Performance pressure in the saddle; a study on riders' self-doubt.
101 The extent to which we react fairly to mistakes in the saddle largely depends on our self-esteem.
A new study shows that competitive riders struggle with self-doubt much more than recreational riders.
Content details of the study; the reality behind the numbers is that the psychological state of each individual has rarely been scientifically examined in terms of how it affects their behavior in the saddle.
To fill this gap, researcher Professor Dr. Manuela Kesselmann conducted a survey among male and female riders.
In total, 484 individuals aged 16 and older completed the questionnaire; the sample consisted of 98% women and 2% men.
The participants were primarily recreational riders, making up 76%, while 20% were actively involved in competitive sports and 2% were categorized as professional riders.
The study group had no shortage of practical experience.
86% of respondents reported that they have been actively riding and working with horses for over 10 years; another 8% had between 6 to 10 years of experience.
Additionally, there was a very high inclination for personal development.
98% of participants regularly acquire information through specialized books, courses, social media, or online training.
However, a very scattered picture emerged regarding riding education.
24% of respondents take lessons once or twice a week.
The largest group, at 34%, works under a riding instructor once or twice a month.
16% use targeted training sessions once to six times a year, and 26% do not receive any riding education at all.
The main focus of this research was on personality traits such as self-esteem, empathy, and the individual's readiness for change.
At the same time, participants answered questions about their actual riding style in everyday life.
The researcher wanted to determine whether calmness and mutual understanding prevail in training, or whether riders resort more to tools of pressure and displays of power when problems arise.
How self-esteem determines the relationship with the horse After evaluating all the data, a very clear line of communication emerged.
The extent to which we treat our horse fairly is less related to mere skill in riding.
Rather, it depends more than anything on our internal attitude.
Riders with high self-confidence rely more on specialized knowledge in everyday life and largely avoid domineering behaviors.
They describe their relationship with their horse as particularly harmonious.
In contrast, individuals who struggle with deep self-doubts tend to adopt a strict "boss" role in difficult situations and correct mistakes through pressure.
Furthermore, one of the very valuable factors for riding in line with the horse's welfare is the individual's fundamental attitude towards this animal.
Individuals who consciously see their horse as a source of strength and a positive support behave with demonstrably more consideration.
What was most surprising was the direct comparison of groups.
Surprisingly, recreational riders showed significantly higher self-confidence in evaluations than amateur and professional competition riders.
Based on this, they evaluated their relationship with their horse as significantly more positive on average.
Why do recreational riders have higher self-confidence?
The fact that recreational riders rated their self-confidence higher than competitive riders has clear reasons in the context of competitive sports.
In competitions, riding is at the center of public and social evaluation.
Riders constantly compare themselves with competitors, have high expectations of themselves, and their focus is heavily directed towards mistakes.
If these expectations are not met, it quickly leads the athlete to feel less competent and harms their self-confidence.
Ambition becomes problematic, especially when it is directly tied to an individual's self-worth.
Someone who is solely focused on purely performance goals experiences ruined lessons or falling off the horse as extremely discouraging.
In such moments, the rider becomes solely engaged with themselves and loses sight of the horse's needs.
In contrast, for recreational riders, enjoyment and happiness from the shared progress are prioritized.
This enhances intrinsic motivation, boosts feelings of independence and personal capability, and immediately alleviates the burden of disappointment from mistakes.
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Sometimes we get so locked into practicing details that the joy of the work completely disappears due to being overly focused on corrections.
In such moments, a brief pause and setting aside the pressure of expectations greatly helps me.
As soon as calmness and freedom return, practice often proceeds almost automatically.
Michelle, editorial secretary at eHorses, the way out of the trap of failure: What can riders and trainers do? Unfair behavior towards horses rarely stems from ignorance; it is more related to the individual's emotional regulation.
Since self-esteem can be purposefully enhanced, this study offers practical and specific solutions for daily work.
Recommendations for riders: prioritize the shared path of training: define your success based on personal training goals, such as finer aids or the relaxation and calmness of your horse.
This makes you independent from scores and ribbons.
Focus on your own progress: consciously recognize your insecurities and doubts, and do not compare yourself with others in the stable or competition.
Do not belittle yourself: do not see small mistakes as failures; take pride in what you have achieved with your horse so far.
Mental practice for more calmness and enjoyment: purposefully work on failure and nervousness.
More laughter and more calmness in the saddle protect the relationship with the horse.
Recommendations for trainers: accompany corrections with emotional understanding: instructions should not remain purely technical.
Create a learning environment where mistakes are considered important learning signs rather than failures.
Stop and trace unfair behavior: immediately intervene against pressure tools and help your student with self-reflection through targeted questions.
Ask the right questions: use reflective questions like "What did you want to achieve right now?" or "What put you under pressure?" to increase the individual's awareness of their own attitude.
Questions and answers based on this study indicate that low self-esteem often manifests as domineering behavior towards horses.
Riders who doubt themselves usually cope poorly with mistakes, perceive them as personal failures, and react to the horse's disobedience with more frustration and pressure tools rather than understanding and comprehension.
This researcher defined horse riding in accordance with horse welfare based on FN guidelines.
Essentially, the subject is based on two factors: the calmness and freedom of the horse's body as the foundation of any training, and the fundamental rule that the rider should respond to the horse's mistakes or disobedience not with force, but with documented technical knowledge and proper understanding.
No.
Outcome-oriented individuals are not necessarily worse partners for their horses.
This issue becomes problematic when ambition and aspiration are inextricably linked to the rider's sense of self-worth.
Someone who is mentally strong and pursues competitive sports with enjoyment and team spirit can absolutely engage in equestrian sports in a fair manner that is consistent with horse welfare.
No, not at all.
The discussion is not about condemning competitions, but rather the goal is for everyone to question their own motivation.
Someone who does not need success to validate their personal worth and sees competition as a shared test with the horse can remain completely fair and calm in the competition arena.
The best thing to do is to take a deep breath immediately: loosen the reins, exhale deeply, and pause the exercise for a moment.
Starting again with a walk or a simple exercise performed with confidence will immediately relieve tension from both you and your horse.
Pay attention to how you react to mistakes.
If you become angry inside because an exercise hasn't worked or may look bad from the outside, it means selfishness is taking center stage.
If you remain fair, instead you will realistically ask yourself: Has my horse understood my aids correctly at all?
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As a horse expert, she provides exclusive news about this industry and guidance articles related to the world of horses.
You can contact her at m.breitenfeld@ehorses.de.
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