Classic Eventing Nation

Friday News & Notes Presented by Zoetis

By on Dec 16, 2022 12:03 am -

Just some horsey Christmas cheer Photo by JJ Sillman.

Like many equestrians, I have one full-time partner: my dog. He’s extremely smart, well behaved, adorable, and loyal, but when you ask him to suffer through the absolute animal abuse that is early morning chores when it is both cold and rainy???? Multiple coats must be applied to the dog, and then he must wrap up in both a fleece and wool cooler on the raised fancy dog bed while he whines every so often and peaks out of the blankets to glare at me. I mean…honestly I don’t disagree with him, it’s just part of the farm dog life and he better toughen up!

News From Around the Globe: 

Kentucky is JUST around the corner (yes, it’s December, and yes, we already have our hotels booked and yes, we know we’re crazy – but we know you are too), and if you’re a diehard eventing fan like us you’ve already been making plans for the #BestWeekendAllYear. Allow us to level up your plans! Beginning today, entries are now open for The Ultimate LRK3DE Giveaway, presented by Eventing Nation, Athletux, Ocala Horse Properties, and Dubarry of Ireland. If you’re planning to attend Kentucky next year (April 27-30) – keep reading! [Ultimate LRK3DE Giveaway]

Commentators play a key role in how horse sport comes across to the general public – and the language used needs to reflect this, stakeholders agree. As the horse world continues to look at what can be done to improve public acceptance of equestrian sport, it has been discussed that everyone has a part to play. Commentator John Kyle, who covered the Rio and Tokyo Games for Olympic Broadcasting Services, told H&H he believes the broadcaster and commentators’ role in social licence has been “somewhat overlooked”. “In a way, we’re on the front line and we’re part of the sport that is going to be exposed to people who don’t understand it – for example, the people flicking through the television during the Olympics,” he said. [The Role of Commentators in Eventing]

Podcast of the Day: The Plaidcast with Boyd Martin

Nerdout Link of the Day: Top Ten Riding Tips in 2022 from FEI

Feeling bored already of all the dressage work? Good for you, we’ve got the solution. Dickie Waygood offered some jumping exercises “you can do with dressage horses to beat the winter blues” at the London Horse Show yesterday, with Olympic gold medal-winning eventer Laura Collett as demo rider on the eight-year-old Outback. [Jump Exercises for Winter Blues]

Caroline Martin and HSH Blake Awarded 2023 Connaught Grant

By on Dec 15, 2022 4:47 pm -

Caroline Martin was honored as the 2023 recipient of the USET Foundation’s Connaught Grant alongside U.S. Eventing Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello (left) and Kevin Keane (right) at the 2022 United States Eventing Association (USEA) Annual Meeting and Convention in Savannah, Georgia. Photo by USEA / Megan DeLisle.

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation has named rising eventing star Caroline Martin of Riegelsville, Pennsylvania, and her mount, HSH Blake, a seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R x Doughiska Lass) owned by Mollie Hoff and Sherrie Martin, the recipients of the 2023 Connaught Grant.

Each year, the USET Foundation administers up to $25,000 to a CCI1* or CCI2* horse that is seen as a potential candidate to represent the U.S. Eventing team at the international level. The grant was established and is funded by Caroline Moran in memory of her dear friend, the late R. Bruce Duchossois, who was dedicated to encouraging the development of eventing horses in the U.S., and is named after Connaught, a horse that was owned by Duchossois and ridden by Phillip Dutton at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games and 2008 Beijing Olympics.

As the recipient of the Connaught Grant, Martin, who is an athlete on US Equestrian’s Eventing High Performance 2023 Development Training List with HSH Blake, will use the funds to support further competition and training with HSH Blake with the aim of riding for the U.S. on the international stage.

