Rider Self Care So You're Performance Ready

Here are some healthy tips so that you're at your best for the show ring!

Show season is here guys and I hope you’re as excited as I am! Show season is my happy season. After all the work we do, our horses get to strut their stuff in front of everyone else. From finding the right supplement, and training schedule, to getting them squeaky clean, we do everything we can so our horse’s health is top notch before the shows. What I’ve noticed is that we tend to focus solely on our horses, and neglect our own health at shows. Trust me I get it, there’s not exactly time to worry about ourselves when we’re already worrying about our horse and our next course or test. Of course our horse’s health is crucial, but that doesn’t mean we need to forget about our own needs.

This first tip needs to happen before the horse show even starts. Get enough sleep. Sleep gives your body time to recuperate from the day before and it also prepares you for the next day. While you’re sleeping, your brain is working to improve your mental health, emotional balance, productivity, and creativity. I don’t know about you, but I definitely need that extra emotional support for horse shows. Not only does sleep help with your mental condition, but it also allows your body to work on your physical health like your immune system. We don’t need to be getting a cold before a horse show! I know it’s hard not to stay up late to pack since most of you have work or school, so try to have a game plan for packing in the most efficient way possible. Horse shows are long and hard, so try your best to get enough sleep so you can be mentally and physically prepared for whatever comes your way.

Next is to not skip breakfast. I’m super guilty of this! We need to get nutrition into our system, so even if you just eat half of a granola bar, it will make all the difference! A friend of mine who is a counselor said that if you don’t eat breakfast, it will actually increase your anxiety. If you’re someone who gets really nervous or nauseous at horse shows like me, try just getting something really simple like a piece of bread or a cracker.

If you really just don’t want to eat breakfast, then be sure and pack some snacks. Some of my

favorite snacks to bring are grape tomatoes, grapes, carrots, and Pretzel Crisps (I love the garlic parmesan flavor). You, of course, can share your carrots with your horse as well!

Another great snack are nuts like pistachios, almonds, and walnuts. Why I like these snacks is because they're easy to pack and they aren’t messy. Plus they are great alternatives to what the concession stand probably has.

Drinking enough water is pretty obvious but also very significant. Summer show season means rising temperatures and a lot of sun, so it’s important to stay hydrated. Keeping hydrated helps keep you from getting overheated and also helps flush out toxins and fluids that make your muscles and joints sore. If it’s crucial for our horses to be hydrates, why would it not be crucial for our health? Just pack a couple of water bottles with you and you’ll be all set!

We pay a lot of attention to our skin to make sure it’s healthy. We get moisturizers, cleansers, and toners, but at horse shows it’s easy to forget about sun protection. At most horse shows you’re outside in the blazing sun for hours upon hours. In order to take care of our delicate skin, it’s important not only to wear a hat but also sunscreen. Don’t forget about your eyes either! Protect your eyes by showing off your favorite sunnies at the show!

At your next horse show, try to show your body some love and care. You may still be tired after the show, but if you take these tips, your body will thank you for giving it the stuff it needs to generate some energy! We need to be in top shape if we’re going to make sure our horses are healthy as well!

Just don't end up like this at your next horse show!

Wishing you sunny days and happy rides, Katherine.