New Year’s Horse Goals

Build your confidence

And your horse’s, too. A partnership requires that both ourselves and our horses have confidence – and the best way to do that is to build it together with our horse.

We can’t just flip a switch in our (or our horse’s) brain to move from anxiety to confidence, but when we learn how to develop it together, we can achieve so much more.

Our Clinic Choices: Connected or Progressive

Make it a point to ride someplace new.

Although riding the same trails repeatedly can create a sense of normalcy, it can also lead to complacency and boredom – for yourself, your horse or both of you.

When we explore a new place, we bring passion and a sense of adventure back into our riding.

Our Clinic Choice: BackCountry

Narrow down a skill or two you want to work on and make it a focus.

It’s easy to fall into a bit of a trap of continuing to do the things we excel at, but we all know where we can improve or learn more. A focus on specific items helps our brain organize and integrate our learning experiences.

Our Clinic Choices: Progessive or Dedicated

Honestly, the more time I spend with horses and people, the more I’ve grown to understand just how important a strong connection is.

On our end, connection involves learning to communicate, understand and use empathy and energy as tools.

On our horse’s end, connection evokes a sense of pride and belonging and a desire to follow.

Clearly we need both to be an winning team!

“Me? Start a horse?” YES! Without question, the best person to start your horse is YOU. You know your horse better than anyone, and you are going to have a continuing relationship with them that might last a lifetime.

The knowledge required to start a horse is the same knowledge required to ride one. Learning about your horse’s unique way of thinking and building a partnership with them is the only way to go.

It goes without saying: we all want to be healthy and fit. But sometimes it can seem like such a chore!

I want to share what we do here, and invite you to come and try it.

Take your horse for a hike on the trails! Before Jerry was old enough to ride, we spent hours and put miles on the trails, just hiking together. It was a perfect way, not only to build our partnership for riding, but get that step counter spinning!

And I don’t mean something in your bucket list. I mean something you haven’t yet considered doing.

Maybe it’s learning a precision arena-type manouvre when you generally only ride trails. Maybe it’s working on advanced obstacles when you normally only ride dressage.

Maybe it has nothing to do with horses – like spending a day at the Telus Science Centre or Dinosaur Museum! Or taking an origami course.

When we step out of our routine ways of thinking, we allow our mind to open up to new possibilities and new avenues of thought.

I’ll let you in on a little something. I feel confident and comfortable working with any horse I meet. Any idea how I got to that point?

You got it! Working with hundreds and hundreds of different horses! Now you might not have the opportunity to work with that many but even working with a different horse now and then, swapping with a friend for a session – or getting another horse (even a project) can open up a whole new world of learning and acquired skills.

Sure, maybe with time, we can get the job done. But how about making it quick and precise?

There is a huge satisfaction in knowing you can do something complex with your horse, and do it well.

Think about opening a gate. Did you ever consider all the microscopic moves and thoughts that are required to pull that off? It’s not easy. But it’s a must for the trail.

Don’t hold back because you think you’re not ready or not good enough. Every discipline has divisions for entry level or novice participants.

Try it out! You’ll meet new people and challenge your team (that is, you and your horse).

When I was competing in Cowboy Challenge, I’d memorize the course and then promptly forget it when it was my time to ride. Performance anxiety is normal, so don’t make excuses!

Here’s the reality if you haven’t discovered it yet:

Riding has much LESS to do with reins and aids. Riding has infinitely MORE to do with being able to lead effectively and confidently.

A horse will willingly, and with trust, follow a leader. And every single one of us is capable of that.

Becoming a better leader of horses requires an aspiration to master their language. And it’s not a hard thing to do; in fact, it’s an incredibly enjoyable pursuit.

So many options here! Traveling to other countries and riding is the best way to see the landscape and really get a feel of another land.

A less costly option, and one that you can ride your own horse, is a staycation. Head to one of our many equine-friendly camping areas and enjoy getting out.

From Facebook groups to forums to online equine programs, there are many options to network and associate with like-minded equine enthusiasts. Why not join one?

Amazing Horse Country has a Facebook group that we’d love to have you as a part of. We also have an online program with webinars, streaming training videos and more.

Just as you feel great when engaging in activities like riding or hiking, it’s equally important for your horse to be comfortable when you ride.

If you ride, it’s crucial to know how to properly fit a saddle. Your horse’s body changes shape as they age and from season to season, so being able to adjust the saddle fit to accommodate these changes is vital for their health and happiness.

We don’t like to think about it, but sometimes things happen. First Aid courses are a great idea. Whether you take a human or equine course, the same fundamentals apply to both species.

One thing that is seldom considered is Emergency Avoidance. For example, there are courses that teach you what to do if your horse runs off on you. But doesn’t it make more sense to avoid that in the first place? That’s where a confident horse with a confident rider – with a solid connection – saves the day.

And guess what? That’s our specialty.