Horse Listening

Top 10 Common Goals for Riders

Part One

"I'm riding round and round the ring, putting in the time and the days, and still not making much progress. We have the same problems and we make the same mistakes as we did last year."

Is this you?

Don't worry if your answer is yes. Most of us have been right there with you, probably more often than we like to admit. After all, once you have the basic riding skills down, further improvement consists of slow, tiny steps that might be difficult to identify and even more tricky to achieve.

Over the years, I have realized that most riders grapple with similar problems and mistakes as they develop their riding skills. As I taught others and while I rode myself, I began to realize that the same situations occur - maybe in different contexts and at different levels. The fact remains, though, that there are certain overarching skills and habits that will affect almost everything else in our rides.

As I was planning my Goal Setting for the Equestrian eBook, I put together a list of what I feel are the most common goals that all riders can work on, regardless of their level or discipline. Here are some thoughts and questions that can help you set your own goals as you move into a new year of riding.

10. Consistency

Consistency in the saddle is an art in itself. There is so much that goes into looking steady and sure and the same that maybe all the goals below should really go into this 10th of the Top 10 list. In essence, you have to be able to stay in balance, keep impulsion, use the right seat aid at the right time, and put it all together into a confident and comfortable connection with your horse.

The fact that consistency is actually so hard to find while riding is the reason why I feel that most riders need to focus on this most of the time.

What are some ways you can improve the consistency in your rides?

9. Seat

The idea of using the seat isn't only about making sure you sit in the saddle without bouncing or falling off. Staying on and not sliding around on the saddle is the first part of it, but there is so much more to riding from the seat. In fact, the seat is the key factor in almost everything you do in riding - from transitions, to laterals, to determining tempo, to impulsion and collection... it all starts at the seat.

There is no such thing as being "perfect" in your seat. There are so many layers of learning to feel and guide the horse through the seat that we could be working on it for 20 years and still identify areas that we need to keep working on.

Where are you at and what do you need to keep working on to improve your seat?

8. Longer Legs

The seat very much affects your leg position and aids. You might need to lengthen your legs even if your legs are actually long in the first place! The "lengthening" happens especially at the hips and knees - which need to open - which then allows the backs of your calves to lengthen, which then frees up your ankles to drop down below the stirrups.

Long legs are hard to find for many of us, but especially worthy as a goal over the long term, because they in turn influence the quality and effectiveness of your seat.

How often do you need to check in with your legs to make sure they stay long in movement with the horse?

7. Upper Body Balance

One common fault that many riders have to overcome is the control of their upper body. We often collapse forward or fall backward in relation to the horse's movement. Transitions tend to test our core strength and balance. How often do you tilt forward in your upper body during an upward or downward transition? How often to you feel somewhat left behind when the horse gamely moves ahead of your leg?

Control of the body allows you to be much freer in all your aids, including the all-important seat.

Which exercises can you put into practice that will help you stabilize your upper body even while the horse is moving?

6. Rhythm and Tempo

This is something you have to do both for yourself as well as the horse. It is very difficult to maintain a steady rhythm (the footfalls of the gait) and tempo (the speed of the footfalls). Most horses speed up and slow down at will, and it takes a lot of feel and awareness to influence a horse in such a manner that helps him find a "perfect tempo" that will enable him to maintain strength and balance in movement.

How can you make rhythm and tempo a priority in your riding activities?

Click here for Part Two of this article.

If you'd like a structured, but personal tool to set goals, take a look at the new Goal Setting for the Equestrian: A Personal Workbook. The pages are designed for you to set and keep track of your progress over the course of a year.

Included in the book:

design your overarching goals
long- and short-term planning,
debrief your special events such as clinics or shows
reflect on, plan and evaluate your goals
sample goals and pages

The Workbook is available for instant digital download so you can print the pages right off your computer. There is also the option of a paperback version if you'd rather have a professionally bound book to hold in your hands.

Click here for more information.

Our Best Goal Setting Year Ever!

