Progress with horses often feels like two steps forward and one step back. There are days when everything clicks, when communication feels seamless, and my horse and I move as one. But more often than not, growth is gradual, unpredictable, and sprinkled with frustrating plateaus. Learning how to stay motivated in slow progress has become one of the most valuable skills in my riding journey.
The truth is, slow progress is normal. It’s how horses learn, and it’s how riders grow. But staying engaged and inspired during those stretches when improvement feels invisible can be challenging. In this article, I want to share how I’ve learned to find joy, purpose, and momentum even when results come at a crawl.
Embracing The Long Game
One of the first things I had to accept was that riding is not a race. There’s no finish line, no definitive point where everything is mastered. Horses constantly change, and so do we. That realization shifted my focus from outcomes to the process itself.
When I embraced riding as a lifelong journey, it helped ease the pressure of trying to rush through the levels. I stopped comparing myself to others. I started paying attention to the tiny, almost imperceptible moments of progress, a more balanced canter, a softer halt, a quicker response to a light cue.
How to stay motivated in slow progress begins with understanding that small steps are still steps. They’re just as meaningful as the big milestones, and they deserve just as much celebration.
Tracking The Little Wins
I started keeping a notebook specifically for the small victories. After every ride, I jot down one thing that went well. Some days it’s as simple as “my horse stood quietly at the mounting block” or “I remembered to keep my eyes up through the turn.” These notes help me see that progress is happening, even if it’s subtle.
Tracking these little wins keeps me connected to my purpose. On days when I feel stuck, I flip through the pages and remind myself of how far we’ve come. It’s easy to forget past struggles when you’re in a new one, but seeing those earlier victories helps renew my belief that more will come.
The practice of journaling has become a lifeline. It’s not just about record-keeping, it’s about encouragement, reflection, and proof that even slow growth is still growth.
Redefining What Progress Looks Like
I used to think progress was measured in clear achievements: mastering a new movement, placing at a show, moving up a level. But I’ve learned that progress can look like emotional development, deeper trust, or more consistency in my mood around my horse.
One of the most transformative changes was learning to see calmness as progress. When my horse started relaxing during groundwork, standing still for grooming, or lowering his head more willingly, I counted that as growth. These weren’t flashy moments, but they were foundational.
How to stay motivated in slow progress means shifting perspective. It’s not always about faster times or bigger jumps. Sometimes, it’s about building a stronger bond, a quieter mind, and a more patient outlook.
Celebrating Effort Over Outcome
There were seasons where my horse and I would work on the same skill for weeks with only marginal improvement. During those times, I found it helpful to focus on effort rather than execution.
If I showed up, stayed patient, and rode with intention, I allowed myself to feel proud, even if the result wasn’t perfect. This mindset shift gave me room to breathe. I wasn’t constantly chasing performance; I was learning to value persistence.
By honoring the effort I put in, I was less likely to burn out or feel defeated. That mindset helped me keep showing up, even on the tough days when it felt like we were spinning our wheels.
Staying Curious In The Plateau
Plateaus used to feel like failure. Now I treat them as invitations to get curious. I ask myself questions: Is my horse physically ready for the task? Am I communicating clearly? Could I try a different approach?
Sometimes I take a break from the goal entirely and go on trail rides, focus on groundwork, or play with liberty work. These diversions keep things fresh and give my horse and me a mental reset. Often, we return to our original challenge with renewed energy and insight.
How to stay motivated in slow progress often comes down to curiosity. When I explore rather than obsess, I stay open to learning and keep the journey enjoyable for both of us.
Finding Inspiration From The Past
I make a habit of watching old videos of my rides, not just to critique myself but to witness improvement over time. What once felt like failure now looks like a stepping stone. I see how my posture has improved, how my horse has softened, how our partnership has grown.
These comparisons remind me that even when progress feels invisible in the moment, it becomes clear in retrospect. That realization fuels my motivation. I trust that the work I’m putting in now is shaping a better future, even if it’s not instantly noticeable.
