Present Moment Focus
Many people talk about the importance of having a present moment focus, but not many people talk about how difficult it is to maintain it! Let’s face it, our minds constantly wander. Have you ever driven to your destination just to realize that your focus was not at all on the drive? From thinking about how a past conversation went, to thinking about logistics of evening plans, our focus is out of the present moment more often than it is. I am personally guilty of allowing my mind to wander about where I need to be at next as I am grooming my horse before putting her back in her stall. The point is that you’re not alone in the lack of a present focus, but the ability to maintain a present moment focus is critical to having a successful ride.
As much as multi-tasking is discussed, it doesn’t exist. Our brains can only focus on one item at a time and can often quickly switch in between tasks. If our focus is on past or future events, then it is completely out of the present moment. With our focus out of the present moment while riding, it is also off the task at hand, whether that be a course of jumps, a pattern of barrels, or a dressage test. If our focus is out of the present moment and off the current task, it highly increases the likelihood of mistakes to occur, thus decreasing the desired outcome of the ride. This can be a hard pill to swallow, and riders will often blame their lack of skill rather than their compromised focus on the lowered outcomes of their ride.
The good news is that obtaining and maintaining a present focus is something that can be practiced and improved! The best and most accessible way to do this is to ground yourself in the moment by both tapping and rotating through each of your senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Think of your typical riding experience, whether that be in the arena, on the trail, or at a horse show. Maybe you see trees, hear hoofbeats, smell shavings, feel your feet in the stirrups, and taste your last beverage before heading to the mounting block. When you engage in your current senses, you are grounded in the present moment. You’ll be unable to focus on past mistakes or potential future outcomes if your focus is in the here and now and remains there.
Once riders practice and master a present moment focus, they can both notice and shift their focus on relevant cues in a quick manner. They become more aware and intentional with their focus, manipulating it themselves rather than allowing their brains to automatically pick what to focus on. When our brains operate on autopilot, they work to keep us safe. In an effort to keep us safe, our brains may often think about past events to avoid, or future possibilities to be aware of rather than the most important area to focus on for a successful ride, which is in the present moment. Oftentimes, it’s not our skill level that’s the issue but our irrelevant focus that is holding us back from riding at our best. It can be easy to revert to the past or future, but the present moment is where we need to remain for the best opportunity at achieving consistent, successful rides.
