Waiting for the Ground Hog

Happy Ground Hog Day! I know, it’s a silly tradition. But as a horse person, I anticipate this day every February. Why, you ask? Well, Ground Hog Day is the day that we are told if it will be an early spring or 6 more weeks of winter. And every year, by February, I am sooooo ready for springtime!

Spring is Coming

I know it will get here soon enough. But I use this time to plan for the upcoming riding season. And February is the kick-off. March will allow the time to spring forward, which gives way to longer days and better weather. So February is the time I plan for the entire summer. How about you? Do you start a plan before the summer gets here?

I have a lot of things I want to accomplish this summer. So, planning for it now makes me feel as if I am actually doing something to move forward in my goal-setting. And I thought it might be helpful for you, in case you are looking for something to do while you await better weather for riding!

Set Some Goals

If you are planning for your summer horse season, now is the time to set a goal or two for yourself and your horse. For example, my goal is to show my horse Jesse in an online Dressage show, or two, or three.

I had hoped that I would be able to get back in the saddle. But, sadly, my surgeon said no sports for six months. I was happy to see that he considers my horse riding a sport. But not very excited to learn that I can’t ride again until the end of April. My official 6 months after surgery will be May 1, 2024. But he did say I could start a little bit earlier IF I work hard at my exercises and get my strength back. So I have been doing exercises with my arm to get stronger. I had no idea how difficult lifting even a little bit of weight would be after not using my arm for such a short period of time.

But I also don’t want to undo my surgery or have a potential injury that I could retear my rotator cuff. Even though the recovery is slow, it is very nice not to have the pain and limited movement that I had before surgery. So I do not want to jeopardize my ‘new’ shoulder! I will just have to find things that I can do to be with my horses while I get back to 100%.

And with having my horses at home, there is always so much to do every single day, especially as winter comes to an end. Buh-bye winter, don’t let the door hit you on your way out.

Exercise When You Can

And if you are looking for some exercises to do to keep you in riding shape, Riding Warehouse has a blog post titled Best Stretches for Equestrians, and if you are able to ride, they have an article 5 Exercises for a Better Seat. I encourage you to check both of them out!

Clean and Replace Your Tack

This is a good time to check all of your tack, and replace items if you need too. I have been doing this over the past couple of months. I have taken a full inventory of everything that I have, as well as planning for my future showing goals with Jesse. And if you need some new tack, or riding gear, now is a great time to replace those items.

If you’re wondering how you are going to be able to pay for the new things you need, have you done your taxes yet? That is one way you could justify the cost of a new saddle or bridle. I myself saved for months to be able to get a very nice dressage bridle from Lumiere Equestrian. As well as my dream dressage saddle, a Wintec HART Isabell Dressage Saddle. I saved for these major purchases. But if I hadn’t been able to save for them, I could have used some of my income tax refund for the purchase.

Check and Fix Your Arena

How is your arena fairing over the winter? Mine? Well, it has been covered in snow for the past 6 weeks.

Ok, this is a bit dramatic. There isn’t this much snow in there right now. But with my horses being turned out into the arena freely over the winter, it is not in good shape. The constant freeze, thaw, freeze cycle takes a toll. While I am not anticipating needing new dirt for my arena, I may decide to add a few tons of sand to the existing base when the spring finally gets here. But last summer, I finally figured out how to use my arena drag correctly. And I also bought a tiller. The tiller was a wonderful addition. If you don’t have an arena drag and don’t mind a bit of labor-intensive work, the Sun Joe Tiller is an affordable option for working the ground in your riding arena.

Plan for a Riding Arena

I have written many, many articles about how to make a riding arena. No, I am not a professional. I am a resourceful horse owner who likes to save money by doing the project myself when I can. I can tell you how to DIY a riding arena yourself, though, and save a ton of money by doing it yourself. This spring, I am going to dedicate a portion of our property to a 20 x 40 dressage arena. And I promise I will show you how to do it very cheaply.

But if you already have an arena, walk it. Look at the fence boards and gates to make sure everything is safe and in working order. When you can, work the dirt. If you need to add more footing, do it or plan for it now, before the better weather arrives. That way, you’ll be ready to go when riding season gets to your area.

Join a Challenge

I am a HUGE fan of riding challenges. I think it’ because the challenge sets the rules, and at the end there is a reward. I know the true reward is what is accomplished during the challenge. BUT – I like the reward at the end.

And as of yesterday, the Ride for Success Love Your Ride Challenge has begun! I signed up. This is the second time I have signed up for a challenge through Ride for Success. I was very successful in the last challenge, so I am hopeful I will be this time, too.

And yes, I got a beautiful rosette ribbon at the completion of the challenge (YAY!). However, working through the challenge set me up to have many successes with my horses. Which is the main reason I wanted to do it again. Having a predetermined challenge set up by someone other than yourself can help you to achieve success. I encourage you to give it a go and see what happens.

It’s Ground Hog Day

Well, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this year. So that means it is supposed to be an early spring. I, for one, am ready! So bring on the springtime with its mud and shedding horses, and let’s get ready for riding and whatever this summer will bring!

Happy Riding!