Winter Goals/Plans

[TwiSedai]

Winter down-time is approaching (though slowly here, we are still in the 70s and higher during the day). I’ve been thinking about my plans for the winter, thought it might be fun to have a place where anyone interested can share plans and progress as well. So please share if you want!

For my mare, she will be continuing her handful of jumping lessons throughout the winter with her lesson kids, so her “down time” will just be hacking out when we can, light flatwork tune ups, and some for-fun clicker training sessions to give her something different to do.

The greenie is my big project this winter. I got him as a free, lightly-started WT then chucked in a pasture for almost 2 years- type project at the end of last summer. We had a loooong journey to get where we are now, consisting of vet visits, learning his personality, thinking outside of the box to help him learn things, etc. That could all be it’s own thread He’s now a pretty solid guy, but still struggles a bit with the right lead.

Between discussions with the vet and coaches, the plan is to take the fall/winter to do some strengthening exercises, and see if helping him to get stronger on that weak side, get more even flexibility-wise, etc etc. We will then see where he is after a few months of that and see if the vet needs to reevaluate (the hope is also that if there is something physically making it unpleasant, the work will help make it a bit more obvious since he’s not actually off in any way). Worst case, I’ll save up over the winter to be able to x-ray and maybe US every inch of him

So far, the couple weeks we have done seem to be helping (he’s much more eager to pick up the right lead on the lunge consistently and hold it, and he’s starting to get it under saddle more). So I’m tentatively hopeful. Our “regimen” includes hacking where we can, especially on hills; different ground exercises using hills, slopes, poles, etc; once-a-week hand walk with a light weight on the left hind (started with about 20 seconds or so, up to a lap around the ring, he actually really enjoys this funnily enough); once-a-week lunging with side reins, some stretching and some collection; and then some fun days where we do working equitation obstacles, clicker stuff, little jumps either lunging or under saddle, etc.

The ultimate goal is to be able to do Training level next year, and hopefully a few WE shows if we find any not too far as well (did a clinic recently and he was pretty awesome at it, actually). Maybe a couple CTs at schooling shows, and would be AWESOME if we could do an Amoeba or Tadpole 3 phase by the end of the year.

[exvet]

I’m in Arizona so while I still might have some ‘weather’ days to contend with this is the time for us to double down on the training. I hope to be able to take advantage of the cooler weather to really build strength and stamina along with polishing off our flying changes and tempi changes. The plan is to really focus on the basics and to get really fantastic transitions and improve the quality of gaits first and foremost. With some luck, we’ll be debuting at PSG in 2025. Not my first rodeo, but, you just never know if your pony has the same agenda

[outerbanks77]

This will be my first winter in several years with no indoor, so it really depends on what kind of winter we have. The arena at the new barn drains well, so if it’s not frozen solid for weeks on end, we should still be able to keep riding. If it is frozen, or we just have really rotten weather, I’ll be lucky if I can haul out 1-2x per week. I just told my husband yesterday that if I’m not able to ride much this winter, I’m going to spend the time at the gym and just get really ripped.

[joiedevie99]

My horse will go to Florida with my trainer, but I’ll stay home and commute as much as work/family allows. I’m hoping to do my first GPS, and my first large tour CDI before the end of the season. I’m also hoping to find a horse to ride a few times during the week so I can keep my legs in shape and not feel like a fish out of water not riding daily.

[pony_baloney]

My goal is very simple. I’m a wimp. A few years ago my previous horse spooked and spun, sending me crashing to the ground where I broke my arm and dislocated my shoulder. After months of therapy I was riding again. He was an Arab and not particularly spooky.

Now my current pony is very quiet and mellow, but has a very quick spook, which is pretty wicked since he’s so small. I’ve fallen off him twice already; the one where I landed on my coccyx and jammed my spine has me still seeing the chiropractor regularly a year and a half later.

My big goal is…to canter. Yes, I’m a wimp. Five years of trotting and no cantering. My fear is him zigging while I zag. The barn’s indoor footing isn’t maintained and is usually packed down and hard. He’s so darn quick when he spooks that I easily become unbalanced. My trainer will lunge him (I can’t, it makes me queasy) to work on his balance in the canter beforehand. We’re doing leg yields, shoulder-ins, haunches-ins, a step or two of half pass (my trainer is strictly French classical, so we get to do the fun stuff) but all at a trot. He moves like a larger horse, not a pony, but I’m fearing his canter will feel speedy. I’m going to get a new helmet that fits well and mentally visualize nice easy canter work.

[TwiSedai]

@outerbanks77

I’m going to spend the time at the gym and just get really ripped

This sounds like an excellent goal I need to do as well

[TwiSedai]

Have you heard of the Confidence Button? I heard it in an Amelia Newcomb video, it’s like a spot near your tailbone that you tuck down while engaging your abs that sort of lowers your center of gravity. It’s made me feel a lot more secure on the greenie, might be worth looking up her videos about it just to see if it helps you! If you had a fall on it at some point, it might be uncomfortable to do that specifically, but maybe the other bits of it could help. Either way, really rooting for you to get to canter AND enjoy it!

