2022 is coming to an end! I thought that, this year, I would use this time to reflect on my own personal equestrian new year’s resolutions, as well as share some that I believe all equestrians could benefit from. Please enjoy and happy new year!
1. Stop comparing yourself to others
This may be one of the hardest resolutions to keep. In today’s world of social media, there is a near-constant barrage of content from equestrian influencers. They may be showing you the new horse they just bought or their 75 saddle pads. And sometimes, those things can start to make you feel pretty inadequate.
“Why aren’t I as good as them?” “How come I can’t afford all that new stuff?” “Why can’t I ride as well as they can?” It is easy for questions like these to pop up in your head and make you feel down.
This year, I want you to try and focus less on what others are doing and more on what you can do. Everyone learns and grows at their own pace. Some people have the resources to learn and grow faster but it is important to recognize the power you have in your situation.
Sure, maybe you are a few levels behind those riders you see on Instagram, but as long as you are trying your best to be better, that’s all that matters. Your horse doesn’t care how many saddle pads you own, but they do care about your horsemanship and how you as an owner treat them.
2. Learn more about equine behavior
This resolution is a big one of mine that I feel all equestrians should make. Horses are complex creatures that are frequently misunderstood. A lot of the modern ways of training and riding go against how horses naturally learn and behave.
Many equestrians simply follow traditional practices because “that is the way we have always done it”. Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right way.
There are tons of equine behavior courses available (both free and paid) that can help you get a better understanding of your horse and their behavior.
Do your horse a favor this year and learn a bit more about how hey think and interact with the world around them. It’ll save you a lot of frustration and your horse will thank you for trying to improve their care.
You can check out my previous post ‘Basics of Equine Behavior: What Every Equestrian Should Know’ for a summary of the main equine behaviors.
3. Evaluate your horse’s diet
If your horse’s diet consists of less than 50% forage, it’s time to reevaluate. Horses have evolved for thousands of years to eat forage (grass, hay, etc.) and modern feeding has strayed from that.
Many companies will have you believe that your horse needs 10 pounds of grain per day (or even per feeding) to keep them in tip-top shape. While I concede that in some cases that much grain may be necessary, it is important to always have a ‘hay first’ mentality when it comes to feeding horses.
Horses were not designed to consume grain or eat on a meal schedule. They are meant to eat small amounts continuously throughout the day. Even if you think you are feeding your horse properly, take a look at their diet this year and find ways to improve.
4. Spend more non-riding time with your horse
Horses are amazing creatures that are intelligent and full of personality. This year, I would like to challenge all equestrians to set aside non-riding time for their horse.
Teach your horse a trick, work on their ground manners, practice transitions at liberty, and the list goes on and on. Your horse will appreciate the change of pace and I promise that the more time you spend with your horse on the ground, the stronger your relationship will become.
5. Realize that your horse is more than what they can do for you
Many people fall into the trap of believing that if they can’t ride, then their horse is useless. However, I would like to point out that horses are much more than what they can do for you. They are beautiful, living, breathing beings that play a big role in human emotional and physical health.
According to Dr. Pebbles Turbeville, executive director of the Horses & Humans Research Foundation, “the horse is an amazing animal, and there’s so much research now that is advancing our understanding of how horse-human interactions impact health.”
My main point is, that if it comes up that you can’t ride for a while or that your horse is forcibly retired, you shouldn’t feel betrayed or scorned. Horses are not objects that can simply be thrown away when you’re done with them and, sadly, I feel like many equestrians need to realize this.
6. Be kind to yourself
This may be one of the hardest equestrian new year’s resolutions to keep but I would like us all to try. It can be really easy to fall into negative self-talk and be hard on yourself when things don’t go as planned.
But I would like you to just try and be a little kinder to yourself this year and recognize that you are trying your best. Be proud of yourself for how hard you are trying.
Thank you so much for reading about our equestrian new year’s resolutions! Do you have some of your own resolutions for 2023? Let us know! Hope everyone has a safe and happy new year!
Extra Resources
- Analyze your horse’s diet at https://madbarn.com/analyze-diet/
- The Basics of Equine Nutrition by Rutgers
- Equine Behavior Basics by KER
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