How to Make Your New Year’s Riding Resolutions Stick

By: Brittany Bevis

Let’s be honest. By this time of the year, (that is, ten days into 2018) most of our well-intentioned resolutions to “lose 10 pounds,” “stop smoking,” or “spend less time on social media,” have likely fallen by the wayside. What’s wrong with us? Do we really have so little willpower that we can’t manage to stick to a simple resolution for just 10 days? No, not necessarily. We’re just going about it the wrong way.

Lets look at the top New Year’s resolution for 2018, according to Statista. This year, the most popular resolution is a three-way tie between eating healthier (37%), getting more exercise (37%), and saving more money (37%). These all sound like great resolutions, right? Wrong. The first problem is that they are too vague.

Tip #1- Be Specific- A generalized, vague resolution leaves too much room for interpretation. Most of us need to know exactly what we need to do in order to achieve our goals. For example, if your resolution is to get better at Showmanship, then a few good resolutions might be to do a new Showmanship pattern twice a week, run in arena dirt for five minutes three times a week, or have a barn mate act as a judge so you can practice your cross-overs. Specificity leads to accountability. It’s easier to hold yourself more accountable when you have a specific number or timing that you need to meet.

BAD RESOLUTION– Get better at Showmanship.

BETTER RESOLUTIONS– Do a new Showmanship pattern twice a week. Run in arena dirt for five minutes three times a week. Have a barn mate act as a judge to practice your cross-overs.

Tip #2- Make Small Steps Towards Your Ultimate Goal

Think about it this way. If your horse trainer were to tell you that you need to keep your heels down, you would probably do it; but, how long would that last? Two minutes? Five, perhaps? The problem is that there is no plan in place to help you succeed. Simply telling someone to do something, (or telling yourself you need to do something) won’t automatically make it happen.

You need a plan of attack. Instead of making one big resolution, think about your ultimate goal and then make small, manageable ‘step resolutions’ that will help you reach it.

BAD RESOLUTION- Become a stronger rider.

BETTER RESOLUTIONS– Ride without stirrups for 15 minutes every day. Post without stirrups for 20 minutes three times a week. Do bareback longeline work twice a week.

Tip #3- Be Realistic

While we would all love to become a World Champion or a Congress Champion, that’s just not a realistic resolution. It might be a future goal to work towards, but not a resolution. Instead of starting off at the top of the mountain, work towards smaller, more reasonable goals that increase in difficulty over time, as your skills do the same. For example, if you’ve never won a HighPoint title at a horse show before, that would be a good place to start. Then, perhaps achieving a year-end title in your local club could be the next step. Another might be to might be to work towards claiming a spot on the Top 10 in a breed association, and so on.

Another approach might focus on improving specific skills, such as doing a clinic with a professional twice a year, seeking out the advice of a professional horse trainer for finishing, or attending a convention or educational seminar to brush up on your knowledge of the rulebook.

BAD RESOLUTION- Become a World Champion.

BETTER RESOLUTIONS- Work towards achieving a High Point title at a local show. Work towards achieving a year-end title in a local club. Work towards claiming a spot on the Top 10 in a breed association. 

Tip #4- Focus on Positives Rather Than Negatives

Instead of making a resolution that focuses on what you should stop doing, make a resolution that focuses on what you should be doing. Think of Do’s rather than Dont’s.

BAD RESOLUTION- Stop getting so angry with my horse when he makes a mistake.

BETTER RESOLUTION- Make a mental note of three things my horse does well during each performance. 

Tip #5- Don’t Give Up So Easily

So many of us treat New Year’s resolutions as a pass or fail proposition. If we slip up one day, that’s it. Now, we have to wait until 2019 to try again. It doesn’t have to be that way! Treat each day as a new opportunity. Research shows it take anywhere from 21-66 days to develop a new habit. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!

Put your resolutions to the test! Do they follow our five Equine Chronicle criteria?