5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Retired My Horse

For a little bit of a reference I was competing in the hunter and equitation rings with Beau before his retirement and did a little dabble in the jumpers as well.

Appointments Matter

If your horse is in a training program ask about when his appointments are and if you can’t make them check in with your trainer and ask for what happened and the conversation that occurred.  Having professional input allows you to deepen the understanding you have of your horse and his body.  Beyond veterinary care, bodywork sessions are some of the best to go to.  I love to ask bodyworkers questions about what certain stretches do and what the horse’s problem areas seem to be.  A bonus of being at those appointments is being able to ask what things you can do for your horse between appointments.  I’ve never known a body worker not to share a technique that would benefit the horse they are working on.  Appointments give you information and information is important so try to be there!

Rest Days Mean More

Everyone needs rest days and if you feel like you need a rest day, your horse probably does too.  Additionally, our horses work very hard for us and they deserve to have breaks.  Taking days off from a ride or a lesson and spending time with your horse will allow you to connect more and have fun!  It takes the pressure off and I can guarantee your horse will thank you.  Rest days do not mean you aren’t being productive, it means you are taking care of yourself and your horse.  You are growing your connection with the partner that keeps you safe every time you ride or work around them.

Slower is Better

Quick fixes do more damage than help.  I wish I knew the questions to ask about bits I used to use and saddles I used to ride in.  These things matter to the health of our horses more than most riders realize because trainers are trying to get us prepared for the show ring as well as making sure we have safe rides.  Safety is super important and trainers are doing the right thing in keeping us safe, but slowing down to ask questions and give our horses time to grow in their bodies is just as important.  Take it slow when you or your horse needs to because it will benefit you long term.  Short term fixes are just that, a crutch.  Play the long game with the horse that gives you wings to fly.

Learn More Than Just How to Ride

The more you know about horses outside the saddle the better horse person you will be.  Not everything will interest you, but find the thing that does and start researching.  This also ties into being at your horse's appointments because you can learn so much by talking to the professional working on your horse.  What you learn on the ground will translate to your riding because everything is connected.  Our horses are athletes just like us and that means nothing is simple so learning a wide variety of things is the best way to show we love our horses.

Let Your Horse Be A Horse

Let your horse be outside for long periods of time.  Take off his blanket and let him get dirty.  Walk your horse somewhere new and let him explore.  There’s a lot of trust with this last one, but it means you have to have the relationship with your horse that allows you to trust him and the groundwork.  Start slow and stay safe, but letting your horse be a horse will make him happier.  Have you ever watched your horse roll in the soft dirt, get so dirty that you know you’ll be sneezing when you have to curry that dirt off, but you let him because you saw how in his element he was?  Letting your horse be a horse gives you a chance to pay attention to how your horse moves naturally which will give you greater insight into what he needs to be healthy and happy in the long term.

No one is perfect and it's important to forgive ourselves for what we didn't know at the time. My hope is that this post didn't teach you something, but instead made you think about ways that you could expand your scope as an equestrian and horse enthusiast.