While nursing a bit of a hangover, and laughing at the bizarre experience yesterday when Stevie was mistaken for a Drag Queen (story for another day!), I decided to see how the EquiTeam library could help me get ready for autumn.
One of my friends says that Blair/Scone weekend is the end of Summer… autumn is upon us, she feels doomed, and it is a long time till the summer comes around. Visions of muddy horses, rain, welly boots and hunting for cosy gloves can cloud our vision as we look ahead.
But I actually think that there is a brilliant opportunity that comes with Autumn, to be kind to ourselves and our horses. And within the library I found a whole range of topics that have helped me to realise that even if the heat and sunshine are coming to an end for the year, there are loads of positives out there! Not just that, there are loads of things that we can be planning around now, to make the cold weather easier for ourselves!
I found some articles, podcasts and worksheets that might be of interest – it’s easy to forget how many different topics Liz and Lou have looked at over the years – and how much advice and guidance is out there. So here is the start of my “Welcome to Autumn” reads… Over the next few weeks, we will be bringing together some groups of articles that we think fit together and might make good reading when you are cosied up at night.
If you have a particular interest, let us know and we can include it in the series!
Happy Reading (and listening)!
Gill x
Don't wait for new year...
Lou wrote a fab blog on why autumn is a gift! Not only does she talk about why this is the time to think about goal setting, she also gives some fabulous advice on being kind to ourselves.
Thinking about goals
If you haven’t used any of the goal setting downloads from EquiTeam, its time to give it a try! The WOOP Goal Setting is one that I’m going to be filling in over the next couple of weeks with my goals for next year at the front of my mind. If you’re someone who likes a plan (what a surprise that this is me!), then thinking now about what you want to achieve next year can help to keep you focused when the weather gets colder, and ensure that the activities you are doing set you up for success.
Skin care
Cracked hands are not fun! And in the autumn and winter, while your farmer’s tan is starting to fade, your skin can feel a bit dry and dull. If you’re someone who gets the blues a bit with this, now is the time to plan ahead! We were lucky to have a blog from Jessica Elliot, giving hints and tips to stay hydrated and healthy! Not had the chance to read it? The link is below – so have a read! And if you’re someone who likes a bit of pampering, there is loads of advice here to make you feel a bit spoiled.
Demystifying worming
Loch Leven Equine shared some words of advice with us a couple of years ago about winter worming – and focused on the common questions that people ask them. Although thankfully it isn’t cold enough yet for worming, preparation is key! So have a read and remind yourself of the best practice for your horse.
Make every minute count
If you’re anything like us, you want to get home at a decent time in the autumn. “Yard Time” seems to run on a different clock in the summer, when we could stand chatting for lots longer! As the seasons change, and it gets colder, every minute counts and we don’t want to be hanging about as much. Thankfully, we have some tried and tested tips for how to save time over the winter – trust us they work!
Competing in the cold
Still planning to be out and about for the next few months? We did a Winter Competition Prep checklist to help you make sure that you have everything you need. Not only will it help to be organised in advance, it also gives a really important tip for your alarm clock! It’s one that I will be following…
Winter meals
Not only do we have a whole load of delicious recipes for soups, meals, cakes and everything in between, we also have advice on winter feeding for our ponies from Baileys. I found the recipe for Lou’s amazing Ultimate Chocolate Brownies and have decided to see whether I can make them (if you’re at one of the camps over the next few months you may even get to try them! And having made her Tuscan Chicken, I am sure it’ll be something that gets made again and again on cold nights!
Listen while you work
Have you listened to the podcast where Liz and Lou focus on the positives that come with winter? No? Well today is your lucky day – it’s time to share the link with you.
