Using winter wisely...

Winter, for all its disadvantages, does give you time to have a rest and do some much needed training. A lot of people give their horses a few weeks or longer completely off work and turn them out. As this is my third winter with Toy I have finally got to know him and now know that this does not suit him. I can give him four or five days off in a row but any more and he drops condition, especially on his neck and I watch that hard earned top line disappear. He has had a few easier weeks, where he has been ridden just two or three times out hacking for nice long walks and there is no pressure. We have both enjoyed a few quiet weeks over the holidays and took part in our yard Christmas ride.

 

We are using the extra training time to go back to basics and perfect our schooling. I jump Toy about once a fortnight, normally in a lesson so that its a really productive session and we are not just cantering around endlessly. Getting on and off to adjust jumps when you are on your own is also quite annoying so it helps to have some one on the ground! I have also been doing flat work schooling with Toy about twice a week and we have monthly lessons. We are pushing ourselves and working harder than ever, trying new movements like walk pirouettes and practising our flying changes and counter canter. We have been out once a month to do some British Dressage, it keeps Toy happy that he's been out in the lorry and also helps to get different opinions about our work. We have been competing at Novice level but things are going so well that we will step up again to Elementary in January.

 

I once heard some one say that your summer beach body is perfected during winter gym work and I really should be taking this advice. Not that I will be anywhere near a beach next summer but X-Country and extra trips to the gallops are going to be a shock if I don't get out running and get myself fit too! I braved the cold and went running with Hicksy the other day, my legs are still aching but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined so we will go out again soon.



I am trying to use my non-riding time wisely too, I have applied to be a Horslyx Ambassador for 2015 and also to represent a company called The Active Rider, they provide on-line support for riders about exercise and nutrition and have some really interesting blogs and advice on their website. I am trying to market myself as a realistic sponsorship opportunity and have started a Twitter account and will now also be posting all my horse related news on my new Facebook page.

I have also been busy planning for 2015, I love the start of the new year as it always makes me more ambitious and enthusiastic about my goals. There was a really good article on e-venting yesterday about goal setting and I loved the Ingrid Klimke quote "write your goals in concrete and your plans in sand". I have been incredibly lucky as 2014 went to plan with no major hiccups so fingers crossed for plain sailing in 2015 too.