How to stop overthinking while riding?

[KPF]

OK, I'm bored at work today so I decided to post about this and see if anyone here has any suggestions.

I'm a total "over-thinker" about life in general and I also do this when I ride. I'm one of those people that pushes myself to do my best in everything. I don't have any lofty riding goals, don't even want to show anymore. I had a really bad riding accident almost two years ago and broke my back, so that really shook my confidence. I've been back in the saddle for a little over a year, taking lessons, and I'm much more confident now, though I still have my moments. I think my main problem in my lessons lately is that I overthink things. My trainer tells me all the time to "get out of my head". :lol:

How can I "turn off" my brain and get more into "just do it" mode? My body knows what to do, I've been riding since I was a kid, but sometimes I overthink simple things so much (like canter transitions, for example) that I make them 10,000 times harder than they really are.

[Nes]

When I'm thinking too much I start singing to myself (in my head, I'm tone deaf) REALLY loudly. I find it helps allot :).

[equusvilla]

I am guilty of that as well...so much so that when I have been extremely tense and my trainer tells me to do something - I find myself repeating it verbally instead of actually doing it! The key word for me though is tense. I have to do whatever it takes to calm down and relax...then I can work the horse through whatever needs to be done.

Try and think it through before you get on the horse - whatever it is that you are currently working on...ie - I am learning how to ride sidesaddle for the first time in my life - at the ripe old age of 47! I was so nervous. I was gripping those leaping heads way too tight. After a few lessons I started to visualize myself looking (and feeling) like one of the many many photos I have seen of others riding aside. From the first moment I got on the trainer remarked that I looked so much more relaxed and it was my best lesson yet. That was the day I cantered for the first time too.

Good luck!

[MoonWitch]

Remember why you are riding. Be grateful for thie gift, the privledge and the sheer joy it is to sit on a horse. Be kind to yourself, forgive and forget. Take joy in the "little" things while riding - the friends, the weather, the scenery and most of all, your wonderful horse. Whisper your fears to him, and just enjoy. Blessed Be...

[ReSomething]

Four years, five really, since I began riding again and I still fret over cantering. Jumping was overwhelming on occasion. More than once I talked myself out of going for a lesson.

I had to teach myself to mentally relax. I switched disciplines and gave myself permission to start over. Never did it before, couldn't beat myself up over "used to's".

Focus on anything else as previous posters have said - silly stuff like singing in your head, or how nice they smell and feel and how simply, basically happy you are.
There are a lot of exercises in meditation to slow down and simplify one's thought. Useful for many situations in life.

[BlueEyedSorrel]

Are you my twin???? I have the same problem with overthinking. I also have a history of a bad fall, broken bone, lost confidence and issues with canter transitions.

You didn't say what you do for a living. I think there are certain jobs where overthinking is not only common but rewarded. I'm thinking about accounting, IT, computer programming, medicine, science, some areas of law--anything where you must deal with a lot of information and do exacting work. I'm in biomedical research. I get paid to think and overthink! Professionally, I deal with a large amount of often conflicting information and spend a lot of time thinking about if I've accounted for all the variables before I do my experiments (so as not to waste my boss's grant money). And when I generate my own data, then I have more to analyze. So, when I get to the barn, it's hard to turn that part of the brain off.

Ironically, my best rides often come after a really bad day at work, where my brain is too fried to think about much. For example, one of the lesson horses at my barn is "sticky" about taking the right lead and will only do it if you ask just the right way. After a really miserable day, during a lesson in which my instructor said my goal should be just to have fun, I got it on the first try. On a day when I feel happy about life in general, I blow one try after another, and get progressively more frustrated.

I try focusing on one thing at a time. And counting strides or footfalls in my head seems to help too. I'm also a (very amateur) piano player and I do the same thing when I'm trying to learn a new piece. It's the same problem, really: I need to focus just on the rhythym so my fingers can do their thing without my brain interferring.

BES

[FindersKeepers]

Try riding with music and singing along. Whether you use an ipod or have the radio on. Make sure its something you like, and don't hesitate to sing along.

A psychology professor once said "you can tell who doesn't like to be alone with their thoughts. They are the ones walking from class to class with headphones on"

There is truth to that :)

Even if you just do it for a little while, it will re-program your mind to not think so hard.

It's also helpful to think as you're getting on "Today I"m working on______." that's it. That's your goal, that's what you focus on, and nothing else matters this particular ride.

[xQHDQ]

Guilty as well. It's very easy to think about what happened yesterday or what could happen if....

When I get too "thinky" I stop what I'm thinking and yell at myself (and somemtimes it's out loud).

My motto is: RIDE THE DAMN HORSE.

Ride what he is giving me at that very moment. Does he need more leg? more bend? Is he going too quick? Is he looking at something he shouldn't? (remember he's not yet spooking so don't think about the possibility of spook - think about the looking), etc.

Good to know I'm not alone with this!

