And the Survey Says…..

By Sally O’Dwyer, Chief Statistician; Illustrations by Susan Difelice

Many riders believe success hinges on external factors—like buying an expensive warmblood from Europe or working with a top trainer. However, research reveals a different truth: The key to progress lies within us.

In a recent Dressage Progress Survey, I asked dressage riders to answer questions about their path to progress and roadblocks they experience. 

Three striking statistics emerged from approximately 100 respondents:

1. 65% of riders don’t document their goals
2. 77% feel frustrated about their lack of progress and uncertainty about next steps.
3. Poor mindset emerged as the #1 challenge to making progress, outranking other concerns (ranked in order by the participants):
   • In-the-saddle skills
   • Financial constraints
   • Lack of time to ride
   • Trainer availability
   • Physical fitness
   • Community support

Based on these results, here are ideas to address these challenges:

Take this Down: The Power of Written Goals

“Writing down a goal takes it from the invisible and makes it visible”

– Tony Robbins

Written Goals:

• Turn abstract thoughts into concrete statements
• Make goals memorable and present
• Remind you to stick to the task at hand and to seize all opportunities that will help reach your goal
• Serve as a personal contract with yourself  
• Force you to think about how you will reach your goal
• Are motivating
• Allow you to share, improving communication between your trainer and support team.

Stop the Flailfest

If you relate to 77% of people who experience frustration and despair due to a lack of progress and are unsure about what to do next, try goals! Take the reins and develop a plan.  Frustration isn’t just an emotion – it’s a sign that you’ve lost your sense of direction and control.

Progress naturally occurs at a glacial place. Like the tip of an iceberg, we only catch glimpses of progress. Beneath the surface, intangible, foundational, invisible, and microscopic improvements are happening that we can’t appreciate without defining what progress means to us.

Many of us are drawn to dressage due to its exacting nature. Our detail-oriented, type A personalities love the structured progression, levels and technical precision. While this is all good, the drive for excellence causes impatience, self-criticism, perfectionism, and rushing our horses’ development.

Frustration Busters:

• Be mindful and appreciate incremental improvements
• Set realistic goals and break them down into small steps
• Celebrate small victories along the way
• Journal—write about successes and “aha” moments
• Be patient
• Focus on helping your horse, not on yourself 
• Seek joy in the learning process

Mindset Matters

Unfortunately, most of us don’t make much effort in addressing this number one challenge.   Perhaps we don’t believe we can change.

Don’t be an elephant!

Self-limiting beliefs hold us back without us even realizing it. Consider the elephant and the rope: Large elephants are often tethered to small stakes with seemingly fragile ropes. That’s because as baby elephants, they learn they can’t break free. Even as they grow strong enough to easily break the rope, they remain tethered by their belief that they cannot escape. Like the elephant, our past experiences and beliefs limit our potential, even when those limitations are no longer real.

Techniques to Improve Your Mindset

• Engage in positive self-talk ONLY 
• Prepare affirmations to counter your inner critic 
• Surround yourself with positive influences 
• View failures as learning opportunities 
• Practice self-compassion and gratitude 
• Stay curious through continuous learning 
• Focus on solutions rather than problems 
• Try visualization 
• Take time to enjoy your horse and slow down
• Join or create a supportive community 
• Work with a sports psychologist 
• Focus on progress rather than perfection 
• Avoid catastrophizing small mistakes 
• Celebrate incremental improvements

The Tea—Wisdom from the Participants

I asked survey participants what advice they would offer other riders, and they had great feedback:

• “Everyone is on a different journey… enjoy yours.”
• “Take your time – keep reaffirming the basics – the end result is only as good as the foundation.”
• “It’s not a sprint, but a marathon. The training takes time to build on each thing.”
• “Small wins add up to big wins. Have grace and patience for you and your horse.”
• “Sometimes the changes are so incremental, I feel like I’m not making progress. Then comes the ‘aha’ moment when it all comes together!”
• “Don’t neglect the time out of the saddle. Reading books and exercising can maximize the value you get when you ride.”
• “Progress isn’t always fast. Don’t compare yourself to others, compare yourself to where you were 3, 6 or 12 months ago!”
• “The slow way is the fast way; there’s no time to rush.”
• “Be sure to enjoy the journey and especially your horse. If it is not fun, you will not succeed.”

The Path Forward:

A dream becomes a goal when it is written down,

A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan,

A plan backed by action becomes a reality.

Success in dressage isn’t about the destination, it’s about embracing the process, celebrating improvements, and most importantly, enjoying the journey with your horse. I hope these tips will help you have more fun with your horse and appreciate that you ARE improving. Best wishes!

Author Bio: Sally O’Dwyer is an Adult Amateur Dressage Rider from Boulder Colorado.  For more about Goal Setting go to her website: Dressagegoals.com