Return From Ski-batical: What Skiing and Riding Horses Have In Common

Dear Readers,

I spent February and March residing in Kirkwood, California at a condo directly across the street from the ski lifts. I had to take a lot of long, slow deep breaths to commit to this plan as it required me to be away from my wonderful Wonder for the longest time in our 6+ year relationship. Once settled into mountain life, I was able to give myself over to the world of skiing. Every lesson the mountains and snow offered me (and there were many!) had a parallel to riding. 

As I have surrendered into retirement from being a competitive horsewoman and found my groove taking lessons from former Olympian, Buddy Brown, focusing on the basics of riding and connecting with my horse, all of the teachings have become part of my daily practice. There is nothing more interesting to me than entering into the unknown as I mount Wonder each morning and head to the ring, the trail, or the round pen. Curiosity drives me to explore rather than seek a particular outcome. Blending into horse time that is Wonder’s reality shifts me from goal oriented to present moment experience. Feeling the strength of my partner as an extension of me and intentionally directing it into actions reinforces my mind-body connection. Learning to use my body to balance and move with Wonder increases our connection in the gentlest of ways.

Below I explain how the teachings I received from the mountains are integrating with my return to the saddle and Wonder:

The environment influences the experience:

The quality of the snow is like the quality of the footing when riding. When entering a ski run, arena, or trail that has been untouched invites curiosity, freedom, and a fresh experience that cannot be repeated. It feels like a gift. The weather also influences this experience. Stepping onto a freshly dragged riding surface in calm sunshine is quite different from a foggy, windy or misty morning. Both horse, rider, and skier/boarder feel these environmental influences and react with particular energy. No day is like another.

Turning accurately in both directions is essential: Maybe this is an obvious point but working on flexibility and strength equally on both sides supports comfort, ease, and ultimately outcomes for both sports. It applies to daily life outside of sport as well.

Alignment of heels, hips, shoulders supports balance: Another obvious but often overlooked law of physics that influences the experience on snow and equine.

Vision=intention; Looking where you want to go is not only essential for guiding the ski or horse tracks to where you want to go – it also communicates to the body(s) what’s coming, influences balance shifts, and prepares for speed changes or oncoming obstacles. Focused eyes are a metaphor for intentionality about the direction of life, the unfolding days and moment by moment choices. 360 degree awareness and sharp, up close vision are essential on horseback or skis.

Lead with your sternum/heart: Clarity and awareness of the unfolding path/track are directed not just by vision but by posture as well. This does not come from leaning forward; rather it is an aligned, strong core that is connected with the center of the horse’s back or the center of the skis/snowboard. Purposely leading with the heart aligns posture and specifies track.

Well fitting, low profile equipment supports performance: I am a big believer in paying attention to well-fitting (NOT tight) and appropriately aligned with the athlete’s level/goals equipment. Feeling agile and mobile is the goal!

Breath awareness regulates stress, increases focus, and sustains peak performance: Studying how intentional breathing changes moment to moment experience is life altering. Being in the presence of a horse or a high mountain peak with lichen covered rocks can literally take the breath away. Extending the breath and filling the body with oxygen increases access to the brain-body connection, creates a rhythm for sustained exertion, and it calms nerves driven by distracting thoughts. Every breath is in one moment only. Use it wisely.

Relax when you fall: tensing the body and mind when things go awry tends to make things worse. I was skiing powder when a “snow snake” (inconsistent deep snow) stopped my skis in their tracks causing me to fall downhill in the direction I was intending. It all happened so fast that I did not have a chance to worry! Although the fall was startling and jarring, the result was not at all catastrophic. Something similar happened when I miscommunicated with Wonder in a speed class and he went right and I fell left. Again, not a catastrophe! Had I tensed my body, I would have gotten hurt in both cases. 

Physical strength powers performance: Train, cross train, do core work, practice balance, stretch, and move the body regularly. This is key to feeling strong in body and mind when engaging in sport.

Mentally prevail when challenges emerge: Resist the urge to create a negative narrative when things get hard. The process of growth requires that challenges are confronted, felt, and that the challenge directs a more specific focus on an action that will result in progress. Focus on the journey, not the destination. My meditation teacher, Joseph Goldstein, reminds me regularly: Be simple and easy.

Meditate daily: Present moment attention supports flow. Take the time to develop a present moment practice that develops the brain to remain focused on the task at hand. Horses are only in the present moment so this is how to best communicate with them. The snow and mountains are also only in the present moment and a way to connect with the body-mind-environment is through this type of practice. There is nothing else important but this moment and then the next…

Ego thwarts everything: Even when engaging in competition, focus on connecting with the horse or the mountain. If you think about how you look, what others are thinking about you, the present moment is gone and the story has taken over leaving you open to all kinds of disconnections or mistakes. Be yourself because it is the only option!

Fear is a superpower and it fuels growth: Feeling fear is normal when engaging in risk taking behaviors. Fear occurs when adrenaline is accompanied by too much cortisol (stress hormone). Steady breathing, resisting negative narratives, and feeling the activation caused by this experience as energy can transform fear into a superpower. I had this experience at the top of a steep run covered by gorgeous, deep  fresh powder. I was exhilarated and terrified. I took the intensifying energy inside me into my hands and imagined putting it into my core as power. I took a breath and pointed my skis downhill. Suddenly I was floating, busting powder, making turns with rhythm and cat-like moves. I let out an exhilarated shriek! This is when I realized my fear had become a superpower!

May the mountain, snow, and equine forces be with you!

Until next time,

Carrie