Every year, I list out my riding goals for the year. Every year, I feel like I've fallen short of my intentions, or that I've forgotten what I was thinking about way back in January. I always start out with the best of intentions. Somewhere along the way, though, things fall into a rut. Does this happen to you?

It's not that I stop riding. Far from it. It's more like the goals I had set become far-away fleeting thoughts that eventually float off into the distant sunset - and the days go by, weeks turn into months, and soon enough, here I am yet again, at the beginning of a new year, looking at continuing on with the same goals as last year.

Showing helped a lot. When I was competing regularly, I had to consistently challenge myself and my horse. My horse and I stuck to a program and got feedback from the judges. Then we used the feedback to improve specific skill sets that were required in the level we were riding at. We had frequent riding lessons. We got fit. We memorized tests and movements, we practiced until things became easier.

I lost that structure when I stopped showing. Maybe you can relate? The system dissipated and I started falling into a routine of non-routine. My rides became more "whatever happens, happens" instead of being specifically focused. My horse and I spent more time riding along according to whim and tide.

Not that there is anything wrong with that. There are plenty of reasons why we should often be in the moment, enjoying the company of our four legged friend, mostly doing things that feel good and please us. The only catch is that in general, when we don't step out of our comfort zone, we don't learn new things.

The rides become the same after a while, and we fall into a thoughtless rhythm of doing basically the same thing time and again. It's comfortable, and in general, you feel like you are doing something, after all. But you know, deep down in your heart, that you could be doing something more - working on new skills, trying things you think you'll never be able to do.

This is why this year, I'm going to try something new. I'm going to structure my goals better, and work at setting clear, concise goals that will be measured over time. If you would like to do the same, here are some tips to be keep in mind while you set your goals.

Habits versus Goals

There is a clear difference between setting goals and creating habits. The former requires behind-the-scenes thinking and conceptual development. The latter requires action. The only way something becomes a habit is by repeating the behavior over and over again. Repeat enough times, and you will find a habit is formed.

I personally need to work on opening through the hips and letting my leg become longer. If I can repeat the leg stretching exercise on the horse, I can definitely make a difference in my overall seat, position and leg over time. It's just a matter of making it a habit.

Once the habit is formed, the goal is achieved.

Develop Momentum

The most difficult thing to do is start something from scratch. The second hardest thing is to continue doing it after you start. But here's the deal: every effort you put into something helps make it easier the next time. Momentum arises from repeated efforts (not necessarily the same efforts) over time.

If you're not in a lesson groove, it can be difficult to get going the first time. But do it the second time, the third time, and soon enough, you won't want to miss a lesson because you'll lose the momentum you've built up.

Going to a clinic might seem like a big step into the unknown. You might not be familiar with the clinician, the surroundings, even the directions to the farm. But it seems easier the second time. The third time, it starts to feel like a routine and soon enough, it becomes just another thing you can do with your horse.

Add a show in here and there, or an outing of some sort, and soon enough, both you and your horse become old hats at doing new things. It's really all about developing momentum.

Get Out Of your Comfort Zone...

This is one of the toughest parts of learning new things. Although we all say we're good to try something new, when it comes down to it, we will rarely put ourselves into enough discomfort to really change anything. Horse riding (or doing anything with horses) can challenge you to the core of your existence and to the boundaries of your physical abilities. Just when you think you know something, you'll discover something completely new that you need to adjust to all over again.

Sometimes, you might need to produce an attitude change in order to be successful in riding your horse. Other times, you might need to do something physical, such as remember to breathe in every stride, in an effort to just keep breathing through the canter. What seems difficult or uncomfortable at first becomes easier as you turn the skill becomes a habit.

...But Not Into The Danger Zone - Safety At All Costs

Through all the changes, it is essential to keep safety in mind. It can be so easy to overlook something and put yourself or your horse into a situation that is too difficult to handle. Let's say you rarely canter but you decide to finally get down to cantering one day. Even while you're successful, you would have to keep in mind the fact that your horse hasn't cantered much and long sessions of canter might be too hard on him physically. In that case, many walk breaks in between canter sessions might be in order.

