When Riding Progress Slows: How to Get Moving Again

Every rider, no matter their level, hits a phase where things just feel… flat.

You’re turning up, you’re riding, but something isn’t clicking. Maybe you feel bored, maybe progress feels painfully slow, or maybe you’re just not sure what you’re even working toward anymore.

A plateau isn’t a dead end. It’s a sign something needs adjusting.

Here are in-depth ideas, strategies, and mindset shifts that can help you get moving forward again.

1. Start By Talking to Your Coach (Seriously, Communicate!)

Coaches can see your riding, but they can’t see inside your head.

If you’re feeling stuck, frustrated, or unmotivated, just tell them.

What to bring up:

What you feel you’re struggling with

Whether you’re bored and want more of a challenge

If your confidence has dropped

If you’re unsure what your next steps should be

what your goals are

Most coaches are thrilled to hear this because it gives us something extra to work with. A quick chat can often change the entire direction of your lessons and make sure we are on the same page.

2. Change the Format of What You're Doing

Sometimes just changing up what you're doing can help you feel more motivated and give you back that extra spark.

That may be switching from a private lesson to a group or vise versa. Whether you're needing more focused 1-1 coaching or wanting to ride with friends. It may be adding more riding time into your week, giving yourself more hours in the saddle means more time to practice.

You may want to change course a little and add in a groundwork focused session, learn a bit more about liberty or go on a couple of low pressure hacks.

Even if you have your own horse don't forget about the positives of riding a different horse. Whether that means taking to your coach about riding a new horse or asking to steal a ride on your friends, it can be an easy way to help boost your motivation!

Even one or two changes can spark interest and give your brain something fresh to work on.

3. Revisit Your Goals—and Check They Match Your Training Plan

One major cause of “stuck” feelings is misaligned goals.

Examples:

You want to jump higher, but your lessons are focused on leg yield skills.

You want to canter confidently, but you keep doing walk, trot transitions.

You want to compete, but you never seem to work on the skills needed.

A lot of times this may be required foundation work, but it's still important to make sure you're on the right page.

Make sure to talk to your coach, check that you are aiming for the same goals and always feel free to ask questions.

Knowing the “why” behind your lessons makes everything feel purposeful again.

4. Audit Your Consistency

Sometimes it isn’t your skills—it’s your schedule.

Ask yourself:

Have you missed lessons recently?

Are you canceling when life gets busy?

Do you only ride occasionally?

Riding is a muscle-memory sport. Even a few inconsistent weeks can make progress feel slower.

If you can, set:

A regular weekly or twice-weekly lesson

A routine with the same coach

A term commitment so your training builds properly

Consistency creates momentum.

5. Adjust Your Mindset: Skills Don’t Grow on a Straight Line

sometimes the frustration comes from your own expectations. Progress in riding never moves in a straight upward line.

You’ll have breakthroughs followed by quiet weeks. You’ll feel brilliant one day and stiff the next. Plateaus are often the stage where your brain is connecting all the pieces, even if it doesn’t feel like it externally. If you start paying attention to the small improvements you’ll see that you’re improving far more than you think.

Strategies that help:

Keep a riding journal

Write down what went well each ride (even 1 thing!)

Track how you felt, not just what you achieved

Look back monthly, not daily, for improvement

You’ll see progress you didn’t realise you’d made.

6. Add a New Challenge

Spark motivation by giving yourself something fun to aim for.

Ideas:

Enter a fun show or in-house competition

Aim towards a certificate

Join a pony group/club night

Try a new discipline

Go for a ride with a friend

7. Improve Your Off-Horse Skills Too

Sometimes your on-horse progress slows because your off-horse habits are holding you back.

Try working on:

Balance and core strength

Stretching tight areas (hips, lower back, ankles)

Watching riding videos or theory lessons

Grooming and handling confidence

Tack knowledge

Horse behavior basics

Becoming a more confident overall horseperson often has huge on-horse benefits.

8. Give Yourself Permission to Find Riding Fun Again

If you’re bored, stressed, or overwhelmed, remember: riding is meant to be enjoyable.

Try:

A relaxed hack

A no-stirrups challenge

A “fun day” lesson with games

Aiming towards a fun achievable goal (jump a crossbar with no hands etc)

Sometimes the best reset is simply reconnecting with why you love it.

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Feeling stagnant isn’t a sign you’re failing.

It’s a sign that something needs tweaking: your routine, your goals, your mindset, or your lesson structure.

Small adjustments → big improvements.