January 15, 2015

How to never mentally ‘skip a beat’ when you ride or compete

Guest post by Lindsay.

It’s a new year; it’s time to turn over a new leaf, gain new perspective. It’s time to take control of your riding: MENTALLY. Riding is a very physical sport, but many people underestimate the mental acuity necessary to achieve success. As a trainer, I address various “noggin’ issues” among riders: distraction, fear, confidence, etc. I could devote many posts to each mental challenge we face as riders, but today, I would like to address the influence of gossip and barn drama on success in the ring.

Every barn I have ever ridden/trained/lessoned/taught/worked at has its own type of barn drama. Some places, it is very subtle, and other places you feel like you have walked on to the set of Mean Girls with horses. No matter where you go, there will be some one who doubts you, who tries to bring you down, and who knowingly or unknowingly “messes” with your ride. Here are some tips to help you “Shake It Off.”

Fun fact: Taylor used to ride as a young child.

1. Taylor Swift is right. Haters are gonna hate, hate, hate. There will always be people that live to bring other people down. There will be people that are jealous or condescending or just plain mean. While it may feel like these people are singling you out; remember, they are not. They will talk about everyone – you are just the target in front of them. Before you enter the ring, for a lesson or in a show, acknowledge them in your mind. Know that while some one may be rooting for you to fail, that you can rise above. Despite the “haters,” know that you are a strong, determined and dedicated rider. And then, just let them fade into the background.

2. Don’t ride for them. Some people use the negativity as fuel to propel them towards their goals. That’s fine, just make sure you are riding for you. Don’t let negative comments or gossip force you to put extra pressure on yourself. You don’t need to be perfect. Even professionals miss a distance! My dad, though he is not a horse person, gave me the best piece of competitive advice. He said: “Ride to win. Don’t ride to not make a mistake.” If you ride to prove other people wrong, you are riding to not make a mistake. If you ride to win, you are riding for yourself. You know that you might make a mistake, but you are going to go for it. When you ride for yourself, you are free to enjoy each moment, even the mistakes.

3. Money doesn’t matter. Yes, riding is an expensive sport. Yes, the girl with the triple figure horse is very lucky, but she makes mistakes, too. Whether you have the most expensive horse in the barn or you are a working student hoping for catch rides, when you are on the horse in the ring, money doesn’t matter. The horse has no idea if you are wearing brand new breeches or not. You are in the ring to work on your skills and the horse’s skills. People in the horse world make a big deal about money; I know this is a very touchy subject. If you have the money and love top quality things, then go for it!! But, don’t look down on those without financial means. If you are working your tushy off to afford a lesson or a set of second hand show clothes, then more power to you! But, remember to enjoy your time on the horse and stop looking at what everyone else has. (Full disclosure: Growing up, I was in the “middle” in terms of money. I know what it’s like to be jealous of the girl who took 3 horses to Florida. I also know what it is like to have some one sneer at me for being able to show every weekend.)

4. Keep your focus in the ring. As a trainer, I don’t care who walked up to the fence to watch your lesson. I don’t care if some one started the tractor for no good reason. I don’t care if we are at a show and your old barn is there. If there is a safety concern or they are interfering with my instruction, I will say something. Otherwise, you shouldn’t care either. Every time you step in the ring, your horse deserves your undivided attention. Focus on your horse. Focus on your ride. The more you think “inside leg, outside hand” or “tighten up my tummy” or “eyes up” the better you will ride, the better your horse will go, the more you will get lost in the moment, and the happier you will be with your ride.

I know these tips don’t address how to handle barn drama on the cross ties or in the tack room. I know that in the digital age, barn drama transcends the physical limitations of the barn. My advice for barn drama in general is: stay out of it and be nice to everyone. If you don’t want some one to talk about you, then don’t talk about them. (Note: much easier said than done!) It is up to the trainer/barn manager/farm owner to set an example of a gossip free environment. If all else fails remind yourself of why you are at the barn: To ride, learn, grow, and to love your horse!

“Shake it off” when you’re showing or riding – you’re there for you and your horse, not others!