Only a Handful of Major Goals For The Year

Set a limited number of overarching goals. The thing with horses is that if you truly focus on one major goal, and become more successful at it, you will likely address another bunch of problems that you might not even have been aware of.

So it's good to settle your mind on a select number of specific, measurable goals. Don't think that you have to set 20 or 30 goals over the course of a year. As few as 10 goals, especially those that address the development of the basic skills, might be plenty to achieve over the course of a year.

Personal Goals - Compare To Yourself

When deciding on goals, make them personal to yourself and your horse. Your combined skills might be completely different than another horse and rider, and that is perfectly fine. You might want the help of your instructor in identifying exactly what you can work on to develop your weak areas, but in the end, the best measure of your success is to compare how you are doing now with how you used to be.

How do you plan on structuring your riding goals in the coming year? Comment below.

If you’d like a structured but personal tool to set goals, take a look at Goal Setting for the Equestrian: A Personal Workbook. The pages are designed for you to set and keep track of your progress over the course of a year.

Included in the book:

design your overarching goals
long- and short-term planning,
debrief your special events such as clinics or shows
reflect on, plan and evaluate your goals
sample goals and pages

The Workbook is available for instant digital download so you can print the pages right off your computer. There is also the option of a paperback version if you’d rather have a professionally bound book to hold in your hands.

Click here for more information.

Don’t miss a single issue of Horse Listening! If you like what you are reading, become a subscriber and receive updates when new Horse Listening articles are published! Your email address will not be used on any other distribution list. Subscribe to Horse Listening by Email

You might also enjoy:

Top Ten Goals For A New Year: Here are my personal goals for 2014.

Listening Corner - Riding Goals Defined: These are several excerpts from dressage authors on how to identify and prioritize your riding goals.

11 Unexpected Side-Benefits of Riding Tests (Or Patterns): If you rarely ride a pattern, you might initially be surprised how difficult it can be to ride according to specifications. But it is very much worth the effort.

5 Things Your Horse Doesn't Know About You: Our stress, or exuberance, or lack of energy affect our interactions with the horse from the moment we grab the halter and lead rope and head to the field.

Focus On Transitions - Week 4: This is the final week of our transitions series. Practice these exercises to improve your transitions.

Giveaway Winners!

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 10,000 Facebook Fans Giveaway by writing down your goals for this coming year. I truly enjoyed reading everyone's comments about what they hope to do with their horses in the near future.

Goal setting is going to be one of the topics I'm going to write about in the near future - the kind of goal setting that is dedicated to equestrians. I see so much out there for business or school goal setting, or changing your life goal setting, but not much is written about how to specifically set goals for riding or other horse projects. Keep an eye out - coming soon!

If you didn't win and would still like to get the books, click here for more information.

Congratulations to the winners below! Please contact me privately by email to collect the Horse Listening book of your choice! fwdnrnd@gmail.com

Jinx Fox | January 3, 2016 at 8:41 pm

My mare and I are working on using our bodies equally and getting her to round and come under with her hind legs naturally, versus hurrying forward with her head up and back hollow. She is a draft cross and heavy on the forehand. I also work on getting her to respond to light leg aids versus constant leg aids. My other mare is recovering (successfully) from a tear in a tendon, which has been an extremely slow process, stall rest for months, then hand walking, and now turnout (yay), with riding to follow. Fingers crossed!

Julie Reynolds | January 4, 2016 at 11:03 am

I’m working on the eternal riding problem: tension. In particular, I’m learning to better control my own body to reduce creating tension in my gelding and to more quickly and quietly address his tension when it occurs

10,000 Facebook Fans Celebration – Giveaway!

*Updated to add: Deadline will be tonight (Jan. 4, 2016) at midnight EST as we've blown over the 10,000 "likes" point already!