Martin, who runs a sport horse sales business, is grateful for the support offered by the USET Foundation and US Equestrian (USEF) to up-and-coming eventing talent. She was a recipient of the USET Foundation’s Jacqueline B. Mars Competition and Training Grant in 2017 and the USET Foundation’s Karen E. Stives Endowment Fund Grant in 2018, which enabled her to train and compete in England. Most recently, in 2022, she was the recipient of the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Foundation’s Wilton Fair Fund and USEF’s European Developing Rider Tour Grant, the latter of which enabled her to compete in the Houghton Hall CCIO4*-S in Great Britain as the anchor rider for the silver-medal winning Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team.

“I have such a great support staff and we’re getting bigger and better, but it is still very challenging to balance making money [through horse sales] and having enough time to concentrate on my own upper-level competition horses,” explained Martin. “Without these grants, I wouldn’t be able to bring horses overseas. These grants have been life changing. They have given me opportunities to focus on improving myself and my horses and becoming a U.S. Equestrian Team rider.”

Caroline Martin and HSH Blake. Photo by Irish Eventing Times.

HSH Blake, known as “Blake” in the barn, was acquired by Martin as a five-year-old with the intent of joining her sales program. The pair claimed victory in the 2020 Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Five-Year-Old Championship and went on to capture several Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) wins in his six-year-old year. Recognizing the gelding’s enormous talent and potential for the greatest international stages, Martin decided to keep the ride on Blake but needed the support of an additional owner. Enter Mollie Hoff, who agreed to come on board as a partner with Martin.

“They’re such a fabulous family,” said Martin. “It’s been a fairytale story. With Mollie’s support, we went to England and had top-five placings in a number of FEI events, and we finished the year with a 10th-place finish in the three-star long event at the FEI World Championship for Young Horses in Le Lion d’Angers, France, on a score of 27.4. We were really, really proud of Blake, and it was very special to have the whole Hoff family there. I am so grateful that all the stars aligned.”

Next year, Martin plans to compete Blake in three-star-long and four-star-short events with an eye on the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

“It’s always a long shot, but we’re going to do everything we can to get there,” stated Martin of her Pan American Games goal.

Whether or not Martin and Blake make the team for the Pan American Games, Martin is excited about the gelding’s future and is looking forward to leveraging the grant in a way that will help Blake gain the experience necessary for him to be successful on the world stage.

“Hopefully I’ll utilize the grant in a way that would make Bruce [Duchossois] proud, and I hope we’ll represent the Connaught Grant well in his memory,” Martin concluded. “I know Bruce always believed in young, talented horses, and I really think Blake is one for the future. I’ve been part of Nations Cup and developing teams, but I haven’t been part of a senior team yet, so I hope he will be my first proper team horse.”

Thanks to the Connaught Grant, Martin and HSH Blake can continue their training with the goal of representing the United States in future international competition.

 

European Championships Tickets Go On Sale (with Christmas Discounts!)

By on Dec 15, 2022 11:19 am -

Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza at Haras du Pin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The box office for the 2023 FEI European Championships of Eventing, set to take place at Haras du Pin in northern France from August 9-13, has officially opened for business – and there are some special discounts on offer for those who want to secure their place at this exciting event early.

Christmas discounts will be in effect until January 15th, and will allow buyers to nab some seriously good deals: tickets for Wednesday’s first horse inspection are just €5, while day rates for cross-country or showjumping are a real bargain at €15. There are a number of group, multi-day, and hospitality passes on sale, too — the cheapest of these, currently sitting at €40, is a five-day general admission pass, while those who’d like VIP access, privilege parking, and a dedicated bar and viewing tent can opt for hospitality packages for the week, ranging from €150 to €275. Those who enjoy turning an eventing holiday into a camping trip will also be able to book their spots, with or without electrical hookup, for a nightly fee. (This, for what it’s worth, isn’t a bad idea — EN travelled to Haras du Pin for the Nations Cup in 2022, and it’s in a pretty rural spot without a huge amount of hotels, so do get booking yours soon if you’re planning a trip!)

Mollie Summerland and Charly van ter Heiden at Haras du Pin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The event is working hard to reduce traffic in the area for the event, with planned shuttles from nearby towns.

