What are your 2026 Horsey Plans?

[RedPony1]

Have you got any goals?

Maybe a new horse or specific competition? New hacking route?

Congratulations on the weight loss.

I also need to lose weight to fulfil my horsey goal, so this was inspiring to read.

Thank you! Good luck with your goal.

I have a rising 5 year old, who hadn't done much until I got him a couple of months ago.

Plans for 2026:

1. work on his canter transitions. He's happy to do it on hacks in company, but doesn't quite understand the aid and can't manage it in the school at the moment.
2. get him as forward in the school as he is out hacking.
3. go xc schooling, and maybe do a tiny hunter trial.
4. have him at a stage in his education where he's fit and balanced enough to do all sessions at our stay away camp this summer.

Ultimately I bought him looking for a safe, reliable, happy hacker, and he's already fulfilling that. If we don't meet any of these aims he's still the best boy, who makes me smile every day.

For me, my aims are:

1. to work on my own strength and fitness, so I can better support him when schooling.
2. work on my jumping confidence, so I can make sure I'm riding him forwards and setting him up for success.
3. feel less awkward about asking for help. He's my first youngster, and I had a 10+ year break from riding before buying him (had retired horses throughout, and a share for a few months before buying - I'm daft, but not completely clueless!). I shouldn't feel bad asking people who've had youngsters for help, or seeing them ride him better than I can!

My giant wall planner arrived today, so i can start plotting out my shows!

My show grooming kit and lorry supplies are all fully restocked, just need to get the ponies (& me!) fitter 😂

My goal is to do some intro dressage this year. I did my first one in December at the age of 61. It's really given me something to aim for in my lessons on my pony.

It’s wonderful hearing about all these ‘returners’ to riding! I hadn’t ridden for many years until 18 months ago, when I decided “it’s now or never” and booked a private lesson. (I’m in my 60’s.). The lesson went well but I wasn’t sure about the school generally, so decided to look elsewhere. It’s taken me a while but I’ve now found and registered with a different place which sounds really good, so I’ve just got to get up the courage to book something. I’ve been doing Pilates for a while and it’s really made a difference to my balance and posture so I’m optimistic. I used to be so confident, it would be nice to get just half of that confidence back so that I can enjoy riding again properly.

Lovely to hear that you have found somewhere that suits you. It is nice to read that so many people are returning to riding a bit later in life.

I wish I was still riding, but unfortunately those days are over for me. My goal for 2026 is to reduce numbers! I do not want to go through another winter over-stocked. We are coping but the costs, particularly hay, are really high and my income is lower. Last year I failed to sell any of my youngsters due to my own health problems (meaning I just didn't get around to it) so I will have plenty to sell this spring/summer. If anyone wants a good quality Shetland youngster please get in touch.

I don't NEED a Shetland, but i do love a Shetland!

7 weeks until my first show of 2026!
And first ever veteran class!

Finally a bit of Spring weather. Horses so happy to be in a non muddy field with some spring grass. I have a friend and also a student (who I pay) to keep up on the exercise on my 3 as I am working. However the older 2 have wintered well and are gently hacking. Well, supposed to be but both are pretty bouncy and they forget their age. Younger ISH coming on nicely, I am a bit nervous on her still (I’m in my 60s) mainly as she’s a big horse 16.2 and really not a novice ride. However, started canter work with her in the school and loved it. Hope everyone enjoying the sunshine.

I've signed up for the 1000 miles challenge and am going to try my best to manage it through a combination of hacking and fun rides 😍

Not fall off and break wrist again

Get some boots I actually like and don't slip or jam when jumping. Any suggestions welcome but I prefer short boots and chaps.

See if dd and I can get a loan of difficult-but-nice Luxembourg pur sang horse at stables. And take him to forest if so. Also get him to canter first time!

He passed the vetting but sadly the xrays showed out of a scale of 1 -4 (with 4 being the worst xray the vet had seen) he scored a 3.5. Vet said wasn't a case of if he went lame it was more a case of when. So I didn't buy.

So then I saw another which passed with vetting and xray's but then had ulcers so is on week 5 of treatment having just been rescoped. He started broncing and rearing under saddle which gave us the diagnosis before he was even scoped!

So not a brilliant start.

Typically all the best laid plans yada yada …

I’ve mostly been doing two lessons a week which has been great for my general confidence BUT the riding school told us today that they’re closing in just over a month’s time … I’m feeling bereft - it has been my haven for the last 3 years when so much else in my life was going wrong.

It doesn’t look like the canter confidence course is running this year - apparently their horses have a very busy filming schedule and they’re not sure they’ll be able to fit any dates in. And I haven’t managed to get out on a hack at the trekking centre yet as they’re fully booked on days I can do.

And I’ve been diagnosed with lumbar stenosis so factoring that into riding plans.

I have managed to do lots of mechanical horse lessons which have been immensely helpful and my accuracy in riding has improved hugely - last (real horse) lesson I rode through a dressage test and managed to get all the movements at pretty much the right place including nailing 10m half circles so I was feeling pretty pleased with myself. And I’ve been doing Pilates and going to the gym so getting stronger which can only be a good thing..

Finally I threw caution to the winds and bought dd a new eventer - it’s been a bit of a learning curve as he’s sensitive and quirky but they’re starting to gel as a partnership and he’s looking pretty smart. They did their first event together last weekend and he was fabulous, really relaxed (he can be quite spooky at home) and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself.

Yes indeed @Pleasedontdothat DD and I got our two favorite horses for the week.

Day one did some nice walks on the Cross, and some cantering outside, day two my horse tripped just when I was asking for a canter then he bucked me off. :-(. Managed to not break my wrist but did really hurt my ribs despite the airbag.

So now can't ride or roll over in bed. V annoying indeed.

I love the idea of a wall planner!
I haven’t done much jumping which was my aim but we did do a dressage test at a local club yesterday

Don't go out to many shows etc as don't have transport.

First event of the year which was show cross has been cancelled due to hard ground.

We also like TREC & horseback archery which are less dependent on ground conditions.