As the end of February rolls around and the first taste of spring starts to emerge, equestrians collectively breathe a sigh of relief. Firstly, give yourself a pat on the back for making it through another winter, and a very wet one at that! The days are starting to get longer, temperatures are warming up, and the daffodils are peaking out.
Whilst we struggle through winter and wade through mud, having horses becomes less about enjoyment and more about survival. We all operate under the ‘we just need to get through this’ mentality, as we tentatively get on sharp horses or fight against freezing fingers and toes.
However, the long winter months and short days can take their toll on your mindset, and you may be struggling to find your mojo, even when things are on the up again. As the better weather creeps tantalizingly close, it’s the perfect time to give your mind a little spring clean. Taking the time to have a mental regroup will help wash away the last of the winter blues and get you feeling on top form ready to tackle the upcoming season.
Here are a few of my favourite tips and tricks to give your equestrian mindset a spruce up…
Practice positive self-talk
If you took a general consensus, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone with horses who really enjoys the wintertime. So, don’t be hard on yourself if you gave your horse a little time off, or slacked off a few jobs around the yard. It can be hard to find the motivation to ride when it’s dark and wet outside! If you needed to take a bit of a backseat to get through it, that’s totally OK- you won’t be the only one!
Instead of beating yourself up over it, be compassionate and practice positive self-talk instead. Talking to yourself negatively can suck the energy and fun out of horse riding and lead to self-doubt, anxiety, and a lack of motivation. By re-writing the negative narrative, you can move past situations you would otherwise dwell on and free up some mental space to set goals and find your drive again.
The trick with positive self-talk is to talk to yourself like you would talk to someone you care about! It should encourage you to reflect and make a plan, rather than belittle or undermine you. Basically, if you wouldn’t say it out loud to someone else, you shouldn’t be saying it to yourself!
Here are a few examples:
Examples of negative self-talk:
“I’m not committed I don’t deserve to have a horse.”
“I’m not a good horse owner.”
Examples of positive self-talk:
“I listened to my needs and gave my horse time off. We can pick up where we left off when conditions are better.”
“I did what I needed to do to get through the winter. The horses are well looked after and have everything they need.”
Set yourself some goals
Whilst we’re in survival mode, it can be hard to focus on the future and keep working toward your goals. Now the days are getting brighter, setting yourself a few goals for the season can help reignite your motivation and give you some purpose back in the saddle.
Having clear goals will give you some much-needed structure back into your equestrian life and spark a “get up and go” mentality. Checking off achievements as you go will reaffirm your self-belief and further boost your motivation to keep going.
It’s important to make your goals measurable and realistic. You can still dream big but think of your goals as stepping-stones to get there. By setting yourself big targets, you are opening the door for disappointment and it’s hard to stay motivated when you can’t see the progress you’re making. Instead, break it down into smaller goals that you can check off one by one and easily keep track. When you can look back and see how far you’ve come, it will inspire you to keep pushing!
Get organised
Spring cleaning is all about tidying, organising, and sprucing things up after the winter. We’re doing it with our equestrian mindset, so let’s do it with the stables too. In fact, having a good tidy-up again is fantastic for our mental health. Having a cluttered or messy space around us, even at the stables, can contribute to anxiety, stress, and overwhelm.
So, have a look around and see what needs organising. Perhaps it’s a pile of rugs that need folding or maybe it’s time to give the yard a deep clean. Whatever it is, being proactive and spring cleaning the space around you can have a huge positive impact on your mental wellbeing.
Practice mindfulness
Basic stable duties, or even in the saddle, are a great opportunity to practice some mindfulness. Whilst you’re mucking out, filling hay nets, or out for a hack take some time to check back in with your mind and body. As the winter rolled on, you may have gone into survival mode. Existing in a heightened state of anxiety, or the fight or flight response, can take its toll on your well-being, both physically and mentally.
Mindfulness is all about grounding and checking in with your thoughts and emotions. Focusing on your breathing and how your body feels will help to drown out any unwanted chatter in your head and help to get you back on track and able to perform at your best. There are lots of ways to practice mindfulness at the yard or even whilst riding. Head over to my Mindful Riding blog to find out which ones are my go-to!
The winter is a tough time for all of us with horses. But the end is in sight and spring is just around the corner! Make sure you’re spring season ready and get your equestrian mindset hot to trot. Have a go at these tips and tricks to give your mindset a tidy-up and set yourself some goals to get started with! You’ll be raring to go again in no time…
And if you’ve made it through the winter and feel like you need a little extra support going into the season then you’ve come to the right place. I know all about supporting riders with their mindset, positive attitude, self-confidence and so much more. So, if you need a little nudge in the right direction, get in touch and I will help get you to get that winning mindset back!