Ending the Season on a High: Essential Tips for Endurance Riders

For those of us based in the UK, the season doesn't really have very long left 😥 and for me 2024 never really got going! Nonetheless, I do love to take a moment to reflect on what has worked well and what we can do differently to finish strong but also to start the 2025 season with renewed vigour. It is after all so important to have something to look forward to the other side of winter as we all know it can be a tough time!

So whether you're an experienced rider or new to the sport, ending the season on a high note requires (just a bit more) planning, self-care, and of course - motivation. Here’s some of my top tips to help you maximise your final rides and wrap up the season with a sense of accomplishment and readiness for the next one.

Evaluate Your Season

Before making any new plans or even if (good for you) the season has gone perfectly and you are still following Plan A, it's always good to take a moment to assess your season. Reflect on your goals, achievements, and areas for improvement. Review your vet sheets, consider your performance in various events, and note what worked well and what didn’t. It does help if you make some notes after each ride so that you don't look back with the haze of a poor memory but do your best to be self-critical even if you can't remember too many of the specifics. This evaluation will help you identify key areas to focus on as you approach your final rides.

Set a Target for Your Final Rides

Having a clear goal for your last few rides can keep you motivated and focused. I often start to feel tired at this point in the season. It's certainly been the case when I've been competing at top level or competing several horses. I don't have to tell you how much time endurance riding takes and if you've been having a busy year then it will take some motivation to get you through to the finish line. Whether it’s achieving a personal best, mastering a new more technical ride, or simply enjoying a well-earned fun ride, setting a specific target gives you a purpose and something to strive for. Make sure your goal is realistic and achievable based on your current fitness, training and previous performances.

A local pleasure ride to finish the season last year

Fine-Tune Your Training

I kind of alluded to this already but it's really key you avoid burnout. And actually not just for you, but for your horse/s too. At this point of the season their fitness really should be were you need it to be and I would absolutely be advising that you are training more conservatively with a strong focus on core strength, mobility and overall wellbeing as the miles really should have been done already. I like to incorporate some shorter, high-intensity sessions to boost your speed and endurance without overloading the legs too. Pay attention to recovery and rest to ensure you’re in top shape for your final rides.

Check Your Gear

Wouldn't it be nice to get to the end of the season without having to buy anything new! Hopefully you don't have to but the wear and tear of another endurance season's worth of rides and training may mean it's time for a thorough kit inspection. Ensure your saddle, bridle, and other tack are in good condition and your own riding kit too. Proper maintenance and preparation of your gear can prevent issues during your rides and help to ensure you finish the season with out tack malfunctions.

Focus on Nutrition and Hydration

I'll probably never stop harping on about this but we as riders just don't look after ourselves enough. I've recently published an entire blog just about ride day nutrition which you can read here. Endurance riding places significant demands on your body, so maintaining proper nutrition and hydration is essential. As the season winds down, continue to fuel your body appropriately and that includes carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats. Perhaps even use the last few rides of the season to test out new fuelling strategies for yourself (and your horse).

Of course there is so much to say on horse nutrition and hydration so it's best you just refer to the completed guide here.

Prioritise Horse Health

Obviously this goes without saying that this should be at the forefront of our minds every day of the year but as the season comes to a close it's another good time to review how your horse is moving and how well they are coping mentally with the training and the competition schedule. I know that I'm very a much a 'less is more' kind of person and therefore I end up actually competing far less frequently than I'd really like to but nonetheless, really consider whether your final season rides are in your horse's best interest. Maybe you could do one less or go for a shorter distance? Things to look out for definitely are enthusiasm to work, body condition, any signs of stiffness or filling in the legs, feedback from your bodyworker etc. are all helpful in making your final plans.

Celebrate Your Achievements

Let's not forget to take time to celebrate what we've achieved too. I know that I personally find this quite hard to do as I'm a perfectionist and I'm always challenging myself to do better but it's so important to self-reward too - no matter how big or small the success was. This is a tough sport and we have to recognise all the hard work that's gone into training and the progress you’ve made throughout the season. Celebrate with friends, treat yourself and your horse, or simply enjoy a moment of reflection. Acknowledging your successes definitely boosts morale and confidence ready for a strong finish to the season.

Plan for the Off-Season

By this point in the blog you've probably realised that I really do love a plan 😉 Sadly all good things come to an end and so the 2024 season cannot go on forever. Now is as good a time as any to start considering your off-season plans. For some people this is a complete non-horse time until Christmas and horse's have their shoes off and are just in the field for some down time. For others this could be time to work on new skills or improve on areas of weakness. I personally quite like to continue working my horses but on a much lighter scale and work more on our relationship and functional training without the intensity of speed or distance. Since my horse's are barefoot 100% of the time I also don't have to factor in the annual shoe-taking-off-down-time 😆

Chip and I often take part in dressage competitions in the off season

Enjoy the Ride

Ultimately, and I admit I am one of the first to forget this, endurance riding is about the joy of spending hours with our horses and challenging our ability to get them fit and look after them well over varied terrain. As you complete your final rides of the season, whatever and wherever they may be, focus on enjoying the ride and be grateful for your wonderful horse/s.

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