October 31, 2014

Kendra Harnch and Squish: How they rode the USEF Medal Finals course

Getting to ride in one of the Big Eq finals classes is a dream for many equestrians. I’m sure those of us that haven’t been so lucky wonder what it’s like to ride one of those courses as we watch each rider do their round – I know I do! I’m happy to announce that Kendra Harnch, who rode at the Medal Finals at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, wrote a guest post about her trip to finals including how she rode the course with her horse, Squish!

You can check out Kendra & Squish’s round here, thanks to USEF Network!

ps. If the video does not load, you can click the search bar and type in “Kendra.”

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Hi guys! My name is Kendra Harnch or as some of you may know me by my Twitter name “ACircuitRoyalty.” I was ecstatic when Jess asked me to write a synopsis on my experience at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. It has been an absolute roller coaster of emotions throughout this past year.

Kendra & “Squish.” Photo Courtesy of Kendra Harnch.

Let’s back up a few months and talk about when my eq horse went suddenly lame. His name is Vanquish aka “Squish.” He is a 16’1”, dark bay, 10 year old gelding. We were two weeks out from attending WEF for the circuit and Squish suddenly went lame. We quickly realized Squish needed a few well-deserved months off. Throughout the circuit I tried multitudes of horses, and none of them were the correct fit. I was ready to accept that an eq final was not in my future. As we were approaching our summer show in Venice, FL, our vet recommended giving Squish a try in the show ring. Squish had been back about a month or so at that point. I showed him in his first “Big Eq” class back, and we won the Pessoa Medal his first show back. I was overwhelmed with happiness and the sudden flow of emotions that maybe I could pursue my goal after all.

Squish and I qualified for the Pessoa Medal Final and Maclay Regionals within a month and a half of the cut-off date. To say it was a bit of an adventure would be a definite understatement.

My family has their own private farm and my brother rides as well. Squish and I did not change much on our daily routine; he spends every night, all night, outside. We trail rode and had good flats during the week. A week or so prior to Finals, I went to Waters Edge with Waddy Oursler. He helped me prepare both mentally and “physically” with Squish. I was a bit nervous for this year because the past year when I showed at the Pennsylvania National Horseshow in the Pessoa Medal Finals I did not have the round I wanted. I was very determined to make this year a successful and fun one for both me and Squish.

My mom, brother and I loaded into the truck with trailer in tow on October 7, arriving at the Pennsylvania National Horseshow on the 8^th. With in owning our own farm we do it all ourselves with no grooms or hired help. This year my brother was also competing the second week of Harrisburg. Personally I felt that having my brother there to talk about the nerves and how the course was helped calm me down.

Kendra & Squish schooling over some fences at PA National. Photo Courtesy of Kendra Harnch.

I flatted Squish on Thursday in the practice ring and he felt awesome. On Friday we flatted very early, and Squish didn’t even bat an eye. Later that day all the riders from my barn had a quick lesson to school the horses. Saturday rolled around, and it was time for the un-judged schooling in the ring where you get to make up your own course and jump around the ring for 90 seconds. I went in the first group of riders; Squish had never felt so ready before. We jumped a few in the regular and small schooling ring and went in the show ring. The schooling went really well and Squish felt confident, as did I. I gave him one more quick flat in the ring around 10 pm. Finally it was Sunday, and I woke up feeling ready to have a great round. I hurried to go feed and muck Squishy’s stall and take him for a quick walk before the 6:15 am course walk. As I walked into the ring and saw the course in the actual ring instead of on the printer paper I was beyond excited.

Kendra & Squish during their round. Photo Courtesy of Kendra Harnch.

