Photo by Shana Rantala.
Back several years years ago when I first began eventing my horse, I stressed a lot about missing a day of riding and it felt like the end of the world if I wasn’t going to be able to keep to the training schedule I painstakingly planned to prep us for our first show of the season. But living in New England, it was just the nature of the beast that my training plan would nearly always be disrupted in the spring by a late-season Nor’Easter that dumped feet of snow or me catching a bad cold or the flu and being totally out of riding commission for a bit. I would stress and stress that my horse was going to forget everything she had ever learned during that week off, and every single time I got back on I’d be absolutely tickled that it felt like she hadn’t forgotten a thing and picked up right where we left off. Frankly, sometimes she felt even better than where we had left off!
If you’re dealing with having to give your horse an extended period of time off right now, sure, you might have to do a little extra low and slow work when you start back up to regain their fitness. But rest assured that they’ll still be there, ready and willing to work, maybe even with a bit of extra pep in their step, when the time comes to get back on. Take a deep breath. Not being able to ride right now isn’t the end of the world.
National Holiday: National Something on a Stick Day
Saturday Links:
When Your Barn Closes, Be Kind to Your Barn Owner
USEA Extends Suspension of Recognizing Events
A War Sans Cavalry: Horse Ownership in the Age of COVID-19
Mia Farley Awarded Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant
Appreciating Privilege And Perspective Amidst Coronavirus Anxiety
Event rider who recently gave birth recovering from serious injuries after fall
Featured Clinician: Lucinda Green
Saturday Video:
