The worst case scenario when you don't read your notes

What's the worst case scenario if a rider doesn't re-read her notes from the last lesson, before her next ride? Is it possible she could forget something her trainer taught her that is highly relevant for her next ride? Is writing it down good enough?

The answers are: yes, then sometimes no. Re-reading notes, and the benefits it offers, is one of many reasons I use an equestrian training notebook. It helps me become very efficient and learn at an accelerated pace. I love the feeling of become a better rider, so it's become part of my educational repetoire. I happen to be one of many who re-reads their notes. When two time Olympian Lendon Gray was deep in training she always re-read her notes because she never wanted to have to be told the same thing twice!

And Lendon's onto something because I, too, feel stupid and irresponsible when I have to be told the same thing twice. But sometimes it happens, even to a devoted notebook-keeping rider. Yesterday my trainer stopped me in the middle of my warm up and asked, "Did you ride the relaxation in the canter in the other direction before you started asking for collection?"

"No," I said. That's when she re-explained the purpose of the warmup. "The warm up is your time to find rhythm and relaxation which then leads to developing the accessibility you need to make your horse adjustable. Without the relaxation, any aids you apply, especially when you ask for collection and suppling, whether it's more leg aid or rein aid, will most likely show up as negative energy, negative tension. The warmup is also your time to find your own relaxation."

This wasn't the first time she explained the purpose of the warmup to me. But last night, after writing it down in detail and then re-reading it today, I felt clear. Crystal clear. A carefully executed, successful warmup sets me up for success in the working phase of my ride. A poorly executed one leads me to discord, frustration and unnecessary steps for a horse whose legs I'm trying to preserve.

Right before getting on today, something dawned on me. While my trainer wasn't there, I didn't feel I needed her; I felt as though I was in what I call 'self carriage' and was eager to prove to myself I could execute a correctly ridden warmup on my own. I felt prepared. I understood my task. And I was able to keep my focus.

The confidence that re-reading notes brings could be equally as important as the other benefits it offers. But what I care about most was that the steps I took today were meaningful. Today, I not only had a terrific ride with a very relaxed and adjustable horse, but I also used my expanded knowledge of relaxation as a springboard to try something new that resulted in another training altering breakthrough. Furthermore, when I applied an aid and he felt a bit resistance or inaccessible, I immediately encouraged relaxation and steered clear of trying to force my aids or make them louder.

If you have any questions about the benefits of a training notebook, would like to read my public notebook entries at Barnby Notes, or would like to sign up for your own online notebook, please go to www.barnbynotes.com. The online notebooks are FREE to USDF members with a USDF promo code.