Tag: challenge

When we think of horses, we think of the ones in our own lives.  The ones that are showered with love and care on a daily basis.  The ones that we will bend over backwards to keep safe and healthy. However, there are many other horses throughout the world who rely on some very special people and organisations.

Charities throughout the world pick up the pieces for the animals who, for many different reasons, have been forgotten about.  These animals lives depend on the work these different charity organisations perform on a daily basis.

Of course, these charities have the same expenses as everyone with animals, the difference being that a lot of the animals they tend to are sick or injured.  We all know what that means; more time, money and more equipment than normal is needed to nurse and care for the animals in desperate need.

So today, for Day 7 of the SfS 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge, I am urging you to firstly donate either your time, your money or some equipment to an animal charity of your choice.

Many of the charities rely solely on the donations of the public to keep their doors opened.  Volunteers are also a massive part of the work being done by charities throughout the world, so if you have a few hours to spare, maybe you can give the gift of your time.

Use your presence on social media today to direct much needed attention to a charity that you think are doing fantastic work.  Urge your friends and family to do the same – and to also donate something. 

If everyone reading this swaps just one cup of hot chocolate or coffee a week, and instead donates that money to a charity; the impact will be felt by so many desperate animals throughout the world.

So, do something today to help the animals who also deserve but lack love, care and attention… The two charities that Strides for Success is donating to are My Lovely Horse Rescue in Ireland and the Cart Horse Protection Association in Cape Town.  If you are unsure of which charity to donate to, perhaps you might consider either of these two :)

#Sfs12DaysOfChristmas #12DayChristmasEquestrianChallenge #MakeEveryRideGreat #30DayRiderFitnessChallenge #EquestrianChristmas #PayingItForward #FitforRiding #RidingforWellness #EquestrianLifestyle #ChristmasChallenge #SfSChristmasChallengeDay1

The Strides for Success 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge is an opportunity for equestrians throughout the world to give their favourite equestrian businesses, bloggers and horse people in general a big virtual shout out & “Thank You” throughout the 2016 build up to Christmas!

To join in the fun, simply CLICK HERE and help spread the love & gratitude throughout the horsey world.  

When you join the 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge you will receive the daily emails, with links to the videos that go into a little more detail for each day.  You can also join the Facebook Group and will be in with a chance to win some goodies for yourself this Christmas as well!

Happy Christmas
Lorna

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12

And help us to spread the Christmas goodwill all over the equestrian world by sharing the challenge with your friends and fellow riders.  Thank You!

Ahhh, finally – giving love where love is really due!  Today we turn our thoughts to the trusty steeds in our lives.  The reason you are even here reading this right now.  Your horse!

Our horses are what makes us ‘equestrians’.  They are such an important part of our lives.  They are our friends, our confidants, our councillors, our companions.  They don’t judge us, they rarely answer back (okay, sometimes they do!), and for the most part, they are happy to just accept you for being you.

So today, Day 6 of the SfS 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge, celebrate your horse by doing something just for him.  Something he will enjoy – that has no ‘benefit’ for you…  (We all realise that just being around your horse is a benefit all on its own, but you know what I mean). 

Does your horse love a good massage?  Perhaps there are treats that you bake that he goes crazy for?  Maybe it’s being taken out, via head-collar and lead rope, for a pick of tasty grass if he is stabled.   It could be a turnout – with a mud patch that he just LOVES to roll in…

Whatever it is that your horse enjoys, not what is easy or enjoyable for you, is what I want you to do today.  Make it all about him.  Take the twenty minutes to walk with to his favourite grass patch, bake the treats or give him a massage…

He won’t be able to thank you.  However I personally think that our horses just allowing us to be in their presence and interact with them like we do, is thanks enough.

Share a photo of your horse enjoying his treat and use the hashtags below so others can be inspired to do something special for their horse as well

#Sfs12DaysOfChristmas #12DayChristmasEquestrianChallenge #MakeEveryRideGreat #30DayRiderFitnessChallenge #EquestrianChristmas #PayingItForward #FitforRiding #RidingforWellness #EquestrianLifestyle #ChristmasChallenge #SfSChristmasChallengeDay1

The Strides for Success 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge is an opportunity for equestrians throughout the world to give their favourite equestrian businesses, bloggers and horse people in general a big virtual shout out & “Thank You” throughout the 2016 build up to Christmas!

To join in the fun, simply CLICK HERE and help spread the love & gratitude throughout the horsey world.  

When you join the 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge you will receive the daily emails, with links to the videos that go into a little more detail for each day.  You can also join the Facebook Group and will be in with a chance to win some goodies for yourself this Christmas as well!

Happy Christmas
Lorna

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12

And help us to spread the Christmas goodwill all over the equestrian world by sharing the challenge with your friends and fellow riders.  Thank You!

You are reading this very blog post, so I am going to hazard a guess that you read other ‘equestrian related’ blogs in your free time…  Am I right?  I am also going to assume that there are a few that you love returning to, post after post, week after week, right?

