We are living in an unprecedented absolutely mad time, bringing a huge amount of uncertainty with it.

I’m not going to go too much doom and gloom as we’ve got the news for that, instead I want to look at some ideas to keep us busy whilst we are more confined than usual.

Firstly from what I understand you will still be able to go to the yard (because horses don’t feed or muck out themselves!) so why not use the opportunity to spend a little more time on grooming, maybe do some groundwork.

With competitions cancelled why not do some online dressage or showing? Or perhaps pay your instructor to give you feedback and things to work on from a video of you riding. 

Listen to some horsey podcasts. I really like 

• Equiratings
• Buck off Banter
• Horse Hour
• The horse podcast
• Heels down happy hour
• The pony podcast

 

Or read some training books.

I’m currently reading Carl Hesters Real Life Dressage. It is really easy to read and full of useful nuggets for training horses whether you are riding dressage or not. 

I also really enjoyed Mary Wanless Ride with your mind and Rider Biomechanics.

Spend some time at home working on your own fitness, 

Set up your phone to see yourself ride in 3 gaits on both reins then watch it back to see whether you notice any asymmetry. You can then look at ways to improve those asymmetrys off horse whilst your at home.

Work on your general riding fitness. You can do some great workouts from your living room, I find Yoga and Pilates helpful for riders as it increases both mobility and stability as well as improving body awareness-which goes a long way to improving any problems you do have on horse. 

Or for more general fitness but with an emphasis on riding, work on your glutes and hips for your seat, your shoulders for rein contact and obviously your core.

What are you planning to do to help pass the time in any lock down?

Are there any topics you’d like me to cover to help get you through?