Autumn Changes My World

What shall we explore next?

Autumn arrives in hints at first. The evenings draw in, the air feels different first thing in the morning and our horses’ coats start to change. My inbox and social feeds begin to fill with the colours, clothes and ideas of the new season, while conversations around the yard turn towards what comes next and what we might be doing over the months ahead. There is still plenty of autumn to enjoy outside with our horses, alongside a growing anticipation of a winter of schooling, training and learning together. What shall we explore next?

I get very involved in the colours and textures that arrive with a new season, wondering how they might fit into my world. Do I want something in my wardrobe, would it look good on a horse, would they be more comfortable in it, or does the colour or texture spark another idea altogether? A new collection might inspire something I am creating, find its way onto a Pinterest board, be saved for later or simply become something I want to share and talk about with friends.

The same buzz of energy, uncertainty and possibility that I feel with a new season can be visible in our horses too. I know they read our energy, but they also bring their own instincts, powers of observation and responses to longer evenings, changing temperatures and different forage. Our horses can feel a bit fresher at this time of year, which gives us another reason to pay attention, listen to their responses and keep the dialogue between us going.

Being in the moment with your horse gives you a place to start. Pay attention to their responses, where their attention is and how they feel in themselves, while continuing the dialogue between you. What you notice gives you information to support your horse today and think about where you might go next together.

What we notice today also sits within the context of what we already know about our partnership. What are our strengths, how do they feel and what is it about them that we enjoy together? My horse and I really enjoy simple changes, particularly that feeling when the aid becomes almost invisible and the transition happens from a thought. Could I look for that same feeling in a trot to canter transition, or in a transition within the pace? Could we keep that feeling of balance and suppleness through counter canter, or explore it on different sized circles?

As autumn gets a bit colder and muddier, I start looking forward to a winter of schooling and all the things we could explore. We can become absorbed in a question for a while.

What are you looking forward to exploring the next time you ride?

If you’d like something new to try, I have an exercise waiting for you.