Fall has arrived, and the weather has turned. More rain, and chillier temperatures means that we must begin to turn our sights toward spending more time riding under the cover of the fabulous Freedom Farm arena.
So what are we doing in there while we're riding around in circles? What are we working for? Working towards?
I like to use the Fall and Winter to train my horses for competition in the Spring. I like to work on strengthening their skills, so that when I get to my first horse show in the Spring, my horse feels ready to go.
So what if you aren't aiming for a show? What if you are, and you need to combat the boredom that can be brought on by staring at the same four walls and sand on the ground for months on end?
If you find yourself trapped indoors more often than out, it is time to combat the boredom by setting up activities for you and your horse to do. Trot poles, jumping, and horsemanship activities should be in the plan. Go into the ring with an idea of what you want to accomplish, and vary it from time to time. You should work towards making each day interesting for you and your horse.
Need to know where to go for ideas? Attend the Horsemanship Workshops that Mary offers! Also, you can look for clinics to attend with or without your horse. I find it inspirational to watch other instructors teach, and other riders ride. There is always something to learn that you can take back to your own horse and riding program. Another place to turn is the internet. A great place to find fun things to do! There are all sorts of horsie websites that can give great ideas.
The key is to keep things interesting while building skills. Get outdoors as much as you can, but if it's wet and nasty, have fun inside too!
(Originally published Septembe 2013)
