New year, new equestrian challenges

By Phillipa

One year ends and a new one begins. It’s a time for both reflection of the achievements and successes of the past twelve months, as well as a chance to evaluate the things that need attention, the areas of life that may need a fresh start in some way.

This applies to our work, personal life and our hobbies and sports. For the equestrian, it’s often a time when we set new challenges. Horse people tend to be energetic, goal orientated folk with a streak of competitiveness running through them, even if this means simply pushing themselves to improve their own personal best.

Understanding our horses and their behavior, and working toward getting the very best out of them is key. I think this applies to most of us, from the natural horsemanship devotee to those with a more traditional or classical approach. Many of the experienced horse people I have spoken to are highly tuned to their animals and intuitively know when something is wrong. They have learnt not to ignore this gut instinct and have told me how this has sometimes highlighted health issues, or made them re consider their riding style.

It’s also useful to use this sense of a new beginning to think about why we do what we do. Sometimes, it’s easy to get swept up in what those around us are doing and we can find that their goals become ours without us really questioning if it’s really what we want. We all grow and develop and I believe this doesn’t stop whatever your age. So it’s also worth considering if you are doing what you’re doing because it’s what you’ve always done!

Are you riding because you simply love horses and wish to learn about their natures and be a ‘happy hacker’, spending time in the saddle appreciating the countryside and the social aspect of a group ride? Are you riding competitively because you enjoy the sporting side of equestrianism? If so, are you sure you are concentrating on the right discipline? You may have been successful in dressage for the last few years, but are you getting the biggest thrill when taking your horse over a few jumps in the paddock? Are you the type of person that wants to focus on one particular aspect and hone and perfect your skills – or would you rather try everything, from eventing to hunting to vaulting and Western trail riding?

Of course, if you are considering a change to your life with horses, you will have to take into account what your horses can do, what they may be capable of and how they would deal with a new challenge themselves. Whatever their age, some will relish the idea of something new and others will become stressed by any change to their routine. Only you know your horses well enough to decide which category they fall into. If you have a horse that you don’t think will be able to cope with what you have planned, it can be time to make some tough choices.

If you are in a position to retain the horse, or horses, you already have and acquire another that will suit your new challenges, that choice is clearly much easier. If however this is not feasible, then the difficulty is in making the decision either to curtail the plans you have or to sell your existing horse on, to a new owner who will be working with him in a way that he will be comfortable, therefore giving you the opportunity to find a new ride that will be able to work with you and grow into a partnership that is more suited to your new ambitions.

Whatever you choose to do, whether trying something new or continuing exactly with what you have been doing previously, we would love to hear your stories of the achievements and milestones of you and your horses of 2016.