We read blog posts for many different reasons.  It could be to learn something new regarding your riding or your horse.  Perhaps it is to gain a different perspective on a training idea.  It could be because of how the blogger explains things; using a language you understand.  Or it might even be that the blogger shares their day-to-day horsey life with you – and you feel less alone on your riding journey.

Whatever the reason, for Day 5 of the SfS 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge I want you to give your favourite blog or blogger a huge virtual shout out in the form of a ‘thank you for writing’ message. 

Unless you have a blog yourself, it is hard to comprehend the amount of time, energy and love that goes into creating and maintaining an active blog.  Time which I am sure the blogger has a million other things vying for.

Letting them know just how much you appreciate their efforts and musings will let them know that their time spent writing, is making a difference in the lives of other riders.

Share why you really enjoy their blog.  What particular aspect keeps you returning for more.  And remember to tag the blogger or blog in your post, so they will get the message. 

You can also visit their blog and, if there is a suitable place to do so (maybe their about page?), post a quick message including the same details, with a link to here so they know why you are doing this – and perhaps they too can get involved.

Bloggers are always looking for new readers, so make sure to include the hashtags below so other riders can discover your favourite blogger and also benefit from their writings :)

So, include the blog or blogger, the reason you are choosing them today, a link to their blog and the hashtags below in your post…  And, share this blog post as well, so other riders can share their favourite blogs as well.

#Sfs12DaysOfChristmas #12DayChristmasEquestrianChallenge #MakeEveryRideGreat #30DayRiderFitnessChallenge #EquestrianChristmas #PayingItForward #FitforRiding #RidingforWellness #EquestrianLifestyle #ChristmasChallenge #SfSChristmasChallengeDay1

The Strides for Success 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge is an opportunity for equestrians throughout the world to give their favourite equestrian businesses, bloggers and horse people in general a big virtual shout out & “Thank You” throughout the 2016 build up to Christmas!

To join in the fun, simply CLICK HERE and help spread the love & gratitude throughout the horsey world.  

When you join the 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge you will receive the daily emails, with links to the videos that go into a little more detail for each day.  You can also join the Facebook Group and will be in with a chance to win some goodies for yourself this Christmas as well!

Happy Christmas
Lorna

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12

And help us to spread the Christmas goodwill all over the equestrian world by sharing the challenge with your friends and fellow riders.  Thank You!

Very often the people we take for granted, are those closest to us.  Unfortunately, when it comes to our horses this usually means those we share the stables or facilities with.

Looking after horses is often a long, tiring and thankless job.  No one really thanks you for sweeping the yard, do they?  However as menial a job as it seems, imagine if it wasn’t regularly done…!  Not a pleasant picture, is it?

The other reason we can often be a little flippant with the people we meet at the stables is due to the fact that we are often rushing and racing.  Get in, ride, leave; Not exactly the greatest way to build relationships and make people feel noticed and thanked.

So today, for Day 4 of the SfS 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge, we are bringing things back home ~ your horses home to be exact. What can you do around the stables, paddocks or fields that will make someone else’s day a little easier?

Can you muck out a few stables?  Clean a saddle or three?  Or even tackle the dreaded sweeping of the yard?!  Maybe it might look like changing the blankets for your neighbours horse, so they don’t have to venture out in the cold to do it tonight.  It could mean washing, drying and applying hoof grease to another persons horse.   Think of things that definitely do not fall into the ‘enjoyable’ category of horse jobs!

Once you have completed your chosen chores, take a photo and post it online, using the hashtags so we can all give you a pat on the back ;)

Whether or not you choose to let the other person know what you’re up to will depend on what chore you choose.  Obviously something like feeding or bringing in / turning out will have to be done with the owners or barn managers permission.  However, I am sure very few people will object to an unauthorised sweep of the yard, muck out of the stables, or clean of the tack.

If you choose something that does not require special permission, perhaps saying nothing will be a bigger surprise for the person involved…  Just put it down to the stable fairies paying a visit ;)

Remember to include the hashtags below when you share you handiwork, and you never know, you might just inspire someone else to do the same.

#Sfs12DaysOfChristmas #12DayChristmasEquestrianChallenge #MakeEveryRideGreat #30DayRiderFitnessChallenge #EquestrianChristmas #PayingItForward #FitforRiding #RidingforWellness #EquestrianLifestyle #ChristmasChallenge #SfSChristmasChallengeDay1

The Strides for Success 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge is an opportunity for equestrians throughout the world to give their favourite equestrian businesses, bloggers and horse people in general a big virtual shout out & “Thank You” throughout the 2016 build up to Christmas!

To join in the fun, simply CLICK HERE and help spread the love & gratitude throughout the horsey world.  

When you join the 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge you will receive the daily emails, with links to the videos that go into a little more detail for each day.  You can also join the Facebook Group and will be in with a chance to win some goodies for yourself this Christmas as well!

Happy Christmas
Lorna

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12

And help us to spread the Christmas goodwill all over the equestrian world by sharing the challenge with your friends and fellow riders.  Thank You!

