Trust your gut.
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘trust your gut’ and have applied it a good many times too! Just a few weeks ago, I was riding indoors during a dreary, damp day. I knew it was going to rain and get a little windy so no surprise when the steady drum on the roof increased in volume and the gusts rattled the doors a little more. My horse was alert and trying to change the subject from actually bending around my ‘spiral in’, but she did it and was as focused as I could expect from her under such conditions. All in all, I was pretty content with what she gave me in terms of attention. But then something shifted in the air. You know those moments when you just stop and have a sense that something isn’t right? It was one of those. I got off my horse and decided to lunge instead. Not five minutes later the wind picked up to Mach speed, the skies opened and dropped hail with sideways rain and a thunderstorm erupted within one mile of us. This was a classic example of trusting my instincts in the moment and it being a good call.
But there are other times we’ve had a niggling in the back of our minds, that are not so demanding of definitive action in the moment. These situations are trickier to pick through, especially if you’re the only one feeling it. The most common example of this subtle cue is generally linked to behavior – generally bad behavior – in our horses. For many of us, we’ve had it drummed into us that our horses’ manners should be a certain way and I don’t dispute this – horses are large flight animals and the desire for good manners are grown from a need for safety. And while it’s important we don’t let our horses develop naughty habits, it’s a good reminder to pay close attention. These days, when I hear of a horse being bad or exhibiting a change in their demeanor, I make sure to listen to the owner. 9 times out of 10, the owner has a sneaking suspicion that something is off with their horse. We can easily dismiss these notions and put it down to a change in weather, food, pasture mates…. but remember that you know your horse, so trust your gut! I’ve seen so many instances where a horse owner knew there was something up. One person learned that when their horse started spooking and dumping their rider, it was a sure sign of a Lyme flare up and they were right - despite everyone around them being convinced the horse was simply ‘getting their own way’. Another just knew that her horse was too quiet and although nothing appeared outwardly to be an issue, a very thorough vet examination led to the discovery of a large splinter lying flat under the skin of the horse’s forehead. Maybe your horse is grumpier than usual, and you have a sense that it’s a bit of bellyache. You are very likely to be right, and if you’re not, at least you ruled it out. If you have a feeling about your horse’s cues be sure to act, even if it feels like everyone around you thinks you’re nuts. Ask your vet to check your horse out and then you’ll have a little peace of mind. Get a saddle fitter if you think that might be playing into your horse’s discomfort. You are your horse’s advocate, so get comfortable listening to your instincts about them.
The same can be said when it comes to riding and your confidence with your horse. If you have a sense that ‘today isn’t the day’ to get on, then that’s okay! If it feels like it isn’t the day to jump, stick with the flatwork. If it feels like your horse is just wanting to be argumentative, maybe don’t ask anything too difficult or you’ll both end up frustrated. But if your gut is speaking up and telling you ‘not today’ more often than not, it may be time for YOU to get help. Follow through by asking a friend or trainer to help you regain trust of yourself and of your horse. We can all use a little boost from time to time, not to mention pointers or exercises to throw into our riding sessions. You should enjoy your rides, so if you’re not having fun most of the time, find someone to remind you how to love it again and instill confidence in the process.
Trust your gut…. but then follow through.