Dear readers,

The Horse Listening Facebook page is less than 100 "likes" from 10,000 fans! Wow! It's hard to believe that the blog has garnered such a following!

When I first thought about opening a Facebook page, I wasn't quite sure what I was going to post on the timeline. At first, I only posted alerts about new articles when they became available on the blog. Then as I wrote more, I realized that I could highlight one post a day - old or new - as a way to give readers a topic to think about each and every day.

As the archives became more robust, one post became two posts and this is where we are today. The morning post is a more practical article while the afternoon post is more conceptual. I have some plans for the Facebook page this coming year, but I will continue to mainly use the page as a vehicle to disseminate information so you can have ideas and thoughts (literally) at your fingertips each and every day.

To thank you for your readership, I want to mark this amazing occasion with a random giveaway of two free books shipped directly after the giveaway deadline.

All you need to do to enter is to answer the following question in the comments below:

What horse goals are you working on right now? These goals can be riding goals or not - but they must be relevant to you learning about horses somehow.

The deadline for entry is midnight (Eastern Standard Time) of the day that the Facebook page reaches 10,000 likes! We are only 90 likes away at the time of writing this, so enter quickly, as it may happen within the next few days!
Only one entry per person.
The draw will be completely random, based only on the comments below (*comments on Facebook will not be valid*). Winners can pick the book of their choice.
Be sure to enter using the comment section for this post. Winners will be announced the next day right here on the blog. Make sure you come back to check for winners on the blog or the Facebook page if you aren't already subscribed to the email list.

In the meantime, canter over to our Facebook page and give us a "like" if you haven't done so already, so you can get daily articles on your own Facebook timeline. * To get updated regularly according to the new Facebook options, click on the "Like" icon and update your preferred notification frequency.*

Good luck, and thanks for Horse Listening!

Kathy

#1 Rider Problem of the Year: Riding in Tension

We see it all the time, and maybe we even do it all the time. This happens to beginner riders as well as the most advanced, and shows up in horses at every level. Sometimes it's unavoidable but it's always undesirable. What is it?

It's tension.

In the rider. In the horse.

What does tension look like?

In the rider, tension is mostly evident in the body: the tightness through the joints, the clasping for the reins, the perching seat or the tight lower back.

It's also apparent in the manner of the aids. Sharp, jerking movements, either with the reins or legs indicate stress or an otherwise emotional response from the rider. There might also be a hint on the rider's face, expression and verbal cues.

Similarly, the horse can display tension physically and mentally.

When tension exists, the horse's body literally tightens. His strides might shorten, his head may rise to an uncomfortable height and he may take a misstep here or there. Alternately, his head may go far down below the withers.

The horse might rush or fall into a turn. He might also be reluctant to go forward.

Mental tension can be indicated by an uncomfortable mouth, pinned-back ears and a regularly swishing tail. Some horses learn to just "get along" despite their discomfort, while other horses become more and more difficult to ride over the long term.

What's the problem?

The thing is, tension happens all the time. You might tense up because the horse took a step (or leap, or buck) in a direction you weren't expecting. Or the horse might tense up just from spotting that horse-eating monster in the corner of the arena. There are probably hundreds of situations that might cause tension in the rider, the horse and both.

Working to eliminate tension isn't the problem. If you notice yourself tightening up but you purposely loosen through your joints or stabilize through your core, then you can fix it. If you catch your horse with your inside aids as he steps in, straighten him out and continue moving forward, you've done exactly what you need to do to teach the horse that he can depend on you, mentally and physically.

Repeat these scenarios hundreds of times and you will both learn to rely on each other for security and support. Keep addressing the tension and long-term results will bring about a calm, steady horse with a similarly well-minded rider.

The real problem is that too many riders don't address tension when it arises. Or perhaps, we don't even know what it feels like. Or looks like. Maybe we misinterpret the signals the horse sends us, or we need more education to be able to actually identify it - in both ourselves and our horses.

