The Winter Blues

I’m sure I’m not the only one who absolutely hates winter. In fact, the number of times I’ve seen “we’re in a half halt” these last few weeks has made me chuckle. It seems that’s the new way equestrians are saying they’re taking a short break. Winter is the hardest time of year for those of us who are not fortunate enough to have the ability to travel south. I often fantasize about one day having a program that would allow me to do that so I could show at the World Equestrian Center. Maybe one day that will happen, but I really can’t see myself staying down there for the entirety of winter.

We can’t let this winter blues get in the way of our riding and our goals though. We have to focus on the good moments, however few and far between they may be when we feel like we’ve been stuck in a polar vortex for a month. But let’s be honest, we didn’t just feel like we were in one… We genuinely were. Here’s the secret: If you just keep going, you’ll get so used to the cold it won’t bother you anymore. I know, that sounds stupid and probably insane, but it’s true. I found myself out in 20 degree weather, feels like 5 in a sweat shirt. No gloves needed. I rode 4 horses in a row that day and never felt cold. It’s incredible what our bodies can adjust to if we give them the chance.

My students are surely suffering from the winter blues as much as I am, so we’re spending time focusing on setting goals, looking forward to the longer days ahead and trying to decide what discipline they’d like to focus on. I’m an eventer myself, but that doesn’t mean all my students have to follow that path. I have some interested in equitation, some considering dressage, and many asking about jumping. Since we have these goals in mind we can begin to focus on things outside of just riding to prepare, and I’ve spent lots of time trying to keep the unmounted activities more fun and interesting. Have you ever had an instructor ask you to hold the bit in your hands while they held the reins and “rode” like you do? It’s a great exercise for self reflection and it can be pretty fun/funny when you trade places if your instructor is willing to pretend to be the horse to show you how the horse may react to your use of the rein.

As a kid I never experienced anything like this and as an adult and trainer now I’m beginning to see how these super simple moments can make a world of difference. I’ve seen so many lightbulb moments in the last few weeks as my riders unlock new skills, see what they’re really doing, and begin to understand how they affect the horses. Most riding programs who have indoor arenas don’t have to do these sorts of things because they can ride no matter the weather, but I am finding that this is SO IMPORTANT. I’m so glad I don’t have an indoor riding ring. I think back to how long it took me to learn certain things and realize how much faster I may have progressed if my instructor had taken the time to do this instead of just teaching me on a horse. And don’t get me wrong, I am in no way bashing the way I was taught, I am simply saying that my eyes have been opened to new and incredible methods that could’ve made a huge difference for me.

So the moral of this “winter blues” post is that we can’t let the cold weather get us down. We need to take this time for self reflection, motivation, and goal setting. Winter sucks and we know it. Let’s take the time inside and really plot out our course for the year. Ask yourself – Do I want to show this year? What level do I want to be by next Winter? Do I want to work toward having my own horse some day? Do I have any weaknesses in the saddle I could work on at home? Is there something I can learn watching other riding videos online? (this answer is yes. go watch videos!) Do I know what discipline I really enjoy? (if not, go watch more videos!) Set yourself up for success this year, whether you’re riding for fun or you want to go out and show.