Who helped make 2016 a special one for you and your horse?  Which of your local equestrian based businesses went above and beyond – and deserve a little recognition for their efforts?

As equestrians, we know that it literally takes a village to keep both us and our horses safe, sound, watered, fed & fully kitted out!  Every year we require the services of so many different equestrian professionals to keep us well and in the saddle.  The farrier, the feed store, the tack store, the chiropractor, the dentist, the vet, the local riding school, the competition facilities, the boarding barns, the grooms and even the person who clips your horse in winter to name just a few…

These professionals are essential to our enjoyment of our horses and very often theirs is a bit of a thankless job…  You have the power to change all that though and, by calling them out online, not only expressing your gratitude, but perhaps also helping others find out about them and their wonderful work.

So today, for Day 3 of the SfS 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge,I want you to send a local equestrian business or professional a little love and shine a virtual spot light on them.  Write them a 5 star review or testimonial and post it online.  

Include in there a specific story or two of how they helped you and your horse.  Perhaps you have a ‘before and after’ tale that you can share?  Or maybe it is just their attention to detail that you want to rave about?  Maybe it is their willingness to go above and beyond, regardless of the circumstances and resources required…

Tell them how much you appreciate their efforts and how essential they are for both your horse and yourself.  Think about other people reading the review ~ what could you say that might entice them to give them a try?

When your review or testimonial is written, tag them on social media using their handle – and share, share, share to your heart’s content! Remember that posts with a picture have more impact online, so include a photo of the testimonial and a photo of a horse or two.  

Oh, and make sure you the hashtags below so we can all read your review.

Finally, to really make an impact in their business, I suggest adding a reminder in your phone to repost or re-share the review / testimonial again early next year.  Often things can get a little lost in the rush of things online around Christmas, so doing this again in January will definitely help spread the news.

#Sfs12DaysOfChristmas #12DayChristmasEquestrianChallenge #MakeEveryRideGreat #30DayRiderFitnessChallenge #EquestrianChristmas #PayingItForward #FitforRiding #RidingforWellness #EquestrianLifestyle #ChristmasChallenge #SfSChristmasChallengeDay1

The Strides for Success 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge is an opportunity for equestrians throughout the world to give their favourite equestrian businesses, bloggers and horse people in general a big virtual shout out & “Thank You” throughout the 2016 build up to Christmas!

To join in the fun, simply CLICK HERE and help spread the love & gratitude throughout the horsey world.  

When you join the 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge you will receive the daily emails, with links to the videos that go into a little more detail for each day.  You can also join the Facebook Group and will be in with a chance to win some goodies for yourself this Christmas as well!

Happy Christmas
Lorna

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12

And help us to spread the Christmas goodwill all over the equestrian world by sharing the challenge with your friends and fellow riders.  Thank You!

So where did it all begin for you?  Who was it that sparked your initial interest in all things equine; and who then nurtured it, allowing it to grow and flourish?

Imagine how different your life would be today if that person did not invest the time, energy and perhaps money into growing your interest in horses.  How different would your life be?  I would imagine that there are very few people in the world who can honestly say that their life would have been better without the horses… Maybe less of a struggle at times, perhaps more money in the bank account!

However when we consider what our horses teach us on a daily basis, I think we can all agree that our lives are brighter, more interesting and just all around “better” because of them…

Today, for Day 2 of the SfS 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge, I want you to take twenty minutes of your time and put pen to paper.  Thank that person, your person, who believed that your life would be better if there was a horse or two in it.  

Tell them how much of a positive impact horses have had in general on your life.  Include a memory or two that they can also enjoy remembering.  Paint a picture for them of how horses are included in your day-to-day life now as well…

When your letter is written, go the extra mile and, if possible, post or deliver it to them.  If that is not possible, just writing the letter is a wonderful way of reconnecting with those memories, those initial  feelings and also to cultivate gratitude; for that person and for the horses in your life. 

When your letter is written, take a quick photo – it does not have to be a close up – and share it, along with a story or two in the comments below or online.  If you are posting them online, copy and paste one or all of the hashtags below so others can follow you and your progress throughout the 12 days.

#Sfs12DaysOfChristmas #12DayChristmasEquestrianChallenge #MakeEveryRideGreat #30DayRiderFitnessChallenge #EquestrianChristmas #PayingItForward #FitforRiding #RidingforWellness #EquestrianLifestyle #ChristmasChallenge #SfSChristmasChallengeDay1

The Strides for Success 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge is an opportunity for equestrians throughout the world to give their favourite equestrian businesses, bloggers and horse people in general a big virtual shout out & “Thank You” throughout the 2016 build up to Christmas!

To join in the fun, simply CLICK HERE and help spread the love & gratitude throughout the horsey world.  

When you join the 12 Days of Christmas Equestrian Challenge you will receive the daily emails, with links to the videos that go into a little more detail for each day.  You can also join the Facebook Group and will be in with a chance to win some goodies for yourself this Christmas as well!

Happy Christmas
Lorna

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12

And help us to spread the Christmas goodwill all over the equestrian world by sharing the challenge with your friends and fellow riders.  Thank You!