[goeslikestink]

when you think you block yourself from expanding the horses mind as he only re-acts to how you act
so looosen up-------- tense people will be like cardbaord and no give in them so cant be light in the aids - they grip for dim death vice grip

and then the horse is a git

so loosen up before you ride - clear mind clear direct signals then the horse wont be confused or gittish

[ambar]

I like FindersKeepers's response. I also practice "getting out of my head" with some daily meditation. Shutting up the little voices that masquerade as my mind, if only for 15 minutes.

Making a Change for Good (http://www.livingcompassion.org/keepitsimple/036.html) talks about meditation without bombarding the reader with jargon. Or look for something by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

[rhymeswithfizz]

Margaritas?
:D
(nothin' like a good margarita to turn off MY brain!!)

[Texarkana]

I second the Ipod suggestion...

I went through a period where I couldn't even ride my young horse without stuffing my headphones in my ears and cranking the music up loud.

It's amazing how much more relaxed both me and my filly are when I have the Ipod turned up. If only I could bring it into the show ring with me... :lol:

[jaslyn1701]

Thank you, thank you, thank you - all of you who "overthink". I am so happy to know I am not alone - it's taken a lot for me to be able to leave most of my life in the car when I get to the barn, but I still over think - a lot. I spend much time in practice rides trying to ride one thing at a time, and, as someone else said, deciding to work on one thing and one thing only.

The good news is that it's working. As an almost 54 year old 4 years young into riding - I am amazed at some things that happen. The other day, during a practice ride, I suddenly realized that the uber experienced knows everything, just ask him, pony (which is why I am riding him - to learn) was right [I]there[I]between my calves - first time I every really felt that and it was wonderful!

[Roan]

I'm also one who gets yelled at that I "think too much".

You have to distract yourself to the point where you just "do" instead of "think". Music doesn't do it for me -- it's too easy to tune out.

What I've found helps -- and many of you will probably not be able to do this unless you have the right boarding situation -- is to ride in an arena when there are other people in there. Enough people that you have to watch what they are doing and where they are.

Leg yield? No problem when there are people in the arena. I just do it and watch out for them at the same time. Once I get something down pat in an arena full, I can go and do it on my own without thinking about it too much.

Works for me, anyhow
Eileen

[GilbertsCreeksideAcres]

Come ride one of my greenies! You don't have time to think!
:lol:

[mvp]

The command, "Don't think!" Is tougher to follow than it sounds. Talk to any meditation guru about "money mind" and you'll see.

So why not give your brain something to think about? Over-thinking has paid off in spades for me when I decided how to use that trait for good rather than evil.

Here's all the stuff I can think about.... and try to feel:

Is my horse off both of my legs?
Do my sitting bones feel evenly close to my saddle?
Do my shoulders feel level and evenly forward or back?
Do I have the same number of pounds of pressure in each hand?

I can "take inventory" as often or not as I desire when riding. So I have plenty to think about. The way that becomes "not thinking"-- the kind that pleases your yelling instructor-- is when you do it so often that your body starts to relex and make subtle adjustments with minimal effort and delay from you.

In short, focussed over-thinking can become the pathway to incredible body awareness, control, timing and feel. Make that a long term project and you will have a great way to ride that won't have you wishing you had a different kind of mind.

[nightsong]

Learn meditation. It's ALL ABOUT turning off your mind. A quick fix is to watch an aquarium for 20 minutes. TV shows like Gilligan's Island have the same effect.
Also recommend Centered Riding. It's about the BODY, not the MIND.

[tcgelec]

I am prone to overthinking, and not particularly adept at turning it off. I have learned to focus, as someone else suggested, on BASICS to occupy my mind. Counting strides is a big one. So is concentrating on our bending; that has enough components to it to keep my mind pretty occupied. I also sing (out loud) with my greenie OTTB mare, thankfully (for others) I have a schooling ring at home..

Here's what someone once told me that, at times, I have had to recite as a mantra:

"It is easier to ride your way into proper thinking than to think your way into proper riding..."

[2horseowner]

I wish we could all get together and cheer each other on w/ these issues. I had an OTTB that was rushed along, and I ended up w/ him, because I wanted a "bolder horse!" Needless to say, I don't have him anymore. What I did keep out of the situation was the ability to turn into a "soup sandwich." Due to near misses in the jumping phases, he wanted to really go, and I always felt like, "do you even see the jump?" He was not a bad horse, just not for me. I ended up riding a horse who helped me get my confidence back. I did go to a sports psychologist because I really would have panic attacks before stadium rounds. XC was fine-go figure. All I could picture was crashing through poles and falling. For some reason, the ring feels claustrophobic. The psych doctor asked if I'd seen the Star Wars movie, The Empire Strikes Back? Did I remember Obi Won Kenobi telling Luke to "feel the force" while flying a combat mission? For some reason, that really hit home. I now tell myself to feel the force and let go! I'm still a work in progress, but I do feel less like a soup sandwich. :)

[Bearhunter]

I too have a mind that takes over. I am one of those people who has a mind that never shuts off. Races all the time. I have always said that my riding parallels my daily life. It is interesting that even though I am a hunter rider, I am ALWAYS in such a HURRY! :no: I have the hardest time slowing things down and taking my time. I am beginning (thanks, Sally Swift) to really pay attention to what my horse FEELS like rather than rely on my trainer (God love her) and not respect my feel. And, it is working. ;)

[dizzywriter]

What are you thinking about when you're overthinking?

