Focused Riding

Goals and Training Calendars, A "How To" Guide

Ok, so you’ve got all these possible clinics, lessons, shows and other outings you could do with your horse this year, but where do you start?  So many possibilities, and only so much in the budget? How do you figure out what is really best for you and your horse?  And how can you plan so you arrive at the big show ready to tackle the day feeling confident, organized and ready, and avoid feeling unprepared, scrambled and cranky?

It’s all about a) realistic and S.M.A.R.T. goal setting and then b) working back in time to lay out plans that lead you to your goal, step by step.

In this article we’ll start with realistic goal setting.  Then next article, we’ll tackle creating a progressive training calendar that leads you and your horse to your goals.

Part 1 - Realistic and SMART goals

Step 1: Reflection and Projection – allow about 20-30 minutes for this step

Setting realistic and SMART goals starts with reflecting on your past year, what’s gone well, what’s pushed your comfort zone and what needs attention to get to the next “level” in your riding.  It also requires some reflection on what really brings you joy and a sense of accomplishment with your horse.  Just because your barn mates are encouraging you to plan for a particular outing, ask yourself what is right for you.  Example: If you prefer a few dressage schooling shows, and some long trail rides with overnight camping, but your horsie friends are trying to convince you how fun it’d be to go to a 5 day hunter/jumper show, you need to be careful to stand your ground, at least until you think through your goals – not your trainer’s goals, or your parent's or significant other’s goals, YOURS!

Take 20 minutes and WRITE down the answers to the questions in this PDF. They seem simple but they are designed to lead you to more clarity.  

Questions for Reflection and Projections (pdf)

 

STOP - Don’t proceed to this next step until you’ve done step 1.  Are you done? Ok, then proceed.

Step 2: Create SMART Goals – allow 20 minutes for this step, then set aside and revisit your results after a couple days

From your answers to the questions  above, you’re going to create goals that meet the following standards:

S – Specific = well defined, and clearly stated so that anyone could understand them.

M – Measurable  = stated so that you can say,  yes or no, whether you achieved the goal.  Consider turning a outcome based goal (connect better with my horse) into a task goal (practice T-Touch circles and massage on my horse 2x per week).

A – Achievable = having a goal that is too far a stretch can be de-motivating, check with your coach, instructor or knowledgeable horse friend to help guide you.

R – Relevant & Realistic = make the goal relevant to what motivates you to ride, and to what your horse is capable, make it realistic to fit in with your other life roles in the coming year and with your budget.

T – Time-bound = Add a specific date or time frame for completion of the goal.

Look over your answers to all your questions from Step 1, and then re-read your answers to questions 4, 5 and 6.  Rephrase your answers into goals, so that they meet the SMART criteria above.  List them in order of importance, and limit yourself to 3-5 goals.  Let them rest for a day or two, then re-visit and revise them one more time.

Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to create your training calendar, and fill in the step by step daily practices that turn goals into reality! In my next article we'll cover just how to do that.  Until then, get steps 1 and 2 done above so you're ready to go with creating your training calendar. 

And if you can, share which of the S.M.A.R.T. standards were most difficult for you to apply to your goals with a comment below.

Learning styles and your riding

Did you know that we all learn in different ways? Have you seen a fellow barn-mate pick up on something so fast and wonder why the same thing didn’t work for you?

Researchers have come up with 4 general “learning styles” to categorize the myriad of different ways that we master new skills or knowledge. 

Benefit: Understanding these learning styles can help you get more from your lessons and finish a lesson with a sense of accomplishment instead of frustration.

Background and Exploration: According to Wikipedia, “Learning styles are various approaches or ways of learning. They involve educating methods, particular to an individual, that are presumed to allow that individual to learn best. Most people prefer an identifiable method of interacting with, taking in, and processing stimuli or information.”

These four learning styles are usually credited to Neil Fleming and are sometimes called the VARK model:
• Visual (sometimes called Visual and Non-verbal),
• Auditory (hearing)
• Reading / Writing (sometimes called Verbal), and
• Kinesthetic (feeling / doing).

Visual learners prefer to process new information by seeing. They use pictures, diagrams, flow charts, or even create detailed pictures in their mind.

Auditory learners prefer to hear new information.  In a classroom, they will benefit from lectures and discussion groups.  In a lesson setting, hearing an instructor’s words and hearing themselves say it are helpful.

Reading / Writing / Verbal learners like to take in new concepts through words, either by reading them before a ride or writing them down after a lesson.

Kinesthetic learners like to feel, do or imagine how it will feel.  They have to do it themselves to lock in the new skill.

Putting it to use:
When you want to learn a new skill in your equestrian passion, do you prefer to:

a) Search out articles and books on the topic?
b) Ask friends to tell you what they know about it and how they figured it out?
c) Look at drawings, diagrams and pictures of others doing this skill?
d) Find a knowledgeable coach or ground person to help you create the new feel and tell you when you and your horse have it right?
e) Any one of the above depending on circumstance and mood?

Can you tell which answer goes with which style?  Here are the answers; a) is reading / writing / verbal, b) is auditory, c) is visual, d) is kinesthetic.  Most people use all of the learning styles at some point, but prefer to use one or two.

In a lesson with me, you’ll experience a conscious combination of all 4 of the learning styles to help you progress most efficiently.  You might see me demonstrate various movements or positions in my own body on the ground to show what we’re working on (visual). Throughout the lesson, you’ll hear me talk you through new concepts and, at the end, ask you to say in your own words what the aha’s were (auditory).  You might be referred to an article in one of the latest trade magazines or an email link or asked to write down your aha’s that you just told me (reading / writing).  And you’ll lock in new “feels” when, I hold the reins, from the ground by the bit, and say “pretend my hands are the horse’s mouth” or when I press on your lower leg to show you a new way to apply the leg aid.

Sometimes when we struggle to achieve a new skill, we have to use many approaches to get the break through desired.  If you know that you have only used one or two of these learning styles when working towards mastering a new skill, consider how else you might learn the new skill using one of the other styles.

Take the quick poll here and see what others have said so far:

Turns out, most of us use a unique combination of all of the learning styles, but we do usually have a preference.  Guide your instructor to help you learn even better by  making sure they know your preference.  Contact me to experience these concepts for yourself  while “in the tack”.