This is the first year I won’t have access to an indoor arena and I’m dreading it. Usually I move him to a barn an hour away for the winter but with just going through ulcer treatment I figured it wouldn’t be a great idea to add the stress of moving. I’m hoping to at least be able to ride him a bit. I’m also planning on taking lessons at another place so I can get some riding in.
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Find a new barn, preferably one with a covered arena and good footing.
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I gave up making plans 
… usually they all fall through. So I decided to simply enjoy my young horses and my older horse and to give up goals
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Well, my strengthening plan seems to be working. He now wants to pick up the right lead aaaall the time. Including on a circle to the left. 
It’s progress, though!
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I am currently horseless and looking so I joined a crossfit gym. I’m absolutely terrible at it but I figure I might as well try to get in better shape before I find my next dance partner…
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Really great idea.
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I love this idea!
I have a still pretty new to me mare. We had a great first summer together and got out to a couple of shows. Over the past 6-8 months the wheels fell off a bit and she was diagnosed with low vitamin E a few weeks ago now. She’s been on high dose vitamin E and is starting to return to normal so my plan is to continue that and do some rehab and strengthen so that hopefully we can hit the ground running in the summer.
We’ve had trouble building fitness in the past and now I’m pretty sure it’s been low vitamin e for awhile so I’m hoping that once we get back on track we’ll start to make more progress and potentially even be able to show 1st level later this next year if all the stars align.
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Amen.
Winter is my “real” show season (the ridden stuff in the summer is just for funsies) and this winter is the big one, with rolling out the 3* CDE dressage test…
gulp
I rode it in my ridden dressage test last week and called out the movements as I was doing them so my instructor could keep up lol. Her comment was “well that’s not very nice of the FEI” as I was making a transition every 15m or so that the test calls for. Can confirm. 
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Besides my wimpy wish to finally canter on my pony, I’ll be retired in January and want to spend more time at the barn. Usually it’s just a quick groom, ride, cool off, fuss a bit, turn him back out and come home. I want to do some bodywork on him, longer warm ups (especially in the cold), clean my tack more often, hand graze him if there’s anything to nibble on, just be a “horsie” person" and enjoy my barn time. The best part is that I can do this during daylight hours.
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I’m boarding my horse at a great spot with trainer, jump clinics, and an amazing indoor.
My goals are to take as many lessons as I can, trainer take horse to show in Dec, at least one jump clinic for me, and ride a half way decent first level test at a schooling show.
I struggle in the winter with a touch of seasonal depression, so hoping pre-scheduling lessons/rides helps keep me as motivated.
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