[FiFihead]

My goal is flying changes.

[eponacelt]

I was just given the ride on a Grand Prix schoolmaster, so my goal is to finally learn how to ride pirouettes without doing the funky chicken with my back, neck, and head. I don’t know what I’m doing, but we’re gonna fix it this winter, come hell or high water because I finally have a horse who absolutely knows what he’s doing, so I can just figure out my own shit. Then, I’ll hopefully get my last score for my Silver Medal come spring. We’ll see what happens after that.

The goal with my current young project is just to get video and put him on the market. We’ll see what happens with that.

[LawsofMurph]

For the 4yo OTTB and I, our winter plans are:

• First show ever in December
• Transitions Transitions Transitions
• Continuing to become a solid citizen
• Canter more than halfway down the long side

[endlessclimb]

For the 2/3 y.o. pony - become more comfortable in our skin, and maybe successfully ground drive in the pasture (weather willing!)

[HeartsDesireEventing]

I also have a 4yo TB, so his goals are to continue developing his basics - balance, transitions, etc. - and get off property a bit. I have one or two more outings planned for him this year, and then he may get some actual time off in the darkest part of winter (no lights and a full time job - not sure how good the 4yo will be at riding in the actual dark) before we pick back up in late January/early February to hopefully start prepping for some spring CTs.

[phantomhorse]

I plan to re-introduce the bit to my young Arab gelding. I started him under saddle last year and he was doing really well until he contracted Lyme. Unfortunately for us both, his was a neuro form that made him crazily hypersensitive. Tried months of treatments before finding something that helped at all (minocycline).

While he has improved and the Lyme is in remission, he acts like the disease erased massive chunks of his knowledge. He’s much more reactive than before and I have had to start him from the ground up. One of the biggest issues has been his reaction to the bit, so up until now I have only been asking him to carry it during rides and using the halter for steering.

[Knubbsy]

It’s all centered on being ready for 3-2 by April/May when my main trainer is back from Florida: changes without diving the stride after the change, build strength and wind (…for both of us…), and develop an extended canter that actually goes somewhere (see: build strength).

And most importantly, survive a winter without breaking, slicing, or stabbing something. It’s been almost 3 years since the cowpony has stayed in one piece over the winter. knock on wood

[fordtraktor]

I have changes and canter half pass now, so this winter is to get good changes and canter half pass so they are show-ready! My trainer says I should go out at 3-3 next year, so that’s the tentative goal. I have never shown Third before and I’m doing all the riding, so we’ll see!

Goal for 2025 is to get my Bronze, I need my Third Level scores. It would be nice to qualify for Regionals too, as they are going to be at my horse’s fav venue next year. If I can get a decent ride in anywhere, it’ll be there! If I come out rocking it and get my scores early I’ll probably keep showing Third and just start working on getting the next things ready for prime time.

[Pehsness]

Every year I say I’ll keep going through the winter and every year something derails me. But the stars may be aligning this year. Weather permitting I’ll keep hauling out for my lessons twice a week and at home I’m going to get creative with setting up a WE course of sorts. It will just be cobbled together but it will take the pressure off needing “perfect footing” to be able to ride. We can play around at some obstacles at home to keep his mind in the game (hell, my mind too) and save the hard physical work for the lessons. And hopefully some good trail/field rides too.

It will all depend on the weather - I definitely live in a place where we’re at the mercy of the lake.

[pony_baloney]

Thanks! I’ll check that out.

[LadyNeon01]

My plans are to come out at PSG for the spring shows. I guess that means I need to seriously look at getting a shadbelly now!

My gelding, Fred, and I will be doing 4-3 at a show in two weeks. We have everything but reliable half pirouettes. Lucky for me, my trainer is great at thinking outside the box on how to help us accomplish them without looking like idiots. After this show, we’re going to work on developing more cadence in the trot by working on the half steps. And endless transitions to build the carrying power.

I’m also planning to do a pre-starter HT in mid December. Never thought I’d ever go cross country but Fred absolutely loves it! We went schooling for the first time on Memorial Day weekend and had so much fun. Then we went schooling again this past weekend and he was such a rock star that I feel like I need to do it just to keep his work fun. I’m nervous but excited at the same time.

[ParadoxFarm]

My goal is lofty…don’t take the winter off! I start off doing well usually, then I start the whole, “It’s cold outside, I’ll ride tomorrow.” Then tomorrow comes and it’s colder than yesterday, and it gets dark so early (no lights), and so on, and so on. So this year…I hope to get myself out there and ride!

[Lunabear1988]

My goals are also pretty tiny. I want to commit more to pole work and getting off property. We’ve been through the ringer so my goal is this winter looks so different than goals a few years ago . But I’m just happy to still be riding anyways.