The first jump looked like so much fun, tons of brush with hay bales underneath. After the first jump there was a very forward four stride to a balancing five or a bit of a going four. We all knew the judges would be looking for a steady five after such a forward line. My goal was to catch a fluid solid distance out of the corner to the four stride while being able to immediately balance up for the five stride. Unfortunately I balanced Squish just a bit too much to the immediate five and bent out for the six. I wasn’t going to let that stop me from having a good rest of my round. I continued to the gate for the flowing eight stride, and we met it really well. I then looked for the coop jump, which lined up with the Swedish oxer by the in-gate. That line could have been ridden in either a going eight or a “right there” nine. I chose to do the right there nine with Squish as he usually lands right, and I didn’t want to risk him falling off the lead for the forward eight. After we completed that we slowed down and balanced for the triple combination which was a one stride to a two stride. We were nearing the end of the course at this point. I had a good approach to the skinny birch jump, which was a forward five strides to the oxer. Squish was right there for me as we moved up. Finally the last jump was approaching and coincidentally it was the first jump one last time. I got a bit picky to it, but it worked out for Squish and I as he jumped it beautifully.

Kendra & Squish waiting to enter the ring. Photo Courtesy of Kendra Harnch.

As I was exiting the ring I couldn’t contain my happiness. I jumped off of Squish and gave him a plethora of mints that I keep in my pocket for him. Walking through the tunnel to meet my mom and Frank I was replaying it all in my head, anxious to hear their opinions on the course. My mom was over the moon. It was certainly a huge improvement from last year. Frank was very supportive and helped me analyze the course.

Kendra & Squish schooling. Photo Courtesy of Kendra Harnch.

Afterwards while I was washing Squish I was over the moon with happiness and most importantly so proud of Squish. I came to the Pennsylvania National Horseshow and achieved my goal, which for a good portion of the year wasn’t looking so promising.

After it was all over I sat down and reviewed the past week and realized that between the nerves and the emotions I actually had a ton of fun. That is what riding is all about to me: having fun and enjoying the love I have for my horses. Overall I would say my experience at Pessoa Medal Finals was a personal success.

I will always be grateful to the people who made this experience possible for me. My mom, my trainers and most importantly my amazing horse Vanquish. I would also like to give a very special shout out to ALL the online support I received you’ll never know how much it meant to me and Squish.

Kendra giving Squish a smooch! Photo Courtesy of Kendra Harnch.

All photos are property of Kendra Harnch. Please do not use without permission.

September 26, 2014

5 unique things to ask yourself before buying a new horse

Photo Credit: HorseJunkiesUnited.com

Buying a horse is a huge commitment, and it can be disastrous if you don’t ask the right questions or have an experienced horse person to help you.

My trainer, Lindsay, has bought and sold a variety of horses for herself and for other clients. This past year she helped me go horse shopping. We picked out a horse for me to lease for a year, but he ended up being perfect for me and more than just a lease, and I just purchased him – with her help, of course! There are a lot of articles about buying a horse, but Lindsay put together a list of questions that are not often asked in these articles and are often the most important to consider…

Throughout my time in the horse world, I’ve had the pleasure and privilege to look for horses, not only for myself, but for clients, as well. I have seen thousands of horses, across disciplines and across price ranges. Whether you are looking for a big show horse to take you to the 3’6″ or a child’s first pony, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself.

1. What is your budget? This is a very important question. It is very easy to spend a lot of money very quickly. Know your budget, and don’t even try a horse if it is out of your price range- that will be the horse you fall in love with. People ask all the time, “How much does a horse cost?” I tell them that horses vary greatly in price. (My boyfriend answers, “Well, how much money do you have?”) You can find a horse in ANY price range, but you have to ask yourself…

2. What are you willing to give up to stay within your budget? In horse shopping, like house/apartment shopping, the chances of finding exactly what you want for exactly the right price are close to zero. I suggest making a “must have” list. This list is different for everyone. If you are looking for a sound minded horse that will teach your child how to jump, you might be willing to look at an older horse with some minor health issues. If you are looking for your 3’6″ horse, maybe you would forgo show miles for talent. Maybe not. Only you can know what your priorities are. If you want a horse with PERFECT x-rays, that horse might not have the most jumping experience. And so the list goes. Your “must have” list depends on your answer to…

