26/ APRIL 2024 THE RIDER Confident Horsemanship: Get Back In The Saddle Confidently After A Winter Break Many adult riders feel anxious


about getting back in the saddle after having some time off. Follow these 6 tips to set you and


your horse up for a successful riding season:


Tip 1: Make sure that your horse is physically and mentally ready to go back to work. Your horse’s confidence might


By Anne Gage, The Horse Riding Con- fidence Coach


You’ve had some time off from rid-


ing, and the time to start riding again gets closer, you notice that you’re feel- ing more anxious than excited!


QMS Continued from page 25


doubled in size within a week and more competitions were added to the calendar. The excitement was conta- gious! The kids loved the team cama- raderie aspect of the shows and working with horses they have never ridden before.” “The IEA format also provides


competition opportunities to riders who may not have the financial means to


compete at established


Hunter/Jumper shows in Canada or the US,” she adds. “So, these talented athletes not only get to improve their


have decreased (just like yours) during the time off. Starting with simple exer- cises from the ground - including going for short walks and liberty work - are a great way to re-establish your connec- tion as well as building confidence and fitness.


Tip 2: Check your horse’s saddle fit and condition Since your horse’s muscles change


with extended time off (even several weeks). Now is a good time to have your saddle fit checked by a qualified, inde-


riding skills, they can travel and meet horses and riders from across the US for a fraction of the cost. These shows are really fun and positive.” Now, after only three shows, five


QMS riders have qualified for individ- ual competition at the IEA Regionals in Tenino, WA taking place on Febru- ary 10. Athletes competing as individ- uals at the Varsity-level (Grades 9–12) will be Halle Plester, and Poppy


Garrad-Cole, while Julianna Wynne- Smith, Emily Efraimsson and Adele Bartfai will be competing as individ- uals at the Futures-level (Grades 4–8). In addition to these individual ac-


complishments, the QMS Varsity team’s strong results, including first place


pendent saddle fitter to be sure it still fits your horse - and you as well.


Tip 3: Check your horse’s overall phys- ical wellness. A qualified equine bodyworker can


ensure that your horse is not dealing with muscle or joint issues. And a dental check (which should be done every 6 - 12 months) can prevent issues with the bit.


Now that you’ve looked after your


horse’s wellbeing, you can focus on what you need to do to prepare for get- ting back in the saddle.


Tip 4: Simple and Short Riding Sessions It will take time for you (and your


horse) to build your fitness and balance. So, start with short (15 minute) sessions at walk. Gradually add in trot. How quickly you increase the length of the sessions depends on how often you ride. You can’t go too slowly, but you can go to fast!


finishes at two separate shows, has earned them a slot at the Zone 9 Finals in Sherwood, OR on March 10–11. Their achievement is a Canadian first. The Varsity team will include Maggy Buttner-Danyliw, Hannah Blair- Smith, Poppy Garrad-Cole, Halle Plester, Rowan Picard and Hannah Shaw. A first-place win in any of the individual classes or combined team placing at the Zone 9 finals would se- cure QMS riders a berth at the IEA Nationals in Tyron, NC later this spring. “This whole initiative ticks all


the boxes in terms of what we aspire for our young athletes to experience,” outlines David Robertson, Head of School. “And the results are outstand- ing!”


About Queen Margaret’s School QMS is a university-preparatory,


Ride More, Worry Less And Enjoy Every Ride! Let’s get you feeling more confident today!


519-940-6050 • anne@confidenthorsemanship.com www.rideconfident.com


LongRun’s TB Star of April


Newport Agent is looking for his forever home! This handsome 6-year-old,


16h gelding is sweet and easy going to work around. He had his first ride under saddle and definitely is more go than whoa, but did nothing silly.


Every ride he gets quieter and more dedicated to his new


job. He would excel as a great all-around horse! If you’re interested in meeting Newport Agent,


please contact LongRun!


all gender day and boarding school lo- cated in Duncan, BC. Our purpose is to prepare young trailblazers, as no two journeys are the same. With an educational emphasis on experiential learning, innovative thinking, envi- ronmental stewardship and sustain- ability, we live by the value statement: Be curious. Be kind. Be brave. Be you.


In Lake Oswego, OR, QMS riders Halle Plester (Varsity) and Julianna Wynne-Smith (Futures) became the first Canadian riders to officially qualify for the IEA Regionals.


Tip 5: Let go of expectations Set simple, realistic goals based on


where you are now rather than on what you used to do. That will help you to avoid getting frustrated and beating yourself up - neither of which helps your confidence. Unless you kept active with exercise during the time away from rid- ing, you’re muscle tone, balance, sup- pleness,and cardio fitness will all have decreased.


Tip 6:Use visualisation to improve your mindset. Rein in negative thinking by using


positive visualisation. Set aside time when you can relax, undisturbed for a few minutes. Sit quietly and daydream about your favourite ride. Reframe memories of bad experiences by consid- ering what you would have liked to have differently to have a positive result. You can change your thoughts and


emotions by changing the pictures in your mind and the words you use when


you talk to yourself (and others). When you practice positive visual-


isation and reframing regularly, you’ll develop a more resilient mindset. If anxiety is stopping you from get-


ting back to or enjoying riding,maybe it’s time to get help from a mindset spe- cialist who can teach you strategies to manage stress, nerves or fear you’re feeling about riding.


Author Bio: Anne Gage, The Horse Riding Confidence Coach, shares advice and tips for horse riding women of a certain age. From managing riding nerves and anxiety, understanding your horse's behaviour, building a deeper partnership with your horse, and more. Whether you're a lifelong horse rider, just coming back to riding after time off, or just starting out, learn more at www.rideconfident.com


Call (416) 675-3993 ext 3440 www.longrunretirement.com • info@longrunretirement.com


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