16/02/2024
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you are doing just fine.
Stop beating yourself up for not riding when it’s freezing cold, pitch black and raining. It’s ok (and normal) to have no motivation at this time of year. It doesn’t make you a bad rider (or a bad owner).
Stop feeling guilty that your horse isn’t even nearly competition fit yet. Take your time and make your plan, who cares if you’re not ready for the first event? There’s a whole calendar to chose from.
Stop agonising over the fact you haven’t spent the whole winter training. Riders need a break and horses do to, you’ll probably find your horse comes back better than if they’d spent the whole winter being hammered in clinics and lessons anyway.
Stop comparing yourself to riders who have more facilities, more time or a totally different set of circumstances to you. Everyone is on their own track and has their own goals, so eyes ahead and focus on yours.
Stop telling yourself that your horse “deserves better” or is “wasted” with you. As long as your horse is fed and warm, they are quite happy, riding does not complete their life.
Winter is hard. It’s cold, it’s wet, it’s dark and it feels never ending and berating yourself for everything you aren’t doing or feel you should be doing won’t make it any easier, so cut yourself some slack and just take a breath.
You are doing just fine.
