Are you guilty of only looking for longer gaps of time to work with your horse? I mean, what could you possibly do in 15 minutes or less to move things forward, right?! If this has been your thinking up to now, you’re not alone. I was guilty of this… To be honest, I think we have all been there. However, once I began to reframe what those smaller chunks of time could be, everything changed!
Get the 50+ Inspiring Ideas to do with your horse when you find yourself with a small gap of timeCLICK HERE
What would happen if you began seeing the value in finding small gaps of time to connect with your horse? Using short, focused time periods—15 minutes or less—can be a game changer for you, your riding, and your partnership with your horse.
Here’s why becoming more intentional (and excited) about the odd 15 minutes or so a few times a week can transform everything for both of you.
The C Word – Consistency…
So many riders want to become more consistent. And, a lot of them want to swipe some magic wand and make it happen! It won’t. The only way to start becoming consistent is to be intentional. And doing short regular things with your horse are just that.
Especially when you want to get started with something, the short sessions are easier and often more effective for both of you. And because they are more likely to get done, they create steady progress.
Your horse probably loves consistency, most horses thrive on it. Use this to your benefit and begin using each of those 15 minutes or less gaps of time to build something together. These small moments, when repeated, add up over time. It just requires you to have a plan for them.
GET THE FREE DOWNLOAD, 50+ INSPIRED IDEAS & EXERCISES FOR WHEN YOU’VE 15 MINUTES OR LESS WITH YOUR HORSE BY CLICK HERE
Focus on Quality…
I’m going to assume that you have something you and your horse are working towards… If not, you now have your ‘Step 1’ ;) Once you know what you’re longer term vision is for you both, you can then begin thinking about ‘smaller steps’ that will compliment or act as stepping stones to that goal.
Which activity will make more sense for your 15 minutes or less with your horse; something fun, partnership building, or a training related focus session?
Keep in mind that shorter training sessions can often result in a breakthrough for you and your horse. We often think that the longer the ride, the better. But fatigue plays a big role in both of your work. So by keeping the session short and sweet, often you can achieve more. Especially when you’re consistent with them. This applies to all 3 categories; fun, partnership, or training.
Get the 50+ Inspiring Ideas to do with your horse when you find yourself with a small gap of time CLICK HERE
1. Fun
Fun is enjoying the moment. The process. It is usually not an ‘end goal’ or ‘endpoint’. We rarely say “I am struggling on through the mud now because I will feel like it was fun when I’m finished”. Fun is the actual activity. And, fun is for both horse and rider.
It is something that you can do together and that has the single goal of allowing you both to enjoy yourselves and each other’s company.
And please don’t make the mistake of confusing things that you enjoy as being fun for all involved! You horse must enjoy the activities as well. I’ve created a free list with some ‘fun’ activities you can enjoy with your horse in 15 minutes or less when you CLICK HERE. Download it and put it somewhere you can quickly access when the next 15 minutes or so of ‘free time’ pops up for you and your horse :)
2. Partnership
No matter how long you have been working with your horse, you can always deepen the trust in your relationship. Short, meaningful interactions can really help to improve this bond between you both. And, strengthening the partnership will also help to improve the training. It’s a win, win :)
By focusing your 15 minutes or less on strengthening the partnership, you can build trust, reduce anxiety, and increase your horse’s willingness to cooperate – especially in those less than ideal moments you encounter later.
Your horse is always responding to your body language, mood, and energy. By intentionally showing up with ‘partnership building’ in mind, you can strengthen the emotional connection between you. I’ve listed some partnership building activities you can do with your horse in 15 minutes or less in a free download CLICK HERE
3. Training or Developing
This is exactly what it sounds like; activities that will help you or your horse to improve mentally, physically, or emotionally. And when it comes to training, I am a big believer in keeping things simple. Simple exercises that focus on simple outcomes. Having a time restriction of 15 minutes or less makes this even easier to apply!
Often, if you are not seeing progress (usually because Fun and Partnership are not included in the plan), it feels ‘right’ to instinctively jump to complicated where training is concerned. Choose simple exercises and rather work on them through the filter of what you want to achieve in your riding.
I am going to urge you think simple when it comes to training when working with your horse for 15 minutes or less.
Get the 50+ Inspiring Ideas to do with your horse when you find yourself with a small gap of timeCLICK HERE
More Opportunities – and Flexibility!
When you are planning out the coming week with yoru horse, actively look for those 15 minute or less time ‘gaps’. Shorter time blocks are much easier to make happen, especially if you’ve a busy schedule. And then decide what approach would best help you and your horse make the most of that time together.
Stop waiting for a large chunk of free time, which for so many riders are few and far between! Rather begin looking for those smaller pockets of time where you can do something valuable with your horse.
Whether it’s practicing groundwork, working on specific exercises, or simply grooming, you’ll find that you have more opportunities to interact with your horse throughout the week. And because you’re intentional, they will act as stepping stones to your longer term vision.
Get the 50+ Inspiring Ideas to do with your horse when you find yourself with a small gap of timeCLICK HERE
Your 15 Minutes or Less List
Having a list of potential activities is a great way to get started with making the most of those smaller pockets of time. I’ve created one for you that you can download HERE for free. My suggestion is to print it off and then add to it over the coming weeks and months.
When you begin to see the benefits of intentionally connecting with your horse during those smaller 15 minutes or less time pockets, you will actively begin searching for them in your week!
Happy Riding
Lorna
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- 50+ Inspiring Ideas to do with your horse in 15 Minutes or Less CLICK HERE
- Stop Wasting and Start Investing in Time with Your Horse
- Planning Your Ride Part 1 – Fun
- Planning Your Ride Part 2 – Partnership & Connection
- Planning Your Ride Part 3 – Training & Developing
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Online Training to Help Your Riding
Connect with Lorna online:-
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- Connect in the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast
- Connect in the Virtual Stable Lounge Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499737810323191
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