Shorter days, colder temperatures, tricky footing, and excitable horses can make it harder to keep both you and your riders motivated during the winter months. These challenges can make our job as instructors even more demanding through the winter. But despite these hurdles, winter also presents a perfect opportunity to focus on growth, learning, and community—for both you and your riders.
This 4 week, effort-based challenge designed specifically for you to share with your riders of all ages and skill levels. This challenge will help you foster collaboration, maintain motivation, encourage skill-building and horsemanship all winter long. By focusing on effort over outcome, both you and your riders will be inspired to grow, connect, and continue progressing no matter the weather!
What's Included in the Challenge?
This effort-based challenge is designed for riders of all ages and levels, ensuring that everyone can participate, whether they have their own horse or not. The challenge emphasizes that horsemanship goes beyond just riding—it’s about personal growth, community, and understanding the many facets of what it means to be a horse person.
Each week you will receive an email with ways to earn points in each of the following categories:
- Riding and groundwork: Improve skills both on the ground and in the saddle. This category focus on improving communication and relationships with horses to keep riders engaged and growing.
- Horsemanship: Go beyond just riding and groundwork to include horse care, grooming, understanding equine behavior, and much more! It’s important for all riders to learn the full scope of horsemanship.
- Personal Growth: The challenge encourages riders to set goals, build knowledge, reflect on their journey, and push their boundaries.
- Community: The challenge fosters connection between riders, competitors, instructors, and the larger community no matter their individual skills or experience.
Why This Challenge Works:
- Effort-Based: The challenge isn’t about who’s the best rider —it’s about putting in the effort and committing to growth. Every rider, whether they are on a horse every day or just once a week, can participate and track their progress.
- Inclusive for All: You have riders that don't own horse? No problem! This challenge is designed to be competitive for riders even if they are working with lesson horses, leased horses, or if they are working in the barn environment. In fact, I encourage you to compete against your riders!
- A Focus on Knowledge & Respect: This challenge helps riders recognize the bigger picture—both in how we care for and connect with horses.
- Build a Stronger Barn Community: This is a fantastic way to bring your barn together through some friendly competition. Riders will support each other in their efforts, help everyone see the value of a broader picture of horsemanship thus recognizing the value in experience and expertise.
The fun part is, you can compete AGAINST your riders!
Are you as excited as we are?