The Space Between Rides

After a lesson or a ride, there is a lot to think about and replay in your mind.

We remember the moments that captured our attention and think about what made the difference. Questions appear unexpectedly. Ideas begin to take shape.

A lesson lasts an hour, but learning continues long after we leave the arena. The space between rides gives us an opportunity to notice what stayed with us, think about what we are still curious about and prepare for our next ride. 

Some of the most valuable learning and conversations happen between rides. Take time to appreciate the best moments with your horse and make sense of what happened. Questions that stay with us after a lesson deserve some time to ponder and think about next time you ride. These questions can be valuable conversation starters with your coach.

Remembering what felt good, what made you smile and the moments you would like to recreate helps you recognise what matters to you as a rider. It also gives you an opportunity to think about the things that felt nearly there and the elements you would like to develop and improve.

Taking time to think about what happened allows you to arrive at your next lesson with curiosity, direction and a greater appreciation for the partnership you are building with your horse.

Between rides, we have time to process what happened and why. To think objectively about what we would like to do next time we ride, to remember the feel of an exercise and to replay what worked as well as consider what could be better.

Spending time capturing these thoughts and being curious helps us prepare for the next ride, recognise our energy and emotions and think about our horse's experience. It becomes easier to join the dots between rides and lessons, recognise patterns and continue learning with purpose.

Before the next ride, we have an opportunity to think about what we would like to recreate, develop and improve.

Do you have a question you would like to explore with your coach? Arriving at a lesson with thoughts, questions and ideas allows us to make the most of our time together. The thoughts we have after a ride, the questions that stay with us between rides and the conversations we have with our coach all help us make the most of our time together.

The impact and value of coaching can last much longer than the lesson itself. Taking an active role in our own learning allows us to continue exploring ideas, asking questions and making the most of the support available to us.

The space between rides is part of the learning experience too.