TRAILS

Tania Millen trying her hand at roping. CREDIT – Shannon Skeels

INSPIRATION FOR THE OFF-SEASON

BY TANIA MILLEN

The non-competitive and non-trail riding season (aka winter), is a great time to revisit why you ride, what you want to achieve, and assess your horse’s training and condition. Since there’s less pressure to achieve goals in a short time, horses and riders often have a lot of fun at this time of year. With that in mind, here are eight ways to enjoy the off-season with your horse, regardless of your riding level or sport.

Try Something New

Many horse sports move inside for the colder months, so this can be a great time to try something new. Most equestrian sports require skills that cross over from one to the other. A new sport will likely use some of the skills you already have, plus develop new ones that may improve your riding.

Find out which coaches are in your area and sign up for a lesson in whatever sport they teach. Maybe you’ll end up trying mounted shooting, working equitation, roping, drill team, jumping, or dressage.

You can also contact horse groups in your area to find out what they have planned; the AEF has a list on their website. Your local group would probably love to welcome a new member and you may have the opportunity to attend an upcoming clinic.

Take a Break

The off-season is also a great time to take a break from riding and give your horse a rest. But before taking time off, decide how long your break will be, set goals for next season, and plan how you’ll both get fit again. It’s easy for a onemonth break to morph into a whole winter off, so planning how you’ll get back on schedule will help keep your riding goals on track.

Slow Down

Poor weather and road conditions, plus shorter days can limit how much riding you do in the off-season – so it’s an ideal time to ride a bit less. If you don’t want to take a complete break, just ride a few days per week. That may mean riding outside or on an intermittent schedule, but it’ll still help you and your horse retain some fitness. Plus, most equine competitions and trail riding opportunities occur regardless of the weather, so practice riding safely in rain, wind, and snow. It can be fun!

Fix Physical Issues

Horses are renowned for becoming injured and sometimes there isn’t time during the summer riding season to truly address issues that crop up. If that’s the case, consider getting a full veterinary workup for your horse when the riding season winds down. Body workers and rehabilitation specialists may help too.

Alternatively, if you’ve struggled with hoof concerns, work with your farrier to address those problems. If you’ve had injuries yourself, now’s the perfect time to speak with health care professionals, do rehabilitation exercises, and work on your own symmetry.

Add Strength and Fitness

Horses and riders are athletes, regardless of their sport. Long days of trail riding are taxing and require fit horses and riders, just as reining, jumping, and other horse sports do. Fortunately, the off-season is a perfect time to add strength and fitness to both horse and rider routines.

Consider getting help from a sport-specific coach or trainer to develop an off-season fitness plan for your horse. Every equestrian sport has unique demands so find someone who is familiar with your discipline. Remember that conditioning in strength and endurance each require different exercises.

Riders can follow a fitness plan also. Adding fitness in the off-season means you’ll come back a stronger rider next year. There are many professionals who can help you build your best riding body and it’s worth using their knowledge. They can ensure you’re doing useful exercises that will produce maximum results for your efforts.

Send Your Horse for Training

The off-season is a good time to have a professional train your horse. They can help you progress faster, assist with challenges that you’re not sure how to fix, or give you a break from riding. Choosing the right trainer for you and your horse are key. If your horse will be boarded at the trainer’s facility be sure to visit their place in person ahead of time, get references, speak to their clients, and watch them train. Every trainer has different methods and skills, so try to match what you and your horse need with the best trainer you can afford.

Work on the Basics

Tania Millen and Jasper trying out working equitation. CREDIT - T. Millen Collection

Taking a chunk of time in the off-season to solidify your basics will pay dividends in the long run. Riders can work on their precision, timing, and clarity while training their horses to respond faster to lighter aids.

If you’re stuck on what to do, find a coach, take online classes, attend a webinar, watch videos, or read books and articles. With little pressure to accomplish specific goals, you can afford to ‘go slow to go fast’.

Reflect and Plan for Next Year

The end of this year’s riding season is a good time to reflect on how the year went, what you accomplished (or didn’t), and your potential goals for next year. Your reflections may help identify areas for improvement. Alternatively, you may decide to ramp up your efforts and pursue some larger challenges. Whatever you decide, creating a calendar and blueprint to achieve next year’s goals is a great motivator for the off-season. If you post your calendar where you’ll see it every day, it’ll help you visualize what you’re trying to achieve and maintain enthusiasm for every ride.

The off-season may not be filled with endless horsey events, but it can be just as rewarding. Slowing down, taking a break, increasing fitness and skills, and working toward future goals are all valuable activities that will help riders – and their horses – be more successful next season. Take the time to determine how you would like to spend the next few months with your horse. With a bit of planning, autumn, winter, and spring riding can be just as enjoyable as the summer riding season. AB