5 Steps to Remember Jump Courses and Dressage Tests

News flash: I'm way out of practice at remembering courses.

Me, watching a couple of riders go the other weekend, while I was supposed to be gathering intel for our riders hacking over for stadium:

-"That's a nice saddle pad. Wonder where she got it?"

-"Riders are consistently getting in too close to the red jump."

-"The grey horse is gorgeous!"

-"OOHH PONY!"

-"Love her coat. Does it come in adult sizing?"

-"Are those thunderstorms coming?"

-"I'd like to build a jump like that at home..."*mentally calculating supplies required*

-"Ohh look, there's where the courses are posted" *gets distracted talking to show photographer*

Yeah, not such a great success rate on learning the course if left to my own devices.

This should have been a great picture, but I had the photographer crop my face out because I was SO STRESSED looking...and it was all because I thought I might forget the course :D

So, if you're like me and are directionally challenged and have the attention span of a gnat, here's some tricks I use that work for me:

1. Get the picture ahead of time. I'm not the type of person that can look at the course diagram posted on the fence and remember it. If I take a picture with my phone and walk away somewhere quiet to study it, it's much easier. Dressage tests are my jam because I know what they'll be weeks in advance. On the day, I often find it helpful to get a visual by watching people go before me. I always walk my jump or xc courses, and have been known to walk my dressage tests in my living room too.

2. Know my start inside and out. On a stadium or XC course: where it is, where I approach from, what kind of canter I'd like to have. In dressage, this equates to knowing what bend I'd like to enter on and what happens after x. I find I'm most nervous and apt to forget things as I'm riding in, so if I can visualize and nail down a great start, my brain freeze melts and the rest usually flows more easily.

After that:

3. I mentally group lines of jumps or dressage movements. I try not to focus on looking for individual jumps one at a time and will often group dressage tests by changes in gait. So, the trot work at the start is one part, the walk another, canter another, change rein trot work another, etc. In jumping, it's 'outside line' or 'down the hill' or ' the yellow farm themed ones' etc. Keep your groups of things to 4 or less - most people can remember a sequence of 4 things fairly easily.

4. Remembering turns or changes in the pattern, by giving myself a visual place marker of where I want to turn and what towards. In dressage this is easy, there are markers for that purpose. In jumping, I help myself out by picking something permanent, like a tree or the stables as a visual reminder of what direction to go. ie, I might plan 'after the blue line of jumps if I turn towards the maple tree, that will line me up perfectly for the next group of jumps'. My lizard brain then only needs to know to go to the maple tree after the last blue jump, and the next part of course will appear before me  :)

5. Noting where the finish line is. Probably not a problem for most of you, but I've been caught out before on jump and XC courses, giving myself unneeded worry by mentally checking out after the last jump and then having to look for the timer. Remember to ride that course all the way to the finish line, everyone!

Bonus: Practice at home. Remembering patterns can be a learned skill...ask me how I know. My coach purposely used to set twisty complicated courses at home and then mess with me by telling me the course once and having me immediately go do it.

Five Ways To Be A Better Rider

Since my riding life seems to come with a lot of ups and downs, I'm often pondering what I can do to be a better rider, particularly when I have some down time out of the saddle. There are tons of articles, books, and lists online that address this exact topic and I won't pretend to know any more than they do. I do, however, know myself better than anyone and I know what works for me. My top five is likely different than yours, but I thought it would be fun to share:

1. Focus. Striving to focus on the moment. I'm quite good at worrying or trying to be proactive about something that *might* happen. I'm also easily distracted. As in most aspects of life, if I can drop all that excess and simply "be"  I'm more apt to have a good feel of what my horse is telling me.
My favorite resources: Yoga, hiking.
Book suggestions:The Brave Athlete: Calm the F*ck Down, Inside Your Ride

Trail in our neighbourhood looking especially Zen.

2. Knowledge. I'm lucky I like learning things, because I'm not sure there's a sport out there that requires quite so much of it! A good coach is invaluable for reaching your riding goals. I'm so lucky to have mine! Auditing clinics is a cheap and effective way to learn. I've also found a ton of value in books, on the internet, and even in random places you might not expect. These days, while having eyes on the ground is invaluable, there is still a lot you can do on your own with freely available resources. Don't limit yourself to equestrian topics, if something interests you, try it and find out more about it! I think keeping an open and learning mindset benefits me in all parts of my life.
My favorite resources: The library, equestrian professionals, live streaming events with commentary. Youtube - there are tons of clinics and how to videos there. USEF network. Check out old Badminton dressage videos - Carl Hester is doing the commentary and giving a mini clinic while he does so! More recently, the Adequan West Coast Dressage festival has commentary from retired judges usually at least on one of the days.

3. Fitness. As we all know, riding well is tough. Staying mentally and physically fit is a huge help. I admittedly struggle with both, but again, there are a ton of resources out there and you don't need to join an expensive gym to see results. From my own experience, the fitter I am, the easier better riding comes.
My favorite resources: yoga, hiking, in saddle exercises like dropping reins and/or stirrups, two point practice. Book suggestions: Equine Fitness: A Program of Exercise and Routines For You and Your Horse, The Brave Athlete: Calm the F*ck Down, Centered Riding

4. Inspiration. Nothing gets me motivated to be better and set some big goals than surrounding myself with like minded people. My coach's barn is amazing for that. The times I'm boarding on my own? The internet and books are my friends. There are so many events that stream live these days, and good books are easier to find and acquire than ever.
My favorite resources: My coach, my barnmates, Youtube for riders I admire, bloggers. Outside the riding box: autobiographies, TED talks, and interviews with people who are passionate and excited about their chosen topic.

Legit would have never tried eventing without super inspiring barn mates encouraging me.

5. Ride. I used to worry that since I am not a perfect rider, unsupervised time in the saddle would result in bad habits. That is true, at least for me, but the benefits of simply putting the time in, whether its in the arena or out on the trail, have still been huge. I think, no matter what, you simply need hours in the saddle. Once you've got a good seat, the finer aspects of riding come a lot easier. Riding Bridget bareback all winter due to saddle fit issues improved my riding so much, even as someone who's been riding for many years. If you don't have access to a horse to ride all of the time, I've also learned so much by simply watching other riders and yoga has been a huge help in keeping me balanced and aware of my body.
My favorite resources: Bridget! The Trailforks app for planning trail routes and times, Equilab app for arena work.

B having a post ride snack.

Of course, it should go without saying that good horsepeople generally have a head start to being a better riders. I try to be as hands on as possible with my horses - for someone like me who doesn't have a lot of natural talent or "feel" for riding, it's a big help for me to know my horses inside and out.

I'd know this nose anywhere :)

So, thats my list! I'd love to hear the tips and tricks that help you improve.