While the year rolls on it’s easy to slip into a few bad habits or overlook some extra jobs along the way. As the calendar year draws to a close, now is the perfect time to get yourself together and think of a few New Year’s resolutions to get next year off to a good start. 

Perhaps you’ve got a bit lax on cleaning your tack after a schooling session, you’ve got more dirty rugs than clean ones, or your tack room resembles a jumble sale. We’ve all been there, particularly in the winter months when motivation is low, we let things slide and tell ourselves “I’ll do that tomorrow” in the hopes we wake up with the enthusiasm of a child on Christmas morning. 

After a while the clutter starts to get to you and when you’re rooting through random piles hunting for your second glove you know it’s time to get things back on track. The New Year is the ultimate time for an equestrian revamp, and kick start the year with determination and a plan. Thinking up a few manageable and reasonable goals that you can actually stick too will give you a renewed purpose going into January. Once you’ve been at it for a while it will feel like second nature and before you know it you’ve built some very healthy habits into your daily equestrian routine.

We put our thinking caps on and consulted our team of sponsored riders to get their ideas for some equestrian New Year’s resolutions that you might find helpful. Here’s what we came up with…

Keep your rugs clean and organised

With winter weather and let’s face it, British weather most of the year, we’re all constantly swapping rugs. Between different weights, turnouts, sheets underneath, and light layers in the spring, it’s no wonder if your rug collection is in turmoil. 

To avoid the annual hassle of digging rugs out of boxes, bags, and behind a pile of other stuff, only to find they’re still filthy or damp from last year, make a point of regularly going through your rugs. This might seem like hassle at the start but trust us, you’ll be singing your own praises when you come to change rugs and they’re all clean, neatly packaged, and stored exactly where you know they’ll be. 

We know it’s difficult during the winter, but every month take stock of what rugs you’ve got on and what you’ve taken off that might need a jolly good clean. You can even start writing down which rugs you’ve got so you know precisely what you’re hunting for when you need something. If you don’t have the facilities to wash your rugs, there are loads of professional rug washing companies that will do it for you and send them back very neatly packaged ready for storing. It doesn’t cost a lot and will save you time and hassle, and many even pick them up and drop them off for you! 

Make more time for hacking

If you’ve been wanting to change up your horse’s ridden routine next year and incorporate more variety into their week then don’t overlook hacking out! Whether you’re wanting to increase their fitness work, give them a bit of variety outside regular schooling, or just simply spend a bit more time out and about in the countryside and enjoying what your local area has to offer, hacking should be a priority for next year. 

There are lots of top eventers, showjumpers, and even dressage riders that prioritise hacking as a great means of getting horses fit for the season. Hill work, changes in terrain, and extended periods of time walking and trotting out does wonders for their overall fitness. 

Moreover, hacking isn’t just great for the body but their minds too! It gives them something to think about and a bit of a change in scenery. And it’s not just their mental wellbeing hacking helps, but yours too! Being out in nature and just slowly down for a while can do amazing things for our own mental health and allows us to be present in the moment and appreciate what we have.

Push yourself outside of your comfort zone

You’ve worked hard all year, smashed the pole work, and you’re ready to take on the step up at some shows next season… this year is the time to challenge yourself. Maybe you’ve been stalling on making the step up to a new level or perhaps you’re worried about what someone else might think if you give it a go. We’re here to tell you you’ve got this!

Don’t let self-confidence ruin the progress you’re making and suck the fun out of the journey! Put your worries to the side and grab those reins, don’t let the fear of what other people might think or the anxiety that it might not go to plan stop you from pursuing your goals. We know it’s easier said than done, even our sponsored riders sometimes struggle with low self-confidence and competition anxiety! But this year, make it a priority to do it anyway. To keep yourself motivated, make sure you stop and remember how far you’ve come and appreciate the journey.

Hit the pole work

Next year is the year of pole work. No matter what your goal is for you and your horse next season, pole work is sure thing to help you get there. If you feel like your goals were just out of reach last year, incorporating more pole work into your training routine next year is going to help you hit your targets and more!

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place… here at PolyJumps we don’t just make poles, but we make it a priority to know exactly how to use them to get the very best out of our horses. We’ve got loads of pole work ideas, and you can find them all here! With input from our sponsored riders and pole work gurus, you’ll find plenty to be getting on with in the new year!

Is your pole collection looking a little sparse? Check out our extensive catalogue of poles, wings, blocks, and training tools ready and waiting to help you on your path to victory next year! Need a hand picking what you need? Our team will be happy to help you work out what you’re missing.

Stay on top of tack room organisation

We all have the best of intentions when it comes to a tidy tack room. But after a while it’s easy to let the clutter take over and organisation goes out the window. It’s not until you’re missing a spur or can’t find a bit you know you put ‘there’ yesterday that you say enough is enough. Next year say goodbye to tack room chaos and hello to a clean, calm, tidy space.

We know it’s not always easy, especially when you’re in a rush, but try and put aside an extra 5 minutes each day to put things away properly when you’re done. Hang bridles back up neatly in the right place (after a wipe down post-ride!), buy a few boxes for boots, brushes, extra tack, and whatever else you’ve got lying around, organise your bits into categories, and fold your numnahs so they’re ready for the next day. Even just these small tasks can help to clear your mind and make the day run smoother… tomorrow you will be grateful! Once you get into the swing of things you won’t even realise you’re doing it as you go and before long, you’ll have a tidy and organised tack room that everyone will be aspiring for!