Make horses a priority in 2024!
Life is busy! For many of us, last year flew by. It can be hard to find time to ride horses,
especially as an adult. Responsibilities like your job, family, and chores can quickly
consume your life. It’s important you make time for yourself though. If horses and riding
are your passion, then find a way to incorporate them into your life. Let this new year be
about filling your cup all the way up!
How to Ride More
Where there’s a will, there’s a way… Horses bring you happiness. They make you feel
alive. Don’t let go of that. You need to find a way to carve time out for the things in life
that bring you joy. It’s all about getting creative and making a plan.
Set Goals
Take some time to reflect on what you would like to achieve as a rider. This can be as
simple as riding three times a week or something more complex like entering your first show in a
month or two. Your goals should be realistic. They will keep you going when life gets
very hard or busy.
A SMART goal will help you to be more productive and focused. This acronym stands
for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Here’s an example to
get you brainstorming…
Specific: I have a three-year-old horse that I would like to get started under saddle.
Measurable: At the end of 90 days, I would like to be able to walk, trot, and canter this
horse under saddle.
Attainable: I have trained others before, so I have experience with young and green
horses.
Relevant: Training is my passion. I’m motivated to start this horse myself.
Time-bound: I will start with groundwork this weekend. After 30 days, I would like to
have the saddle on their back. I will spend the remaining 60 days on groundwork and
undersaddle training.
It can be helpful to have short-term targets that make your long-term goal less daunting.
Remember, you’ll need to be somewhat flexible. Hurdles are bound to come up!
Stay Organized
Time is a valuable resource! You can make the most out of it by staying organized.
Keep your tack and riding apparel tidy. You should be able to find everything easily. If
you have your own barn, then create a designated tack space for each horse with their
bridle, saddle, girth, brushes, etc. Each halter should be hung on their stall or by the
entrance to their field. For those who board or travel for lessons, keep an organized
space in your car trunk.
Be Productive
Make the most out of the time you do have to ride. This doesn’t mean cramming a
bunch of things into an hour, but rather picking one or two specific things to work on. It can
be helpful to school and exercise your horse with what they are good at, then progress to one new
exercise. Try to end on a good note!
Be Realistic and Open-Minded
Your expectations must match your reality. You need to know your schedule and
availability. If you’re already struggling to ride once a week, then don’t set a goal of
riding five times a week. Keep in mind that obstacles are also likely to come up in the
weather, injuries, financial struggles, etc. Don’t let them get you down. Keep your chin
up and work through them. It’s okay to take a week or two off, but make sure to come
back stronger!
If riding brings you happiness, then find a way to get in that saddle as much as possible.
When you fill your cup up with joy, you’ll succeed in the rest of your life too!