‘’We’ve already worked with the Prefecture in order to set up a traffic plan to guarantee the arrival of spectators in the best conditions, in particular on Saturday, the day of the cross-country, when the crowd is always the largest,’’ says the organising committee. ‘’We want to encourage the use of shuttles, especially from Argentan station as well as carpooling. This is also part of our eco-responsible approach. A paying car park will be available close to the competition, but only if pre-booked. We’re also counting on spectators to anticipate their travel.’’

Haras du Pin has been undergoing a significant development project over the last year or so, with new stands, media centres, and a competition hub being installed in the centre of the beautiful site.

“Together with all the players in the equine industry, we want to make these European Championship a great celebration. For many months, the whole team has been investing a great deal of energy. It’s a huge challenge that we’ve taken up with the help of our partners, notably the Normandy Region, the Orne County Council, Argentan Intercom and the Haras National du Pin.”

Get your tickets here (but prepare your Google translate app if you’re not fluent in French!)

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Dec 15, 2022 12:03 am -

Mini’s need peep-holes too! Photo by Jaclyn Burke.

Today is the first truly horrible day of winter. A full 24 hours of freezing rain just about kills my spirit in every way, and I will make a full argument that the worst part of winter isn’t the cold, or even the snow, but frozen rain. And mud. I live on the side of a hill, and while my horses learn extraordinary coordination in their turnout, the slip-sliding mud fest that happens is my least favorite thing. Also, WHY do they have to stand in one area and turn it into a pit?? Please stop.

No events this weekend! Have fun sleeping in!

News From Around the Globe:

The saying goes that the most talented horses have the biggest personalities, and Harbour Pilot is no exception. Retiring this year at the age of 19, Jacqueline Mars’s Irish Sport Horse gelding leaves the upper-level scene with one of the most decorated and lengthy careers in the sport, including in his credits ten CCI5*-L starts and the 2011 team gold and individual silver at the Pan American games. His partner in all of these endeavors has been Hannah Sue Hollberg, who took over the ride on “William” from David O’Connor in 2010. [Farewell to Harbour Pilot]

For keen-eyed fans of The Crown, there is a memorable scene through a recognizable water complex. Season 5 puts the focus on Prince Philip’s passion for Driving, which developed after the late Queen’s husband decided he was too old to play polo. In one scene, Prince Phillip takes a friend on a gallop through none other than the Burghley water complex, under the famous bridge. I’ll admit, I squealed aloud. [The Crown Celebrates Royal Horse History]

Podcast of the Day: US 2022 Performance in Review with EquiRatings

Show jumping: there is so much more to it than just setting out a set number of jumps in a ring. Professional course designers Marc Donovan and Chris Barnard broke down the fine details that come with show jumping course design during the Show Jumping Building Seminar which kicked off the 2022 USEA Convention in Savannah, Georgia. With an in-classroom session discussing rules, regulations, theory, and more, followed by a practical hands-on course building session held at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Ronald C. Waranch Equestrian Center where participants were able to put all of the morning’s education to work, this year’s Show Jumping Course Building Seminar was full of useful information for both eventing lovers and course design hopefuls alike. [USEA Show Jumping Seminar Tidbits]

The first thing many owners may worry about with respect to horses eating frosty/frozen grass is that it will cause colic due to the temperature. This really isn’t a concern. Whilst there is an increase in colic in cold weather, this is almost entirely due to impaction colic due to reduced water intake (horses drink less water in winter when the water is cold than if it’s warmed). By the time it is in the stomach, its at the same temperature as the rest of the body, and it still had a long way, both in time and distance, before it gets to the hindgut. So cold grass will not cause colic due to temperature. However, when the grass is stressed, for example, by cold, sugars made during the day remain in the blades (leaves), which means the sugar content is higher. This can be an issue for those managing laminitic prone horses and ponies. [Managing Frosty Grass Consumption]

 

 

 