3. What do you want to do with your horse and when do you want to do it? Your goals are a very important part of finding your perfect horse. Everyone has goals for their riding. Some people have ambitious showing goals; some people simply want enjoyment from a ride once or twice a week. By knowing your goals, you will be able to determine what you will want from your prospective mount. Recently, a woman purchased a young, green horse and soon realized that this horse was not her match. It was not because the horse was “bad” or “mean” or even because she didn’t like riding him. She was not honest with herself about what she needed from a horse. She was in love with the idea of training a young horse. But, when it came time to do the work, she realized she didn’t have the time or the skill to train this horse. Her true goal was to ride twice a week and have a predictable horse that allowed her to work on her skills. This particular woman was also unrealistic about the time frame of training a young horse. Young horses generally take a longer time to train and mature. Older horses are who they are, to a certain extent. Do you want to walk into the show ring and win tomorrow? You are looking for an older horse with miles. Do you want to spend the next year or so honing your horses skills while still improving yourself? You are looking for a middle aged horse that needs finishing touches. Do you want to spend the next 2-4 years helping a horse learn how to properly use him/herself and mold them to the discipline of your choice? You are looking for a young green horse. If you make a list of your goals, with a realistic time frame, then you will be able to narrow your search to more suitable matches for you.

4. How long do you want to keep this horse? Horses are a strange combination of pet, teammate, and asset. Many people buying their first horse believe that this is going to be their horse forever. More often than not, this is not the case. Children grow out of ponies; the rider’s skill surpasses the horse’s abilities; financial situations change. Many people asked how I could sell my previous horses. I generally answer, “The horse was not getting what he needed from me and I was not getting what I needed from him, so we broke up.” It is okay to sell your horse if it is time to move on, much like it is okay to break up with your boyfriend if there is no long term future there. It doesn’t mean you didn’t love him or that you don’t want the best for him or that you weren’t a great match at one point in time. To alleviate some of that “break up” anxiety, it is good to think about how long you would like to keep the horse you are buying. Is it a prospect horse? Is it an investment horse? Is it a transition horse? Is it a school horse? Is it a child’s pony? Is it a horse that you want to fall in love with an keep forever? Obviously, once you buy the horse, your time frame might change. For example, one of my clients went looking for a transition horse. She wanted something to build her confidence, help her move up, and get her into showing. We found a great horse in her price range for lease. We only tried him once; we didn’t invest that much time in debating his long term value. He was great for right now, and then he would go back in a year when she was ready to move on. The time frame fit her goals and the horse was ready to do what she needed right then. After a few months, we realized that the initial time frame was changing. The horse surpassed our expectations and had a lot more to teach this rider. As the horse’s muscle tone changed, his true talent emerged. This one year transition horse turned into a horse suitable for at least 2-3 years, if not longer. While a time frame is subject to change, it is a good thing to think about in conjunction with your goals. Whether you want to sell a horse quickly or if you want to keep him/her forever, your time frame effects your “must have” list.

5. How much training are you willing to pay for? If you are going to look for a horse with your trainer, make sure you are on the same page about the number of training rides, lessons, and time you are expecting from your trainer. Some trainers will try to “up sell” to ensure a steady stream of income from the sale and after the sale. Some trainers will only “allow” you to buy a horse that they want to ride. Some trainers are absolutely wonderful and truly help you through the process. I have seen many people rely solely on their trainer’s opinion and not trust their own gut/ignore their own wants. I have seen many people completely ignore their trainer’s advice. In both those scenarios, neither the trainer nor the client (nor the horse) ends up happy. Be honest with your trainer about what you want from a horse. Be honest about what you are willing to pay for. And if your trainer shows you something that doesn’t fit your “must have” list- be honest!! There are plenty of horses out there. If you trainer is pushing you to buy a horse you aren’t comfortable with- be honest!! There are plenty of trainers out there. A good trainer will listen, help you build your “must have” list, and review each prospective horse with a critical (but not judgmental) eye. When I was a junior, looking for my big show horse, I had the help of a great trainer. She patiently showed me hundreds (no exaggeration) of horses. We talked about each one- the pros, the cons, the feel, the look, the training. I could ride all of potentials, but none of them were MINE. When I finally found MY horse, my trainer and I (and the horse, too!) knew instantly. He had been looking for his rider as long as I had been looking for my horse. To this day, he is the only horse I could never sell.