The result of not knowing? That can be the topic of an entire book. However, it can be said that the horse suffers - from head tossing to kicking out, to physical damage (such as problems to the joints and vertebrae) to mystery lamenesses.

It can show up in the rider too. We may also suffer physical problems (let's say, from too much weight in the hands or falling). Some people also develop mental/emotional blockages which cause physical tension. Let's say your horse often spooks to the inside of the ring. Your physical reaction is to grab the reins and get into a "fetal position" in your body. Eventually, you assume the tense position as soon as you feel your horse tighten. You tense, your horse tenses. Or visa versa.

What to do.

If we agree that tension itself isn't the real problem, but knowing about it is, then we can begin to address the various situations that occur systematically. It can be tricky to identify and then know what to do about tension. Here are some ideas that might help.

1. Slow down your aids.

This one takes practice if you're not used to it. As soon as you feel tension, in your own body or in your horse's, slow everything down. This doesn't mean you stop moving or you let the horse "suck back." Continue what you were doing, but use your aids just that little bit longer. It gives the horse time to think, respond and just settle mentally. Rather than rushing or pushing him along, pretend you're stuck in quicksand, and s-l-o-w-l-y apply the aids.

2. Take more time.

Pretend you have all day, even if you don't. Allow the horse time to just move along. So if he needs a longer trot warm-up, give it to him. If he needs more work on transitions, then work the ups and downs but don't rush them. If you wanted the result in half a circle, give him a whole circle. If you need a break, take it!

Reduce the urgency of your requests and spend more time at each movement.

3. Have an "eye on the ground."

This one is for the riders who can't yet feel tension. We all need prompting at first, and likely even in later years as you progress in your riding levels. Your instructor will see the tension in either your horse or your body, tell you and then you can begin to identify what it feels like. Later, you'll be able to act earlier in the sequence - maybe catch the tension as it becomes apparent, not after. But we all have to start somewhere, and an educated eye can always help.

I know what you're going to say - there are times when you simply can't avoid riding in tension. This is absolutely true. Some athletic movements require horses to be strong and firm and active - think jumping, for example. The tight turns and high jumps set the horse up to put maximum effort at a moment's notice. There's bound to be mental and physical tension under those circumstances.

The key is to actually know that the tension is there, and to work at reducing it. Give your horse a wonderful stretchy trot at the end of a jumping session, for example. Allow the horse to mentally take a break while other riders take their turns. Break down a riding session into chunks and spend some time addressing the things that cause you to tighten up.

Be aware, and work towards looseness.

If you liked this article, and would like to download a free pdf eBook of all the #1 Rider Problem series, click here for more information.

Buy the book! If you enjoyed these tips, you can find many more in our new book, Horse Listening – Book 3: Horses. Riding. Life.

From the book:

"Something about riding horses prompts us to work on our own mental aptitude and attitude. From the coordination of the aids to developing the elusive FEEL that comes along with riding, there are concepts in this book that will help you explore the hidden factors of riding - the ones you may not have the time to really explore while you are on the horse's back....

As the years pass by, and you become a HORSE person, you will realize that horses (and riding) don't just impact your abilities - they impact your life. "

40 chapters (196 pages) take the reader through an introspective journey designed to ultimately benefit not only the rider, but the horse.

Learn about:

horse ownership and horse care

the theory behind the riding strategies

goal setting for the rider

specific rider skills

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Happy New Year

Just before I head out to tuck the horses in for the night, and then go celebrate the New Year in the big city, I want to take a moment to wish you and yours a wonderful New Year's Eve and a healthy, successful 2016 filled with doing things that really, truly make you happy - and horses, of course!

Thank you so much for being a part of Horse Listening over the past year, and looking forward to much more in 2016!