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: How to Train Your Dragon

By on Dec 14, 2022 5:00 pm -

It’s always good fun to watch helmet cam footage of successful upper-level rides — but just as useful is seeing how the pros deal with a slightly trickier day out with the babies. In Elisa Wallace‘s latest helmet cam video, she heads out to Majestic Oaks schooling show with four-year-old Loukas T to tackle the Beginner Novice course. Along the way, the wide-eyed youngster has plenty of highlights: he jumps everything sweetly, despite worrying about his friend left behind at the trailer, but he also has a couple of big learning moments, too, particularly at the water jump. Watching how Elisa takes all the pressure away and employs a bit of help to give him a good experience — despite sacrificing a competitive result along the way — is interesting, useful, and heartening for all of us who’ve had similar situations pop up on that long training road.

Is your horse challenged by GI tract imbalances, diarrhea, and/or ulcers?

Neigh-Lox® Advanced provides a scientifically advanced blend of ingredients that work synergistically to maintain your horse’s digestive tract in peak condition by supporting both the gastrointestinal tissues and the beneficial bacteria that populate the gut. Maintaining a healthy digestive tract reduces the risk of colonic and gastric ulcers, colic, laminitis related to hindgut acidosis, and oxidative stress that damages digestive tract tissues themselves. Horses with a well-balanced GI tract have good appetites, absorb more nutrients from their diets, maintain a strong immune system, and stay healthier.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®. KPPusa.com

Maxime Livio Takes the Win (Again!) at Geneva

By on Dec 14, 2022 3:42 pm -

Maxime Livio and Boleybawn Price are victorious again. Photo courtesy of CHI Geneva.

Just a couple of weeks after taking top honours in the indoor eventing competition at the Sweden International Horse Show, France’s Maxime Livio and the eighteen-year-old Boleybawn Prince — a horse who competed for Thailand at the Tokyo Olympics under Maxime’s student, Arinadtha Chavatanont — have won again, this time in the fast and furious class at the CHI Geneva show in Switzerland.

In a thrilling competition, Maxime produced a superb round, finishing a whisker outside the ideal time but doing enough to succeed 2021 winner Robin Godel of Switzerland, who finished fourth, and best of the home side, on Big Diamond. Livio’s compatriots Karim Laghouag (aboard 19-year-old former team ride Punch de l’Esques, who was tonight making the last competitive appearance of his fine career) and Sébastien Cavaillon (Black Pearl Z) finished second and third respectively, completing a stunning French sweep of the podium.

“Boleybawn Prince hates it when he can’t come and compete with us,” says Maxime, who has targeted the gelding at lower intensity indoor classes to allow him to continue working. “He’s getting older but he’s still competitive, so indoor cross events like this one in Geneva are the perfect opportunity for him to have some fun. He excelled himself today, like he always does. He’s in great form, which is nice to see.”

16 competitors from nine different countries took part in the competition, which was staged on Friday night of the prestigious show. You can check out the full results — and watch videos of each competitors’ round, which took place across two arenas — here, or keep scrolling for the highlights from social media.

 

Inside EN’s Holiday Gift Guide: Ideas for the Student of the Sport

By on Dec 14, 2022 12:26 pm -

An equestrian who is a true student of the sport is always looking for opportunities to learn something new about eventing or their horse. And, as all equestrians know, there’s always more to learn! This gift guide is designed to help the equestrian in your life continue their eventing education.

Audio Lessons to Listen to While They Ride

Image courtesy of Ride iQ.

Lessons are expensive. Ride iQ could be a great alternative to lessons, or used in addition to working with a trainer. With a Ride iQ subscription, your friend or family member can listen to audio lessons taught by world class equestrians while they ride.

52 Exercises to Improve Their Jumping Performance

If your friend, family member, or horse trainer loves to jump, then you know what a challenge it is to come up with new and exciting grids. With the Grid Pro Quo book, available on Horse & Rider Books, you can give them the gift of 52 new jumping exercises to try, from top trainers like Boyd Martin and Kim Severson. Give this book to your horse trainer if you dare…

Tickets to the Best Weekend All Year

Zoe Crawford and K.E.C. Zara. Photo by Shelby Allen.

