HHO has selected the best 25 New Year’s resolutions from our user’s suggestions to help you get the most out of time spent with your horse.
- Organise your life so you have more quality time to spend with your horse
- Learn to keep frustrations under control when things don’t go to plan in your schooling sessions
- Don’t get involved in yard gossip or add to it
- If you are genuinely unhappy at your present livery yard – move
- Get your horse’s passport application organised
- Wash and repair all rugs at the end of every season
- Check your tack for loose stitching every time it’s cleaned
- Wash numnah and girths regularly
- Get clippers serviced and blades sharpened before next winter
- Pull your horse’s mane and tail before itgets too long
- Organise a dentist and saddler every six months to check all is well
- Never run out of tail detangler
- Join a gym or exercise group such as pilates, yoga or aerobics to get fit to ride and increase suppleness and body control
- Spend quality time with your horse – don’t just turn up and ride
- Be consistent in training and handling – eliminate all “grey” areas
- Set yourself a goal of what you want to achieve every time you school
- Accept that horses have off days too
- Introduce more variety into your horse’s life: such as hacking, jumping, loose schooling, polework and massage
- Try out a new horse sport such as western, side saddle, vaulting, polo, polocross or jumpcross
- Learn a new equine skill like lungeing, long reining, driving or massage
- Spend time watching top trainers and riders to help maintain motivation
- Go to new show venues rather than sticking to old favourites
- Volunteer to help out at a show at least once a year
- Take out a subscription to H&H to ensure you never miss a copy
- Give up horses and get a life!
