07/28/2024
Now is usually about the time you might be thinking about giving the horses a break, stepping up a level or planning the remainder of your season. 10 things to keep in mind:
1οΈβ£ Itβs all well and good planning the horses fitness programmes, but be mindful of your own too.
Rider fitness is not about getting strong so you can ride stronger, or because itβs the latest fashion trend; itβs about being able to finish a round in the same way you started it, and that your aids are not the limiting factor for peak performance.
2οΈβ£ You have to know your own mentality to get βin the zoneβ, motivational self-talk works for some, slight arrogance works for some, βfaking it till you make itβ works for some; but a negative mindset works for none.
3οΈβ£ If plan A is not working, donβt immediately go to plan B, ask yourself is plan A realistic? What is stopping plan A working? Can I change that? If yes, keep with plan A and Make It Happen, if not there are 25 other plans available. Control the controllables.
4οΈβ£ Longevity over intensity. Horses only have so many runs in them, make sure you are well prepared for the task ahead, itβs a well thought out plan, and itβs not a wasted run. There is no point cramming two seasons worth of events into one, to then have to have a year out next season.
5οΈβ£ Keep dipping your toe in each of the zones, donβt live in one. Comfort zone (where things feel easy), learning zone (learning something new), pressure zone (pushing limits), you canβt live in the pressure zone or comfort zone. After a session in the pressure zone, drop back down to the comfort zone to keep horse and rider confidence up.
6οΈβ£ Youβre only as successful as your last run. Take a moment to appreciate, enjoy and celebrate when something goes well (because we all know thatβs not often), then think about a) how do I replicate that and b) how do I go one better.
7οΈβ£ Horse first. Way before you started eventing, competing and chasing results, Iβm sure you loved just spending time with horses and being in their company, having fun. Remember why you started, and that we are indebted to them, not the other way round.
8οΈβ£ Split your jump sessions into different categories; building the height v developing technical skills. If itβs technical, keep the height low, if youβre building height, keep the technicality low. Some days are about training the jump, some days are about training the way of going; mostly itβs interlinked, but maybe not immediately visible.
9οΈβ£ Run your own race. Just because someone is stepping up a level, doesnβt mean you should; just because you really want to go to that event, doesnβt mean itβs the right thing right now; just because you feel really confident to step up, doesnβt mean your horse does. Thereβs always another day.
π Put your own 10th in the commentsππ½
