photo credit: bozo_z_clown

I had a great day teaching today.  It is so nice to get out of my own little box to see what others are doing and how others are coping through the winter.  What I really learn each time I go out to help people improve their horses and position is that people really want to improve and invest in themselves and their horses.

If you are considering showing in the  upcoming season, then your training schedule and riding program should be ramping up to cover all aspects of your training.  My thoughts today are to plant the seeds of the necessity to develop your horse to ensure a successful show season.

What kinds of things do you include in your training program?  Leave me a note and tell me what you think!

Everything that is done with your horse will develop its mind and body.  So it is important to have a plan and execute the plan to successfully build your horse to its full potential.

Feb

• Feb – riding 4 times per week
• lesson 1 time per week
• focus on suppleness and fitness

March

• riding 5 times per week
• lesson / training 2 times per week – with specific skill development – specific movements or requirements of your test or level of showing.  For example for dressage, specific dressage movements such as riding the center line or KXM diagonal line.  For hunters consider how to develop the strength and form of the horse with gymnastics.  For equitation riders develop position and horse form throught the use of gymnastics.
• focus on suppleness and fitness during 2 rides, skill development during 2 rides and 1 hack or light ride.  During the

April

• riding 5 times per week
• lesson/trainng 2 times per week with focus on refinement of skills
• rides will switch focus from learning new skills to consolodating skills and refining skills.  This may inclue sample courses and visits to other stables to try some sample ‘mock’  competitions
• fitness will continue to be developed
• introduce mental skills and preparing for competitions

  

May

• riding 5 times per week
• lesson/training 2 times per week with focus on further refinement of skills
• develop mental skills and further prepare for competitions by hosting ‘mock’ competitions

This can be a sample schedule to follow to help prepare you and your horse for the upcoming season.