I have been getting into bullet journals and have found some content online, but not much. Do any of you keep a bullet journal for your riding and horses? daily routine? Not really sure where to start but I think it would be great record keeping. Wanting to see what people do out there.
I keep a horse journal and a dog training journal. I started the horse after the dog training, as the dog training helped so much (Schutzhund).
I keep really quick notes on excercize Days, shows and also my farrrier and vet. The excercize part helped me mentally when I started having issues and the vet and I landed on injections. I also jot down if I change equipment. I have mine at home so while I’m soaking my old pony’s hay I make any notes.
One of the kids leasing one of my horses kept a riding journal of what she did when.
My dog journal was a one of those small “assignment pads” , I guess about 3x5 or smaller. My horse one is one of the black and white college ruled notebooks.
I don’t have time to mop my kitchen floor but somehow find time to make horse notes #priorities
I do a couple different spreads in my bullet journal. I have one to record board payments, one to record other payments/services–farrier, vet, body work, clinics, etc. One riding log, where I marked which days I rode, which days my lessee rode, training rides, lessons, etc. (different color highlight for each) and what we specifically focused on (relaxation, straightness, bending, etc.) with symbols. I haven’t maintained that one for a while but I probably should–it was helpful. I have a horse show packing checklist; that’s useful. I have a spread for each season tracking horse shows listing all the shows we went to, the scores at each level, and placements. I have another one tracking point requirements for our GMO awards. Another one with notes and ideas and exercises–again broken down by exercises for relaxation, for straightness, for connection, etc. I do a spread for each clinic or learning experience, keeping track of notes. And I tried to do a chart tracking scores on specific movements that we were working on from test to test, but my horse decided to be lame all summer so that didn’t continue.
I like over-analyzing stuff. I’m a Ravenclaw.
That’s such great input! you guys are awesome! I’ve been watching non equestrian video bullet journals videos to get some ideas on a good way to organize things for the horses. I think for the sake of keeping track and being able to look back it’s great-just need a leg start on how to do a equestrian themed one for all the work we do.
So I don’t know what bullet journal-ing is, but using my 30 second Google search here is what I’ve done in the past that might relate:
I kept a dry erase board calendar at the barn and every day I wrote down (in shorthand) what we did that day. If it was a ride, what type (dressage school, jump school, XC play day, hack), and how long. It helped me forecast the following week’s schedule, and keep track of any vet/chiro/dentist appointments too. At the end of the month I would take a photo of it before resetting for the following month, and I kept the photos in a log on my computer. Useful for keeping my head on straight just day-to-day, as well as to look at trends across the month, or even the year. Also, VERY handy for a quick reference, I don’t have to go flipping through pages to find the info I needed.
The journal concept is super useful though; I have a commercially produced music practice journal for my violin studies, and it’s making progress a breeze.
I also keep a notebook for work that has notes from meetings, and a weekly task list. I just cross things off as they get accomplished, just as effective, but not as complicated as the bullet journal system. Handy for getting stuff done, I love crossing things off my weekly list. Feels nice.
I’m also not familiar with the term bullet journal, but I was keeping a little notebook to write down what I focused on in lessons, so that I could refer back to specific exercises or things to focus on during my rides. I found it helpful because I couldn’t afford regular lessons, maybe twice a month at most, so it helped to keep me on track with my rides and make the most of my time in between lessons. I also would take notes from clinics that I audited as well, so that I could try those things too. That also helped me notice any connections between what the clinician said/did and what my regular coach was saying too, but sometimes gave me more insight or a different way to approach a challenge.
My mare is retired now so I’ve stopped doing it, but this is a good reminder to maybe try it again with the horse I’m part-boarding!
These sound great! Could you share your riding spread and show spreads?