[dogchushu]

What helps me is (as other posters have mentioned) to occupy my brain with something else. I like to just count the rhythm: one, two, one, two, and breathe, breathe, breathe.

Yeah. I do it out loud at times. I figure I look less silly doing that than riding all tense and over thinking!

It can be pretty hypnotic to focus on the rhythm and just ride it, ride it, ride it. Turns that analytical brain right off!

[Invested1]

I've been doing this lately too and it *always* ends up in having a crappy ride. I have *got* to stop doing it!! :yes:

My other big problem is not letting things go. If the first jump is terrible (e.g., refusal), it totally shakes my confidence and have a hard time "moving on" with the rest of the ride/lesson/course. :sigh:

[LexInVA]

Indeed Squishy. Indeed. :no:

[Bogie]

One of the things that I love about riding is that it puts me "in the moment" and stills my mind.

Try to focus just on the horse -- the footfalls, the rhythm, the feel of his back. Slow everything down so that you are not anticipating. Sometimes counting strides can help.

Interestingly, swimming has the same effect for me. I focus completely on each stroke and what it takes for me to do it correctly, the catch, the pull, the recovery and I find it very relaxing.

I had someone teach me self-meditation at one point and I realized that was what I was doing when I ride or swim.

[Roan]

What are you thinking about when you're overthinking?

I'm thinking too much about HOW I'm supposed to be doing something, instead of just doing it and letting the movement/action tell me that I'm doing it wrong/right.

For instance, instead of just doing a leg yield, I start the yield and then in my mind I go over and over every little thing that needs to be done to do that leg yield properly. ARGH! When I do that, I am guaranteed to get a crappy leg yield.

** I micro-manage the movement instead of just letting it happen.

If I'm distracted or focused ahead on my next movement, I just *do* it. No thinking. Just do it. I picture in my head what it should look like and where I will end up and BING! Nice LY.

The key for me is to look ahead to where I'm going next. The hard part is remembering to do that. The really hard part is staying focused on that.

Eileen

** Now, micro-managing is fine, IF you are an upper level rider and can fine tune a movement like that. I ain't there yet. Not by a long shot.

[serendipityhunter]

I tend to overthink things when I am about to jump a course at a horse show. My new strategy is to focus on just one to two things. Lately it has been going forward and working on using my outside leg to keep him from bulging through a turn to the next line. I still have a lot to improve on but just focusing on these two things has me more relaxed and improving at each show!!

[laskiblue]

My trainer has said frequently that the main difference in teaching kids and adults to ride is that the adults overanalyze what she instructs them to do, while the kids just simply do it. She encourages me to sing or hum when I'm tense as well.

[wateryglen]

To me...overthinking is a synonym for worrying, anxiety, stressing....
To stop it I think you need to take a vacation from lessons. In a riding lesson; you are riding for someone else or worrying about what they are thinking/saying. You are riding for someone else whenever someone else is there or watching so......stop doing that. You can always go back but start just plain riding for yourself and don't care about whether it's right or wrong or off balance or anything. Just ride FOR FUN!! You've forgotten about the fun part!! Why pursue a sport that makes you anxious.? Why do ANYTHING voluntarily that causes worrying?!!! Try some no pressure riding. Just get on & go. Do whatever. Trailride or relax or ride bareback or do so ground training. Lessons help create more voices in your head when yours is enough!! Be kind to yourself! Think & do nice things for you & your horse. NO PRESSURE!!

We live in a pressure filled world. I just can't see why some folks add to it for their recreation too. Lessons have their place but maybe you don't really need them right now. Take a lesson vacation!!!! and have some fun with your horse for a change!!

[Sdhaurmsmom]

I have had a lot of issue with overthinking in the past. Something that helped me was getting a visual picture - a 'movie' - in my head of the thing I wanted to do. I'd find a video of someone demonstrating the aids for leg yield or canter depart, or I'd watch a good rider do it. Maybe even get my instructor to get on and demonstrate.

Then, when I wanted to apply the aid, I would run the movie swiftly rather than thinking verbal words. Just see the movie, and do it. That would help my body imitate what I was seeing. There was less 'talk' involved. I was able to circumvent the brain's fussy controlling interference, and I expect I was able to project a clearer idea to the horse about my intention.

I also find counting the rhythym is good, or listening to good music that makes your body want to dance. Funk tunes from the 70s are good - like the Commodores, and such!

YMMV:uhoh: