The Equestrian Journal

One Component of a Well-Rounded Training Program:Plan Your Goals in Sport or PleasureGain Perspective on ProgressFocus on What's NextTrack HabitsFulfill Your PotentialPractice VisualizationsDevelop AwarenessUnlock Knowledge from ObservationsWHY JOURNAL?You are a dedicated horse owner, but when you reflect back on your horse's history, the days blend together. Your recollection of training sessions or details about your horse's experiences are not what they could be.We know from studies...
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One Component of a Well-Rounded Training Program:Plan Your Goals in Sport or PleasureGain Perspective on ProgressFocus on What's NextTrack HabitsFulfill Your PotentialPractice VisualizationsDevelop AwarenessUnlock Knowledge from ObservationsWHY JOURNAL?You are a dedicated horse owner, but when you reflect back on your horse's history, the days blend together. Your recollection of training sessions or details about your horse's experiences are not what they could be.We know from studies on the process of recall that each time the mind constructs a past event, the brain networks change in ways that actually alter the memory. Training professionals have long dealt with the challenge of improving their students' retention after the training experiences. This issue was hypothesized and studied by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus in 1885. His discovery was that 70% information is forgotten within 24-48 hours.Have you had an experience with your horse that enlightened you? Did you reach a training milestone? You are sure that you want to learn from your past, but sometimes we lose track of that knowledge simply because of the way our brain recalls our memories when we do not record what we have learned.JOURNALING IS A MEANS FOR RECORDING PERSONAL THOUGHTS, DAILY EXPERIENCES, AND EVOLVING INSIGHTS.According to the American Psychological Association, a regular habit of writing helps reduce intrusive mental blocks, improving working memory, and allowing you to use all of your brainpower to better comprehend critical elements of information. Add the advantage of reading earlier reflections and subtle themes can develop into powerful insights.In addition to all of these wonderful benefits, keeping a journal specifically about your horse allows you to track habits you wish to cultivate, behavior patterns, techniques that work, and your improvement over time.SHARE YOUR JOURNAL WITH YOUR TEAM.Your instructor and your horse's farrier, veterinarian, and body workers can all learn something from insights on what is working or not working. Your insights may even lead to a better connection as a team and a better education for you.