Giddy’up, Bon Voyage

Additionally, when you’re finished, you’re finished. There is no dirty work or chores that follow, no errands to the feed store, no dinner to fix. You get to entertain that child-like pleasure of riding without any other drains on your enjoyment or energy. It is critical to experience this on occasion to stay fresh and inspired in any pastime.

Second, riding holidays allow you to ride horses other than your own, which is necessary for refining your skills. Many students ride only the same one or two horses for years, which sometimes hides holes in their skills and sensitivity. I always encourage students to ride different horses when they’re able. The caveat to this, however, is to ride horses that are going to improve you. Your friend’s bucking youngster, or sister’s crazy former racehorse, probably won’t sharpen your dressage skills. A riding retreat offering well-schooled, mannerly horses will help you reach your goals faster than riding the same horses day after day.

Next, these kinds of riding vacations typically bring some challenges along the way. While maybe not blissful in the moment, these are productive. These hiccups might include a difference of opinion with your instructor, a philosophical divergence, a confusion of language, or struggle with a particular horse’s canter cue. These challenges force each of us to get outside our own box. They cause us to take a wider lens, perhaps rethink our own ideas or skill sets. In the end, we might choose to trust more deeply what we already know; but we might just as likely opt to throw away some preconceived techniques or notions to adopt fresh ones. Having things shaken up a little helps us stay fresh rather than just pedantic in our approach to riding and training.