For eventers in the United States, the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event is the biggest competition of the year. Going to LRK3DE is not like attending any other sporting event– it’s a learning opportunity, too! Tickets to LRK3DE may fit in a stocking, but these tickets could take the place of every present under the tree.

A Schooling, Lesson, or Entry Pass

Photo by Joan Davis / Flatlandsfoto.

For an equestrian who struggles to afford regular lessons, the best present you can give is a “gift card” or check for a lesson with a local trainer. If your rider loves to compete, another great gift idea is to fund an off-property cross country schooling trip or to pay the entry fees for their next show.

Auto-Tracking Portable Video Camera

Image courtesy of Pivo.

Cameras that automatically track your horse and record you while you ride are quickly becoming popular. For someone who wants to learn from their mistakes, this type of camera is priceless for its ability to allow for self-improvement and better progress tracking. Pivo is one of the best auto-tracking cameras on the market, thanks to its lightweight minimalist look, user-friendly design, and ability to connect right to your phone.

Helmet Cam to Relive Every Ride

Image courtesy of Cambox.

While nothing is more exhilarating than riding a cross country course, a close second is to relive every stride of the same course with the help of a helmet cam. It’s hard to learn everything you can from a cross country course while you ride it. Thanks to the Cambox V4 Pro Horse, your friend or family member will be able to watch the course over and over again, analyze their successes and mistakes, and take away even more from the experience.

A Notebook for All Things Dressage

For many eventers, dressage can be a really difficult phase. With the Dressage Rider’s Essential Notebook, your equestrian student has access to dressage arena diagram pages, a notebook, journal, and lesson index. With help from this notebook, they’ll be a dressage pro before long!

Whether you’re shopping for your barn bestie, your trainer, or your family member, you can find something for everyone on our 2022 Nation Media Holiday Gift Guide — click here to view it in full!

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Dec 14, 2022 12:01 am -

I somehow missed out on National Day of the Horse yesterday like a dummy, so I’ll just share one of my favorite posts from yesterday here to make up for it. I’ve really enjoyed following the McFall family adventures as they tackle the sport with several of their own homebreds. This family is one that does it all, from breeding sport horses to competing at the upper levels to providing coaching to riders in northern California — they’re fun to follow!

U.S. Weekend Preview

We have arrived at that weird time of year in which there aren’t many events to be found. Enjoy a weekend off, friends!

Wednesday News & Reading

One of the greatest services we can do for our horses is to seek to understand them. In his new book, For the Love of the Horse, Mark Rashid muses on the concept of understanding horse behavior and how these clues can give us a broader picture of how our partner is feeling. [Read more here]

After the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab released its first helmet rankings, opinions swirled. One voice added to the mix is that of the group behind the MIPS technology that has become commonplace in our helmets. They’ve issued a statement addressing the results of the study, and you can read more about it here.

If you’re a fan of the Equestrian Voices podcast, you can show your support by voting for it as the best Sports podcast in this year’s 1st Annual Listener’s Choice Signal Awards. [Cast your vote]

We can all relate to the…er…fun…that is a winter riding lesson. This play-by-play from The Plaid Horse had me rolling (and feeling extremely called out, if I’m being honest…).

Several rule changes were approved or moved forward to the USEF for final consideration at last weekend’s USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in Savannah, GA. More information on the pending rule changes will be released in the coming days, but you can read a summary of the final USEA Board of Governors meeting here.

I’m getting pretty pumped for the London International Horse Show, which kicks off in earnest this week and always signals the true beginning of holiday season, in my opinion. Our friends at Horse & Country will carry the live stream from this year’s competition, and you can view the schedule, subscribe, or buy a one-time pass to watch the action here.