It’s like watching a tree grow. You don’t see it day by day, but give it a season, and the transformation becomes obvious.
Staying Connected To Joy
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that joy fuels progress. When I get too serious, too focused on outcomes, I start to lose the connection that brought me to riding in the first place. So I make space for fun.
I might spend a ride goofing off bareback in the pasture or playing games with poles and cones. I’ll laugh when things go sideways and savor the little quirks that make my horse unique. These moments refill my emotional tank and keep the love for riding alive.
How to stay motivated in slow progress depends on remembering why we started. For me, it was the feeling of freedom, connection, and shared experience with another being. That’s the spark I return to when things get tough.
Building A Supportive Environment
Having a community that understands the highs and lows of horsemanship makes a big difference. I talk to other riders who have been through similar seasons. I ask my trainer for honest feedback and reminders of how we’re progressing.
Hearing stories of others’ slow journeys helps normalize my own. It breaks the illusion that everyone else is advancing faster. We’re all working through plateaus, fears, and unexpected detours, it’s just that some choose to share them more openly.
Surrounding myself with empathetic people has taught me that progress is not linear, and that’s okay. What matters most is staying the course and showing up with intention and heart.
Incorporating Rest Without Guilt
Rest used to feel like weakness. I’d push through mental fatigue, hoping more hours in the saddle would force a breakthrough. But now I understand that rest is part of growth.
There are days when I do less, or nothing at all. I let my horse graze in the sun while I sit nearby. I take time away from structured training to breathe and reset. These pauses aren’t laziness, they’re renewal.
Learning how to stay motivated in slow progress includes knowing when to give yourself grace. Burnout only delays progress. But rest, done with purpose, gives space for integration and reflection.
Setting Process-Based Goals
Instead of fixating on results, I set goals that focus on behaviors I can control. For example:
- Ride four times this week and stay mentally present each time
- Practice three breathing exercises during warm-up
- Reward my horse immediately after a correct response
These kinds of goals help me stay motivated because they’re achievable, measurable, and empowering. I don’t have to wait for a ribbon or flawless ride to feel like I’m growing. I can celebrate progress daily by keeping promises to myself and showing up intentionally.
Letting Go Of Comparison
Social media and barn gossip can make it seem like everyone else is progressing faster. It’s easy to feel left behind. I’ve had to consciously detach from those comparisons and return to my own path.
What works for one rider-horse pair might not work for mine. Our challenges are unique, and our growth timeline is our own. When I let go of comparison, I regain ownership of my journey and reconnect with what truly matters to me.
How to stay motivated in slow progress becomes clearer when I stop measuring myself against others and start honoring the unique rhythm of my partnership with my horse.
Practicing Patience Like A Skill
Patience isn’t just a virtue, it’s a practice. And like any skill, it gets better with use. I’ve learned to breathe through setbacks, to repeat exercises without frustration, and to trust that consistency will pay off.
Some of my proudest moments have come after months of seeming stagnation. Suddenly, my horse offers the movement we’ve been struggling with, and it feels effortless. In those moments, all the slow progress makes sense. It wasn’t wasted, it was groundwork.
That reward isn’t always immediate, but it’s always worth the wait.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to stay motivated in slow progress is one of the most important lessons in horsemanship. It teaches resilience, deepens connection, and shapes us into more compassionate and thoughtful riders.
I’ve found that progress isn’t always about faster results, it’s about richer experiences. It’s about the quiet growth that happens in between milestones, the unshakable bond that forms through persistence, and the inner strength that develops when you keep going even without guarantees.
If you’re in a season of slow progress, you’re not failing. You’re becoming. You’re laying the foundation for breakthroughs that will be all the sweeter because of the struggle it took to get there.
So keep showing up. Keep loving the process. Keep believing in the journey. Your progress is happening, even if it’s not loud. And one day, you’ll look back and realize that the quiet, consistent steps you took were the ones that made all the difference.
