If you don't plan your next ride on your horse, it's your time to start now!

It's best to be prepared and that includes your ride time! Planning and preparing your rides helps to increase productivity, efficiency, understanding, and overall enjoyment for both you and your horse!

How do you plan for your ride? Glad you asked :)

1. Create a goal for your next ride!

Look at what you hope to achieve or need to improve on. Ask yourself, what does your dream ride on that horse look like? Use your most recent rides for comparison! Some goals may be improving his/her stop or lead changes, while others could be as simple as getting your horse back into shape. Be sure to write these goals down to take with you to the barn! Remember change does not happen overnight, it is a step-by-step journey!

2. Research drills to help achieve your new goals

Once you know your goals, it's time to create a program to get you closer to them! Get a series of drills together that will help you two improve!

3. Consult with a trainer

It never hurts to have a second opinion! Talk with a trainer about realistic expectations of you and your horse. They can help you to create small goals and give you drills to make those dreams a reality!

4. Write your program down

After you found drills and the tips you needed, write down everything you plan to do for your next ride! This includes a plan for your warm-up, your workout, and your cool down. Now bring your written plan with you to the barn! Remember that it is always an adventure with horses, so be willing to be flexible. Your ride may not go exactly as planned, but the written instructions will help you stay on task!

5. Video your ride

Videoing your rides gives you something to look back on and evaluate! You can redesign your ride based on the video. Then when you have multiple videos, you can look at how you improved over time!

Happy riding, cowgirls!