Equestrian Season Planning: Getting Ready for Events All Year Long

It's time for riders to get on paper and organise their competitions as the springtime draws near. A well-thought-out competition schedule should alternate periods of intense training with more relaxed exercises. Periodization is a training method that helps horses and riders reach their peak fitness levels at a certain event date.

Winter

Throughout the winter, a capable group of equestrian specialists can guarantee that your horses are healthy and prepared to compete in a range of settings. It's not enough to just get your horses to the show ring; you also need to be prepared to win! Your trainer is a great asset to have when choosing which events to enter. They've watched you compete at several levels and have vast knowledge of your horses and riding style. They are able to provide you with an unbiased assessment of your skills and suggest a starting point for this season. It's a good idea to take a break in the middle of the season. This releases tension from the muscles, tendons, and ligaments and may even help avoid an injury that otherwise may have occurred. Even the strongest athletes require rest to allow their bodies to recuperate, according to veterinarian Ben Espy, who travels the professional rodeo circuit.

Springtime

After the winter season ends, riders review the regulations and prize list in order to prepare for events. Next, on days that won't conflict with contests, schedule any veterinarian services, like joint injections. A rider's training regimen needs to be meticulously planned out as well. Equipping a horse at a competitive pace and to the level of competition she wishes to compete in should be the aim. A hunter, jumper, or equitation horse, for example, needs to be able to clear the height of the fences she would encounter in competition. For instance, TCU had to have a strong enough canter to be able to gallop a cross-country course in four minutes in order to compete in the varsity event championships. Short bursts of canter work on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays over the spring and summer will help achieve this. Riders should also often practice leading transitions and stretching their strides.

Summertime

It's the time of year when riders peruse award lists and select which classes and divisions to enter. The team will have a list of accommodations and stack inspections to organise if they are travelling to contests. Avoiding last-minute stress or expenses can be achieved by making these strategies well in advance. The team will also ensure that the horse's vaccination history complies with the requirements of the show and that its veterinary records are current. One of the most crucial choices that must be made is which classes to compete in, since this will have an impact on the horse's performance the week of the competition. Entering a class that is too simple will hinder the horse from making as much progress as it could, while entering a class that is too challenging puts the horse up for failure. That's why enlisting the aid of a trainer is frequently part of the selection process. They can provide an unbiased assessment of what is suitable at the moment because they have a great deal of familiarity with both the rider and the horse.

Fall

Many riders begin getting ready for the next autumn competition season once the weather cools down. This includes selecting objectives, enrolling in classes, and reviewing prize lists. Typical objectives are to maximise prize money, accrue FEI points, train a horse or rider, and have fun. Subsequently, the programme schedule will be refined by removing any shows that don't align with a certain objective. Poor scheduling, little reward money, or poor footing could be the cause of this. A realistic assessment of their ability to compete is also necessary for riders. They may set themselves and their horses up for failure by entering classes that are excessively challenging or demanding. There are a few things riders may do to get their horses ready for the class or division they plan to compete in and prevent this. In order to improve their horses' fitness, they can practice jumping at the height required for that class or division and engage in some cross-country schooling.