Tack Facts with Sterling Essentials: I think this review from Anna S. of Sterling Essentials (and honestly, what the brand teaches in terms of how to actually care for tack) puts how we feel perfectly: “I have to say, Sterling Essentials will forever change the way I care for my saddles. I was taught to use oils to care and condition my tack, which I never tried anything else because that’s how I was taught! When I tried this… My mind was blown! The cleaner pulled off all the oils that were just sitting on the top of my saddles. Then when I used the conditioner… It truly works itself into the leather to make it soft and restore it and no residue remains. I’m so impressed with this that I will never use anything else on my tack. Thank you for creating an amazing product!”

Sponsor Corner: Don’t forget to snag your holiday deal from Haygain!

Wednesday Video Break

K, I want to see the full camera footage from this — talk about cross country with even more adrenaline, if that was even possible!

Inside EN’s Holiday Gift Guide: Ideas for the Competitive Eventer

By on Dec 13, 2022 2:19 pm -

Does your loved one love nothing more than the feeling of galloping out of the start box? Your shopping list for the competitive equestrian may look a little different than for the casual rider. Here’s our list of everything we think competitive eventers need this holiday season, plucked from our 2022 Holiday Gift Guide.

Workout Shorts & Seamless Underwear in One

Photo courtesy of Eques Pante.

The struggle to put together a beautiful show outfit and avoid panty lines is real. Eques Pantes are unique equestrian underwear that’s designed to give a seamless look, plus all the benefits of athletic underwear. You could even wear these knee-length pants to a yoga class or on a run!

Lightweight Leg Protection

Photo courtesy of World Equestrian Brands.

Eventers are known for protecting their horse’s with intense gear– from heavy duty brushing boots to bell boots made from ballistic material. But sometimes, what you really need is a lightweight breathable wrap that protects from knocks and is breathable in hot weather.
That’s where these Equilibrium Stretch & Flex Flatwork Wraps from World Equestrian Brands come in. These leg wraps are made from unique breathable Stomatex that regulates the skin temperature during work.

A Unique Cooler for the Rider Who Has Everything

Photo courtesy of Horseware.

If there’s one thing to know about horse people, it’s that one hill we will die on is protecting our fave brands. Horseware has a cult following of equestrians who love their blankets (me included!). If you’re shopping for an equestrian who is all about Horseware, this Embossed Jersey Cooler will keep their horse looking sharp in between phases at their next event.

A Half Pad in Their Custom Cross Country Colors

Photo courtesy of World Equestrian Brands.

Eventers are die-hard color enthusiasts. Each rider has their own cross country colors and are constantly looking for more gear in those colors. This Mattes Platinum Half Pad from World Equestrian Brands can be customized into any color combination under the sun!

Keep Your Rider Safe this Holiday Season

Photo courtesy of SmartPak.

If your loved one is an eventer, then you’re probably familiar with that sinking feeling you get when your rider is on course and you hear there’s a hold due to a fall. If that sounds like you, consider this a present for your loved one and for yourself. The Hit Air Advantage Air Vest is the perfect compromise between comfort and security, as it activates only in the event of a fall.

A Saddle Pad That Always Looks Brand New

Photo courtesy of Iconic Equestrian.

Is your rider always washing those big, bulky saddle pads? The Iconic Equestrian 2-in-1 Saddle Pad will save them some effort. This unique saddle part has a breathable and shock absorbing top pad and a removable inner liner pad. This design keeps your horse’s back dry and comfortable while protecting your saddle pad from sweat or dirt build-up. The end result: a saddle pad that stays cleaner for longer.

Boot Crowns for the Dressage Queen

Photo courtesy of Boot Crowns.

The dressage phase of every horse trial gets a bad reputation for being boring. But there are eventers out there, like me, who love the dressage phase. For us eventing Dressage Queens, these boot crowns would be the cherry on top of our show outfits. These Boot Crowns offer the same fancy, big bucks style as custom tall boots for half the cost.

Cozy Winter Breeches

Photo courtesy of LG Moena.

