Pressured, Unsure, I think I know but…. How did I get better at problem solving this year?
Thanks Gill/Liz for badgering me to do this, I swore to myself that once I finished Uni (ages ago) I’d never write another essay in my life, it was for good reason as I can’t remember writing or submitting my last Uni essay, but I did enjoy a lovely bottle of wine. To this day I have no idea what I wrote, and yes I got a 2:2..!
Gill and I were sat watching a Tom Graham lesson in late October and I mentioned how much I have learnt to be better at problem solving for myself when riding this year. It’s not that I don’t do it, I always have had to do it but now I believe in myself when doing it. Gill jumped on this comment and told me to write about it.
It’s a funny thing life, I’d love to go back to the younger me and tell her to have a bit more faith in herself, don’t we all wish that? I’ve been around ponies my whole life and its only recently that I feel I can truly rely on my knowledge to do the best for and by them.
I’ve grew up with them, was made to be independent with them by Mum, was a groom in various guises, produce my own ponies and now have a Daisy daughter who relies on me for all things equine.
Being curious is such a big part of my life, I love learning. Equiteam has been a slowly building fountain of knowledge for me, and this year I have appreciated it more than ever. The friendships I have because of it and confidence I have found from it has been truly amazing, I hadn’t realised how much being around negativity had brought me down and that surrounding myself with positivity is awesome and just so much more fun.
Little by little this family has grown, new friendships have started, and I’m able to have trust and belief in that. I think you lot know who you are and I want to say a heartfelt thank you, you maybe don’t realise how much of an impact you have had on me for the better.
Liz seemed to make it a theme (was it a conscious decision Liz?) this year at Camp that it’s really useful to being able to problem solve while we ride. I know I did do it, but realised that I was a passive problem solver, which unconsciously made me gradually less effective as a rider over time.
A turning point
There was a turning point at camp in August this year where Liz made us all commentate our show jumping round, I was a bit ‘eek no thanks’ but did it anyway, I was brought up to face my fears….( EquiTeam members can watch how this works in Ride with EquiTeam).
So I had a chat on my way round and it left quite an impression on me. After thinking about it (I love a ponder) I realised that what I was saying out loud was only what my internal monologue would have been, everyone heard it and no one dismissed it, which has happened before to me many times.
I then let myself think that this is not a bad thing and could it even be a good thing? And it is a good thing! It really is! Our internal monologue is our true voice, there’s no filter as there’s no audience. I chose to take that as a positive, and started to ask myself; Why don’t I trust myself more? What can I do to be better at this? How do I fix it?
I had a chat with Liz at this Camp about reducing the kit on G, and she said why not! He’d had his hock medicated in June so pain was not an issue. At Camp in September we had worked hard in between time on actively problem solving; Why is this happening? What are the options right here right now? How do I fix it?
And do you know what, it was better! G was not up for killing me, I had active problem solving solutions like ‘ride the corners, sit up, don’t pull, take your time, use your core, keep working, use every moment, finish every movement properly, breathe, laugh, smile, give 100% all the time, be tired later, be consistent’. It was so cool to see the results in him, he seemed happier too. So ‘active’ problem solving has a permanent place in my riding, its not easy sometimes to be consistent, but if I don’t do it I let him/me down, the power of disappointment is immense!
And so my ramble is nearly done, the result of all this has been to finish the year at Tom’s camp, on a high, with great friends, gone is the Market Harborough (which as you all know was essential when G decided not to listen to me/Liz, and tried to kill me), Universal bit, flash noseband and here is the new relaxed Amber and G doing a lovely controlled canter with no gadgets… I am so proud of him and me.
I am now an active not passive problem solver when riding, through allowing myself to believe in what I can do, with a support system of amazing Equiteam friends I can’t wait to see what we get up to next year… no bridle lesson Liz?!
Amber x