Horse Listening Roundup : The Top 10 Posts of 2015

Four years ago, I published my first blog post on Horse Listening. At that time, you wouldn't have been able to convince me that in a few short years, I'd be publishing digital and paperback books, communicating with horse lovers from all over the world, and thinking of expanding my skills yet again to provide the best information and guidance I can using some of the newest cutting-edge technologies the Internet has to offer. I've recently begun to tinker with Periscope as a live-streaming opportunity to further communicate with you in video format.

In 2015, I published over 60 posts, received 213 comments and had over 1,100,000 page views. At year-end, we are getting close to having 10,000 Facebook likes, 2828 Twitter followers, and over 5,500 subscribers on the blog. I continued to provide a monthly column for The Rider, the premier horse industry newspaper in Ontario, Canada.

I'm proud to have published my third Horse Listening compilation book recently, called Horse Listening Book 3: Horses. Riding. Life. I also put together the first ever multi-month calendar for 2016.

But none of these accomplishments mean anything without you, dear reader, who keeps me motivated, inspired and interested in continuing to share ideas, concepts and love for the horse. I cannot thank you enough for your continued readership, your comments, shares and likes. I love the interactions I've had with so many people, the exchange of information on the blog comments or on Facebook or Twitter, and the feedback that helps to guide me in new directions.

Although I'm currently looking forward to more of the same in 2016, I'm also looking into different ways I can use the blog to provide support and guidance for those who are interested in more than just the information that can be found on the blog. If you have any suggestions or comments, please contact me personally at fwdnrnd@gmail.com

Meanwhile, here are the top 10 blog posts of the year for you to enjoy. Wishing you all the best over the New Year and health, happiness and horses in 2016.

Kathy

#10

5 Ways To "Relax" While Riding A Horse: Looking relaxed on a horse can be a difficult and often lengthy process of developing your riding skills to the point of maintaining good basic equitation. Here's how to find the medium between tension and blob!

#9
17 Things I Learned While Developing My Riding Seat: Like many other things related to horses, there is no end to the levels you can get to, especially when it comes to riding with the seat. Here's what I've learned so far.

What To Do When Your Horse Pulls: “Pulling” is something that is absolutely under your control and something you can change if you focus on your aids and timing.

How To Stretch Your Horse Over The Topline: Here are the aids to develop a functional (or effective) stretch over the topline. The stretch is most useful for encouraging the horse to release the muscles especially over the back and under the saddle.

The Top 8 Biggest Riding Mistakes: Making mistakes isn’t always a bad thing. It’s quite natural to make mistakes while we learn new skills, and often, they send us onto more appropriate paths. However, in horseback riding, there are mistakes and then – there are Mistakes.

Try This Exercise To Improve Your Rein Contact: If you can learn to give and take the bit in a calm, sure way, the horse will always benefit. It doesn’t matter if you ride in a snaffle bit, a curb bit or riding bitless – the technique works the same way on all reins and on all rein lengths.

10 Ways To Spot A Horse Person: Here's how you can spot a horse person from ten miles away!

The Benefits Of Cantering Round And Round The Ring: Although we often ride the three-beat gait during any given ride, chances are that you’re in and out of it in less than a minute. Because even just one minute of consistent canter seems like an awfully long time when you aren’t used to it!

6 Ways To Know Your Horse Is Comfortable: Is your horse really comfortable while you ride? If you listen carefully enough, he will tell you using his own form of communication.

The One Answer To Most Riding Problems: There is one solution that will improve if not completely resolve the issue – whether it be straightness, slowness, speed, or any of the other problems listed below. Click on the image to see a mind map of behaviors that can be improved using one back-to-basics technique, in any discipline and riding style.

Holiday Things To Do At The Barn

Christmas is a chance for many of us to get time off from school or work. It's time for family, time for a rest, and maybe most importantly, time to spend at the barn!

In case you do end up making extra visits to your horse, here are some festive ideas to get the most out of your holiday. My best wishes to you during the holiday season.

Decorate the stalls and barn.

Many barns encourage boarders and students to decorate the aisles and stalls. Keep in mind that the horses are often eager to explore all the shiny objects and tinsel. Carefully hang decorations away from snoopy noses and mouths.