For those equestrians who aren’t lucky enough to head down South for the winter, we scrape through the cold months with the help of warm winter breeches, like the LG Moena Silicone Full Seat Breeches. These highly insulated breeches have a softshell outer layer that even helps to block the wind!

The holidays are stressful enough. Get all of your holiday shopping done in one place thanks to our Nation Media Holiday Gift Guide! Click here to view the Gift Guide in full.

Rest and Recovery: The Secret Weapon You Need to Utilize

By on Dec 13, 2022 1:39 pm -

Rest is crucial – and a good dog or two helps, too! Photo courtesy of Laura Crump Anderson.

When I was writing my book, I wanted to make rest and recovery the first pillar of any rider fitness program. I was talked out of this by more than one person, so eventually, I caved — but it’s still one of the four pillars of a successful exercise program. (Those pillars, in all, are Riding, Strength Training, Flexibility, and, finally Rest and Recovery).

There are only 24 hours in a day and 365 days in a year — and so you’d better be making time for rest and recovery, or injury will sneak up on you. However, most equestrians wear the number of days they have gone without a day off like a badge of honor. That’s especially true currently, when the season in the United States only seems to slow down in November and December, rather than giving way to a true off-season like it used to, and as we still see in other countries. But even with that constant pull to get out and perform, it’s important to incorporate proper rest and recovery techniques through out the year. Down time is when the most growth happens: it is not the strength training session that builds muscle; it actually causes micro tears to the muscle tissue, and through rest and recovery, these micro tears are rebuilt stronger.

 

Rest and Recovery technique #1: Sleep

You need eight hours of sleep at night, and the more active you are, the more sleep you actually need. There are so many physiological processes that are directly impacted by sleep that in this article, I’m going to only scratch the service. Sleep has an impact on muscle growth but also your cardiovascular system, your hormones, your respiratory and immune system, your metabolism, and the way you think and form memories. (Looking for more information? Check out this NIH article!) Your mind and body need to sleep in order to function properly, and there are a couple of simple ways you can improve sleep hygiene: limit screen time one hour before bed, and try to fall asleep and wake up at the same time every day.

Rest and Recovery technique #2: Stop Scrolling Mindlessly

I would rather you sit down and watch a tv show, play a board game, bake a loaf of bread, go for a walk, do a workout, clean tack, clean a stall, journal — anything other than the doom scroll. Do something mindless that gets your brain into the present moment. Using social media as a decompression technique is not only not helpful; it can be quite harmful for your overall wellbeing. That negative impact goes further than the widely maligned mental health issues it can cause — it’s also probably affecting your body, too. Let’s just talk about the impact that “tech neck” is having on the workforce: it comes from bad posture looking at your phone. Your spine has a natural S curve that you want to support with good posture. Since 2020 physical therapy practices across the country have seen a great increase of this issue. If you are going to scroll, set a timer and don’t get lost for more than 20 minutes. There are so many better uses for your time.

Rest and Recovery technique #3: Take Time Off

I am all for a good vacation — but that said, I haven’t taken one since my honeymoon in 2017! It’s important to schedule time off throughout the year and not just save the rest and recovery for a vacation. If you haven’t had a day off in more than ten days, you seriously need to consider rearranging your priorities. Don’t you want to be riding into your 90s like the Queen did? You won’t be if you suffer a major overtraining injury that keeps you out of the tack. This is not just solid advice for those eventers who are 30+, like me. I was actually told by an orthopaedic surgeon that I had the spine of a 90-year-old at the age of 14: this was from heavy wheel barrows, lifting waterbuckets and not respecting the importance of rest and recovery as a working student. It took months to reduce the pain and tingling I was experiencing, and after three months out of the tack and with a lot of physical therapy, I was able to get safely back in the saddle — but I have done damage to my body that I will live with for the rest of my life.

So, when you are sitting around a fire contemplating what you want for your year in 2023, seriously consider making rest and recovery a priority — it’s the most achievable, and probably the most beneficial, resolution you’ll make.