Let’s Talk Pt21: Losing Motivation

Hey there! Welcome back to Let’s Talk! Hope you guys are having a wonderful day/night! In this post we are going to talk about loosing motivation, a common problem in the equestrian community. Let’s begin!

Losing Motivation

Being an equestrian can be very stressful, you have to work hard mucking our stalls, exercising your horse frequently, feeding your horse, buying everything that you and your horse needs, it can all be exhausting. Even riding, the part that’s supposed to be the best, can be difficult. You’ll have rides that make you want to quit, stress that feels overwhelming, tiredness that makes you feel like you’re about to out, some equestrians have bad falls that can make them afraid of trying again, it’s understandable that a lot of equestrians lose motivation for the sport.

However, there are ways that us equestrians get our motivation back, and make the sport fun again. Personally, I like to step back from practicing in the arena, and go for a trail ride. It takes away the pressure of actually riding, and just lets you enjoy being with your horse. Another way is to simply just be with your horse, sit in the stall with them, watch them graze, do Liberty work with them, groom them, give them treats, just remind yourself why you love the sport in the first place, because of the horse. You can also try something new, a new course, a new drill, a new horse, anything to change things up a bit and make it more fun. Switching disciplines can also be beneficial for some riders, if what you’re currently doing just doesn’t seem like your thing anymore, there’s no rule that says you can’t switch. Don’t make that decision lightly though, take a lot of time to think about it and do research before you decide to make the switch.

If nothing else works, and you just can’t stop feeling stressed out or you don’t think riding is fun anymore, simply just take a break. Cut back a little, ride a little less, compete a little less, as long as it’s not going to effect your riding and your horse’s wellbeing, it’s okay to take a break. Most equestrians go through a period where they just don’t have the motivation to keep going, it’s a completely normal thing to go through. Talk to other equestrians about your struggles, they will most likely understand and be more than willing to help you out. It’s not easy being an equestrian, and losing motivation can be hard, just know that there are things you can do to get it back.

Thank you guys for ing me in today’s Let’s Talk! How have you overcome lack of motivation? Let me know! Maybe you will even help someone else out! Anyway, I hope to see you guys next time!

Goodbye and God bless!