Make stocking stuffers for the horses.

This is a favorite at our barn. All the horses get stockings hung on their stalls (even the horses who live outside get stocking space in the barn), and Santa stops in to drop off horse-approved gifts on Christmas Eve. It's always a happy surprise to find treats for the horses on Christmas morning.

Clean tack.

Use that extra time to give your tack some tender loving care. If you're in areas with colder climates (like us), you'll appreciate the not quite freeze-yer-fingers off temperatures that still allow you to do things without gloves. Soon enough, the cold weather will really hit and then you'll be limited to doing things with the gloves on.

Organize your things.

Go through your boxes and cabinets. Clear out anything that's getting too old and store away the things you won't need for the next few months. You might want to remove anything that will freeze over the winter and take those home. The idea is to have everything you need now available and easy to find.

Give your horse a thorough grooming.

This is the chance for you to pay unhurried, special attention to your horse. I could easily spend an hour grooming my horse if I had time, but that doesn't occur too often. You can focus one of your holiday visits on the extra care that you've always wanted to do. Trim your horse's mane, brush out the mane and tail, remove the chestnuts on the horse's legs and run a soft cloth over his face.

Have a "barn family" visit.

Getting together over the holidays is a special treat. Our busy lives often dictate when we can be at the barn, reducing the chance that we can visit with friends as much as we'd like. Even if we're there at the same time, we often focus most of our attention on our horses and rides, so once again, socialization has to fall to the wayside. Whether at someone's house or at a nice local restaurant, the holidays are the perfect time to gather together and chat about our horses!

Go for a trail ride.

The days are shortest during this season, so you might be able to take advantage of a beautiful ride during the day. Enjoy the crisp air and the clear footing, or get out into that freshly fallen snow! Even your horse will appreciate the outdoor time and the open air.

Ride with your friends.

Since your time is more under your control, you can organize a day or two of riding time with the friends you don't often get to ride with. Riding together can be a source of inspiration and motivation, and there is nothing more enjoyable than bouncing ideas off (not literally!) each other while you're together in the ring at the same time.

Watch or ride in a clinic or lesson.

Many barns take set up a clinic or extra lessons over the holidays. Always take advantage of special learning opportunities.

Organize a musical ride.

Or a riding game. Do anything that gets people out to spend the day with their horses and fellow riders. Riding together and working toward a common goal can be so much fun!

Watch those videos you've bookmarked.

There are so many quality training and lesson videos available now on the Internet that there must be something you've been meaning to watch but haven't had the time for. This is your chance!

Snuggle up with a good book.

Ask Santa for a great horse book and snuggle up on the colder days with visions of horses dancing in your head!

What do you do to make your horsey holidays special? Comment below.

***If you enjoyed these tips, you can find many more in the* Horse Listening Book Collection, *now available for purchase! Click on the image for more information.***

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Horses. Riding. Life.

Author: Horse Listening

Top 10 Common Goals for Riders

Part One

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Our Best Goal Setting Year Ever!

Giveaway Winners!

10,000 Facebook Fans Celebration – Giveaway!

#1 Rider Problem of the Year: Riding in Tension

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book! If you enjoyed these tips, you can find many more in our new book, Horse Listening – Book 3: Horses. Riding. Life.

Happy New Year

Horse Listening Roundup : The Top 10 Posts of 2015

Holiday Things To Do At The Barn

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

***If you enjoyed these tips, you can find many more in the* Horse Listening Book Collection, *now available for purchase! Click on the image for more information.***

Part One

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book! If you enjoyed these tips, you can find many more in our new book, Horse Listening – Book 3: Horses. Riding. Life.

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

If you enjoyed these tips, you can find many more in the Horse Listening Book Collection, now available for purchase! Click on the image for more information.

***If you enjoyed these tips, you can find many more in the* Horse Listening Book Collection, *now available for purchase! Click on the image for more information.***