Motivation Tips !

As we head towards winter here in the UK, we are already experiencing dark nights, much shorter days, the weather is turning, our horses routines are changing....lots of changes with our horses as the seasons change. 

And it can feel quit negative and difficult. So I'm here to help you with some mindset and motivation tips as we head towards winter! 

You can either give up for winter OR make a plan!! 

The winter months can be a great time to re-assess your rehab/exercise plans with your horse, and make changes that will be achievable over the coming months. Having a brainstorm around ways that you CAN exercise your horse, even if it's just a few days per week, and the ways that will have the most benefit on their body, wellbeing etc, based on what you're working on or rehabbing. 

For example, if you're maintaining a horse with kissing spine over the winter, you will need to prioritise a few things...core strength, movement, maximum turnout, some non ridden exercise for core strength, and regular bodywork sessions. Make a list of your non-negotiables for your horse over the coming months, so you have a base work plan of short but essential sessions, and mark them in your diary, like any other important appointment...keep focussed! 

My recommendation for maintaining core strength in short effective sessions, is to use the 'carrot stretch' exercises on a daily basis, use in hand work and/or long rein/lunge sessions a few days per week. This gives a good base exercise plan for your horses core strength and suppleness. 

Core exercises: I use and highly recommend stable based core activation and core mobilisation exercises to maintain core strength, good posture, spaces in between the DSP's, and flexibility in the body, and these are an excellent addition to your horses routine in the winter (better if done all year round!!), when you might not be able to do as much exercise with them as usual. CLICK HERE for my Core Exercises Course.

In Hand Work: once you learn how to do in hand work with your horse, you can just spend 20 minutes in the arena doing some really effective exercises to help maintain flexibility in the body and limbs and symmetry of movement. It's a bit of a life saver in the winter learning this type of work! 

Lunge/long rein sessions: again just spending 20 minutes walking over poles, or round cones etc on the lunge/long reins, a few days per week, is massively beneficial for your horse, and can be done quickly and easily. Maintain muscle, flexibility, symmetry, core strength, by just setting aside 20 minutes at a time! 

I'm trying to show here that we can achieve a lot more that we might think, even when the light and weather is against us, by planning ahead and keeping focussed on short effective sessions, and adding in some stable based exercises (you can do these no matter how dark it is outside!). 20-30 minutes 3-4 times per week makes a massive difference to your horses strength! 

The other part of the equation with winter motivation is your mindset...where is your mindset at??

Do you feel like giving up for the winter?

Are you telling yourself you can't do it? 

What's actually in the way?

As a mindset coach, I can hear the negative limiting beliefs holding people back in their language. It's really good to slow down your thoughts and actually work out what is true and what is someone elses opinion, or where you are making excuses and holding yourself back. And this goes for life as well as with our horses! ***If you want help with negative mindset, please do contact me as I can help you***

One of the most important steps that I recommend to clients, is to have a brainstorm to open your mind to what you CAN do, rather than keep focussing on what you CAN'T do....so for example if you can't ride over the winter due to timings etc, work out what you CAN DO with your horse instead, so that it feels more productive for you! That might be learning the core exercises and how to massage your horse instead over the winter? That would be massively productive for your horse! Can you see the difference...a lot of the winter difficulties we have can be in our heads! 

I hope this article has helped with forward planning for the winter months.

***If you want some structured training and support for the winter, do have a look at my Strength & Straightness Online Training Programme, where you will access everything you need for a winter training programme...exercises to maintain core strength and suppleness, a massage course, correct lunging, in hand pole exercises, rehab, and LOTS more...PLUS a friendly members group and a monthly zoom with me to keep your motivation levels up! CLICK HERE for the details, and get in touch through the CONTACT PAGE if you have any questions!