Weather in Oz

Living on the East Coast of Australia can be a wild ride when it comes to weather. It’s probably the most talked-about challenge that horse owners face here. From itchy horses to mud fever to abscesses, we often find ourselves doing more veterinary care than actual riding.
This summer is shaping up to be no different. Some weather outlets are predicting extreme heat, while others are forecasting one of the wettest seasons yet.
Either way, we horse owners need to be ready to pivot when it comes to our training days.

Lately, I’ve been working on leaning into the challenges I face and finding ways to work with them, rather than doing nothing at all.
My first example is with Saffi. I’m bringing her back into work now that my travel schedule has eased, so we’re revisiting all her foundation exercises. The other day it was a scorching 35 degrees, so I thought what better time to work on her acceptance of the hose, which will eventually lead to her being washed? I hadn’t spent any “hose time” with her since owning her. I know it sounds crazy, but our horses are really just left to be horses aside from the necessary care. So I took her to the hose, which she’s not overly fond of, and we spent some time working on that.

The second example also involves Saffi. The next day we trimmed her feet, and she was a little sensitive. Once again, I had to pivot. I don’t mind asking a horse to work when they’re a little tender, but in this case, I felt that pushing through would have been counterproductive and may turn training into a negative experience. So, back to the hose we went. She only needed to stand still, and rather than doing nothing, I saw it as a good investment.

After all, teaching her to accept the hose isn’t just about the hose. It’s about building confidence, learning to tolerate a “tickling” sensation, and accepting things that don’t always feel great. It’s all connected. The more confident your horse becomes in one area, the more it flows into everything else.

I’ve written many articles and filmed videos about what we can do when we have to pivot. This season, let’s be prepared to keep working and training our horses even when the weather isn’t on our side.
Yours in soft feel,

T x

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