3 mins
There’s never a better time to set new goals for you and your horse than at the start of the year! Whether it be goals like competing at a certain level of competition, having more lessons, or simply just riding more. Goals and resolutions can help you keep your horsey journey on the right track! We sat down with some of Team Horseland to chat about their goals for the new year to give you inspiration for your own equestrian goals in 2023.
Sophia Hill
“The last few years have been incredibly hard for planning competition programs, as it seems every second event has been cancelled for a different reason! Hopefully 2023 is going to provide a little more consistency! My main goal for next year is to compete Hughie in the 5* at Adelaide. This will be our first time at this level, however we have been qualified for a while now and I’m looking forward to giving it a go. Along with this goal is to improve Hughie’s dressage! This has been a challenge his whole career, but we are finally achieving some really good work at home, and I hope to get better at being able to produce the same work in the arena at a competition!
For my other horses, it’s all about producing them through the levels as they are confident and ready. Tulara Baltango and Seattle Park will both step up to 2*level in the first half of next year, and hopefully aim at Melbourne 3 Day Event. Tulara Ziniero is aimed at the 4yo jumping class at Dressage and Jumping with The Stars and will continue progressing up the show jumping ranks. I also have another few 4yo’s who will be ready to come out for their first competitions, so let’s hope they are well-behaved.”
Gemma Tinney
Not every goal has to be about horses! Gemma Tinney has some great resolutions which are perfect for riding and everyday life…
“Remember my goals, plus always look towards the big picture. Secondly - practice mindfulness… Third - Look at my emails daily.”
Stuart Tinney
We horse people can often just have tunnel vision and are always putting our horses first, but for Stuart Tinney his New Year Resolutions are all about balance…
“Creating a more balanced life! PLUS, again, ALWAYS wear sunscreen even if it’s overcast! Keeping my inbox actioned!”
Andrew Cooper
Although some of our favourite competitions returned in 2022, there were sadly many cancellations due to unprecedented weather. Andrew Cooper is looking forward to some major ones returning in 2023…
“Having five 4* horses competing across all the major 3 Day Events, and I’m particularly looking forward to hopefully competing back at Adelaide 3 Day Event. It's been a few years thanks to COVID! The 2023 eventing calendar has just been published and I am excited to bring the performance horses back into work to prepare for the first event in February, it looks to be a strong year for eventing.
We have recently taken over Washpool Lodge and we are really looking forward to growing the business and creating a great environment for the racehorses. Ultimately the thoroughbred is the perfect eventer, and it’s nice being able to put good grounding into these young horses. (I always have my eyes open for the next champion).”
Bek Italiano
“The ponies and I are hoping to see a few more comps in 2023. With a lot of cancelled events because of the weather and rain fall, it has put yet another delay on the horse upgrading.
When setting goal/plans for the eventing season, things always change. Either injured horses, injured people, COVID and now we’ve had extreme weather, we always need to have multiple calendars and plans. End goals are for all 3 horses to go to Melbourne 3 Day Event, with Cadi in the CCI4*L, Emit in the CCI3*L and Huntah in the CCI2*L. Emit is qualified and could go there tomorrow but a few more runs at the level under his belt would be great. Cadi was meant to have stepped up to 4* and have 3 runs/qualifiers under his belt already but not the case yet, so will need some good runs to still achieve this. Huntah had only just stepped up to 1* and was meant to have had 5 runs at this leave this year to then have one run at the start of 2023 and move up to 2*. Being a C categorized rider I only need one 2* qualifier to take him to Melbourne. So we’ll see what his confidence is like and how he travels in 2023 to see if he is ready. Let’s hope the weather stays nice for us and we can get these ponies out doing what we all love most.”
You’re never too young or too old to start making some New Years’ resolutions and goals. At Horseland we’re here to support your equestrian journey and help you achieve your goals! Check out our great range of products for horses and riders. Our friendly team is always eager to provide assistance and recommendations with our products. Visit us in-store, call 1800 021 980 between the hours of 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, or send an email to onlinesales@horseland.com.au.
