As the show season winds down, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect — not just on our results in the ring, but on the bigger picture of both our riding and our horses’ well-being. This isn’t about beating ourselves up for what didn’t go perfectly, but about taking honest stock of where we’re at and what we can do better next year.
Ask yourself: How did I really perform this season? What did my coach have to remind me about over and over again? How did my horse handle the workload — mentally and physically? These questions are the foundation for making progress.
For me personally, I had a couple of wake-up calls. I realized early on that my horse wasn’t as fit as I’d hoped going into the summer. Over the winter, I thought I had built a solid base of strength, but once we started competing in the big grass fields, I noticed I hadn’t done nearly enough cardio. He was puffing at the end of my rounds. That’s on me, and it’s a note I’ll carry forward into next season.
Another area for me was the canter to the first fence — it took almost the entire season before I finally felt like I was consistently getting there with the right balance and rhythm.
The good news is, this is the best possible moment to take notes and make an action plan while everything is still fresh in our minds.
Gather Feedback
Start with your coach. Ask for direct, honest feedback. Sometimes it’s hard to hear — and it’s easy to let emotions colour our interpretation — but if you can separate the words from the feelings, the insights are gold.
Were you struggling with adjustability? For example, does your horse go forward beautifully, but when you jump in a little big to a line, is it difficult to bring them back? If so, spending time this fall and winter on adjustability lines might be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Then look at yourself. Have you developed a habit of twisting in the air? Are your eyes drifting, causing your horse to lose track of where you’re headed? Does your horse struggle with vertical-to-oxer combinations? These are the sorts of questions that only become clear when you take the time to review.
Pull up your videos and watch with a kind but critical eye. Try to identify patterns: Do you often miss in the same way? Is your canter-to-trot transition at the end of a trip slow or sloppy? Did handy classes reveal that your horse isn’t following your eye as much as you’d like?
Once you have your own observations, compare notes with your coach. Sometimes riders and coaches notice different things — and that conversation can be incredibly valuable. Together, you can build a clear plan of exercises and schooling that directly target your weaknesses, whether they’re technical, mental, or fitness-related.
Your Partner’s Well-Being
Don’t forget about your horse. They’ve been working hard, too, and the end of the season is the perfect time to check in with their needs. Does your horse seem tired? Maybe a little flat or sore? Could you have managed their calendar better? Fewer classes per show, fewer shows overall, or longer breaks between shows might have made a difference.
If they’re appearing a bit sore now, ask yourself: could I have planned for a mid-season vet visit, done more bodywork, or used therapy tools like blankets or magnetic boots? Often, it’s the small investments in your horse’s comfort that make the biggest difference in their longevity and enjoyment of the sport.
The Mental Game
This is also a great time to think beyond the technical aspects of riding. How was your mental game this season? Did nerves affect your riding at bigger shows? Did you feel calm and prepared walking into the ring, or were there moments you felt unready? Mental preparation is just as important as physical training, and recognizing where you struggled allows you to build strategies — whether that’s visualization, sports psychology, or simply more practice in pressure situations.
The transition between show season and off-season is an opportunity, not a downtime. It’s a chance to regroup, reset, and refine. By reflecting now, while the experiences are fresh, you can create a roadmap for the months ahead. And remember: this process isn’t about criticism, it’s about growth. Mistakes and weaknesses don’t define us; they guide us.
So as you close the book on this season, give yourself credit for the progress you made, kindness for the areas that need work, and curiosity about how to do better next year. Reflect with your coach, check in with your horse, and make your notes. Then use the off-season wisely to build the habits, fitness, and confidence that will carry you into a stronger, more successful year ahead.
***
Check out all of Holly Grayton’s useful training tips you can work on over the winter months here.
The Latest
