy into a positive light. With these helpful reminders, you will be able to manage your stress much easier than ever before.
