Climbing the Stages of Learning
Succeeding at Relationship Based Horsemanship
We have all set out on a journey of learning to master a new skill, participate in some event or just learn to expand our view of the world. Knowing how to navigate the stages of learning can make the difference between success and failure.
Horsemanship ambitions are no different.
Some of your horsemanship objectives might be:
Showing a horse at halter or in a riding discipline
Finishing an endurance riding event
Learning classical horse training skills
Trimming barefoot hooves
Giving horses injections
Learning to start young horses
Trailer loading at liberty
Learning to ride bareback
Riding your horse in the mountains or on the beach
Some of these goals are simpler, short-term goals. Others will take years of dedication and practice depending on how good you want to be at them and the talents and temperament of your horse. The long-term objectives can take you through the stages of learning multiple times.
There are four basic stages of learning. Within those stages, some people are fabulous goal starters, others are great grinders, and others are superior finishers. Knowing those areas within which you flourish or struggle can prepare you to plan for and overcome the struggles.
1. Unconscious Incompetence
At this stage, we know little or nothing about a subject matter, task, or event. This can be a place of complete tranquility because we don’t know enough to cause us to fret or get discouraged.
It can also be a place of mild to great discomfort. At the beginning of an endeavor, we realize we’re starting at zero. The idea of starting from zero can be very daunting and intimidating.
Are you the kind of person who has a tough time starting a new project? It can look like climbing the Himalayas, right?
Here are some tips for overcoming the hesitation to get started:
Break up the journey into bite-sized pieces. Make those first pieces something you like to do so you can get momentum generated toward your goal. Some people will absorb information through reading or watching someone else get started. For others, it’s important to physically take on a small initial task.
Ask someone to give you advice on where to start first. Better yet, take lessons from someone who can map out your bite-sized pieces and help you with piece number one.
Embrace mistakes. People often don’t want to start something if they fear failure or embarrassment. Those who achieve at high levels have learned to accept mistakes because our best learning often comes from failure.
Judge yourself against your own desires and standards, not someone else’s. No one knows your struggles better than you do. Obstacles will come up that others don’t have to deal with. Look inward to those things you can do, not to someone else’s measuring stick.
It’s not uncommon for people who get stuck at the start to really gain momentum quickly once they do actually begin to put one foot in front of the other.
2. Conscious Incompetence
I think for most people, this is the most uncomfortable stage. It’s that point where you realize how much you don’t know, you’re not very good at what you’re doing, you know it, and so does anyone watching you. I don’t know anyone who loves this stage of learning.
It would be so easy to get discouraged and give up at this point. Many do.
Here are some tips for getting through this awkward, failure-ridden stage:
Remind yourself why you wanted this in the first place. Write those reasons on pieces of paper and tape them to your bathroom mirror or type them into your phone as a daily pick-me-up.
Be kind to yourself. It’s true that many people who are best at some things got to be that way because they wanted it badly and they worked their backsides off to get there. They gathered knowledge and attained high levels of skill, not because of extraordinary native talent, but by grinding it out. In fact, those with native talent often don’t get past this stage because if it doesn’t come really easily, they just move on.
Enlist people to encourage you. They need to be people who are there to support you mentally and emotionally. They don’t necessarily have to know exactly what you’re going through, but they have to be people who have conquered this stage in their own endeavors.
Seek out help. Again, taking lessons from an expert or master teacher can be so helpful. There are many videos online that can be helpful, but there is also a lot of garbage out there. Be discriminating. This is about improvement so you can get to stage 3.
If something seems particularly difficult, break it down into less daunting or simpler pieces.
The “grinders” who can plow through this stage of competency often make the best teachers because they have experienced struggle. Through personal trials and triumphs, they can better help others to succeed.
3. Conscious Competence
In this stage, the clouds of doubt, fear, and intimidation begin to part, and some sunshine gets thrown unto your endeavors. You are now understanding and knowing more about the what, where, when, and how of what you’re doing, and you are achieving some success at the goals you’ve set for yourself.
You have to put mental and emotional effort into what you’re doing along with the physical aspects of your goals, but you’re succeeding as much as you are failing. Your thoughts may run along the lines of, “The communication with my horse has gotten so much better!” or, “I’m much better at understanding my horse’s personality” or, “I’m in harmony with the movement of my horse”.
People are often tempted to quit progressing at this stage or stall out on their ultimate goals.
If you feel stalled, ask yourself what’s holding you back. Is it:
Physical? Is there something you can’t do because of a physical limitation you can’t currently overcome? Is it a temporary physical limitation that can be improved with practice or some other discipline like yoga or Pilates? You might also need chiropractic care or massage therapy, to name a few possibilities.
Mental? Do you need more knowledge to move forward? Do you need to reward yourself in some way or take a short break?
Emotional? Are you in control of your emotions? Is frustration getting the better of you more often than you’d like? This usually comes from a lack of knowledge or understanding of a situation. Always be open to getting help with this. Some of the most valuable time I spend in improving my horsemanship is away from my horse analyzing my successes and failures and talking it over with people I trust. When you can bring a more reasoned mind to your endeavors, you’re far more likely to succeed.
Remember that your horse can also have physical, mental, and emotional roadblocks.
4. Unconscious Competence
This is the pinnacle of success. You’ve attained your goals, and maybe more. Some people have described this stage of success as “being in the zone” where you no longer have to think about what you're doing; you can just do it. Your emotions are in a state of equanimity. Sometimes, you can think about doing something, and your horse does it, as though by magic.
This stage is not about where you place in a race or at a competition, it’s about your capabilities. Winning is not the same as unconscious competence, it’s about outdoing your opponent. You can do many things wrong and still come out as the winner. You can be incredibly competent and still lose. I strongly encourage you to know the difference, because if you tie the two together, you may never experience the true joy that conscious competence alone can bring.
It is the nature of competition that there can be only one winner, but there can be many who reach the state of unconscious competence. This may very well be the difference between despondency and delight.
When you reach this stage, I believe it’s wise to share your knowledge with others in some way. It’s a great way to buttress and expand your competencies. And it feels good to gift others with the knowledge and understanding that can make their journey swifter and less complicated. It will keep you humble.
I admire anyone with the guts to set goals and follow the journey to achieving them. If you’re one of those people, good luck to you, and may you find your way to unconscious competence.
For more information about the amazing horses that have been and are being bred on the HAAP farm, go to www.arabpinto.com
If you have questions for me about any of my posts, please feel free to contact me at isabellefarmer@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/arabpintos