The start of a new year is the perfect time to think about setting your riding goals. Setting goals gives you the opportunity to consider what you would like to accomplish and plan how to get there. For riders, goals are a great way to stay motivated, develop our skills and perform better. To succeed, it’s vital to set the right goals so find out how to make 2023 your best riding year yet.

Finding the right goals for you

It’s easy to get caught up in what other people are hoping to achieve in the new year. Maybe it’s to ride more, move up a level competing, or qualify for a certain event. Have a think about what really matters to you though. Reflecting on the past year can be a good way to work out future goals. Ask yourself the following questions:

What did I achieve last year?
Where is there room for improvement?
What did I enjoy most about riding last year?

Perhaps you went Eventing last year and the Dressage phase let you down. If you want to place in the top three this year, working on your flatwork and then achieving a personal best in the dressage arena could be one of your goals.

Goals don’t have to be related to competitions. If hacking is what you enjoy most, your aim could be to try three new riding routes or hack a certain distance.

You can also have different riding goals. Some of these might be performance-based, like scoring higher in dressage or getting a double clear out eventing. Others might be process-based, like working on your position in the saddle or improving your horse’s suppleness.

These goals will typically help you achieve the performance-based goals. Other goals may be purely for fun like trying a new discipline or joining a riding club. A mix of goal types, as well as long and short-term goals, will keep you motivated.

Setting Achievable Riding Goals

It’s important to consider how challenging your goals are. Dreaming big is great but don’t set yourself up for failure by setting the goal posts too far. Equally, don’t make your goals too easy if you have a whole year ahead of you. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone (within reason!) will give you a greater sense of accomplishment.

Talking with your instructor can also be a good way to set goals. They will be aware of what you are capable of and will support your riding journey.

To make a big goal achievable, split it into smaller goals. For example, if your aim is to compete at 90cm in showjumping then consider how you can break this down. Perhaps the first step is booking regular jumping lessons. Then, it might be to hire out a new arena or enter a clear round jumping class. Once you’ve completed that, you could compete in a few 80cm classes until you and your horse are consistently going clear. When you compete at 90cm, you will have done all the preparation to be successful and achieve your goal.

Having one big goal can be daunting but breaking it down into smaller milestones makes it easier to get started and stay motivated.

Make Your Goals Specific

Set yourself clear and measurable goals. ‘I want to become a better rider this year’ can’t be measured so you won’t know when you’ve achieved it. Having a specific goal in mind gives you something to visualize and work towards with purpose.

Instead of wanting to ‘be a better rider’ consider what being a better rider means to you. Perhaps it’s having the confidence to hack out solo, being able to ride shoulder-in, or getting over 65% in a dressage test.

If the goal is to ride more this year, spell out what riding more actually is. Perhaps you haven’t been riding at all lately so you need to book in a weekly lesson at your favorite riding school again. Or, your horse has been out of work and you need to put together a fitness plan to get you both riding again.

A specific time frame for a goal is an effective way to stay on track. This could be to achieve something within a certain number of months, or qualify for an event like Badminton Grassroots. Work backward from the end date and set yourself smaller goals to complete.

Dealing with Setbacks

Remember that with horses things don’t always go to plan. Having setbacks along the way is normal and it’s how you bounce back from these that truly matters. Building some extra time and flexibility into your plans will ensure your goal is still achievable, even if an unexpected lameness or event cancellation gets in the way.

Getting your Riding Instructor, friends or family on board is also a good idea. They can not only help you stay accountable to your goals but can offer some extra support if you’re dealing with a setback.

It’s also ok to change your goals. No matter how good your intentions are at the start of the year, we can’t predict what will happen. Being adaptable to things outside of your control will mean you can still make progress.

Horses will always be horses, so it's important to expect setbacks due to injury, illness, fitness levels, the list goes on. It's important to re-assess your goals and make them work for both you and your horse during setbacks.

Working on your Goals Out of the Saddle

Time spent in the saddle isn’t the only way to get closer to your riding goals. Try these suggestions:

Learn from the pros - attend demos or watch online masterclasses from trainers and professional riders. They might be tackling similar issues to you and can give you some ideas to try at home.

Work on your fitness - riders are athletes too! We put a lot of time and effort into getting our horses fit so treat yourself the same way. Adding some cardio like swimming, cycling or running can help improve your stamina. Weight training or yoga are also a great way to improve your strength and flexibility. Being stronger and fitter will not only improve your riding but make it easier for your horse to perform at their best too.

Track your progress - a diary can be a useful tool when working towards your goals. You can use this to record your rides with a note about what you did, what went well and anything you want to work on next time.

Plan your rides - make the most of your riding time by planning it out beforehand. Having a clear idea of what you want to achieve in the session will help you stay focused instead of riding around with no purpose. Try some exercises to improve something specific like jumping skinnies or your horse’s transitions. There might be less opportunity to do your own thing if you’re in a riding lesson but come to your lesson with an idea of what you’d like to work on. Hopefully your instructor is already aware of your goals and helping you work towards them anyway.

By setting specific, achievable riding goals that are right for you, success won’t be left to chance. Smaller milestones that are aligned with your end goal will help you stay motivated through the year. Remember to celebrate the small victories and enjoy the ride!

What are your riding goals this year? We'd love you to share them with us!

Setting 2023 Goals for Horse and Rider

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