Equestrians can view the notion of what their self care looks like to be personalised to them. We have choices in giving ourselves the self care necessary to destress and recharge. But do we really have the time for that? A common phrase often heard around yards. 

Stress affects us all on different levels.

Stress affects our horses in various circumstances.

Aligning to the campaign launched by Equitas in partnership with the Hay campaign and the Grassroots Gazette, this article is intended to create an awareness for our readers on the importance of self care. 

A wise lecturer once said to me at a real crunch time during my Masters, “you are always at your best performance when you are recharged”, and on that note I consciously made the effort to rest, recover and recharge. I soon came to an adverse realisation that going non stop was burning the candle at both ends. Energy was zapped out and my enthusiasm depleted. Doesn’t sound like me sure it doesn’t!?

There are many factors which play a role in anyone’s stress level. We give our horses time to rest and recover whether that be from competition or their training program, but on their rest days do we actually rest? Do we take time to recharge?

If the answer here is “well not really” then try to read the following part of this article with an open mind. Yes we acknowledge there are still jobs to be done around the yard, perhaps being time effective, excellent planning and a shared workload can be some small suggestions towards giving you that much needed and deserved time to yourself. 

After years of being victim to my own work ethic, resembling somewhat of a human version of an octopus juggling everything, I now understand the sheer importance of taking time to recharge. It is a form of self care, of love for yourself that you need to provide for yourself in order to be the best version you can possibly be. 

Taking the time to review, reflect and revisit what really is it that gives you energy, that recharges you from inside out, that helps you “destress”.

This can be a topic we all as horse owners are often  guilty of pushing aside when life gets busier and more bustling. It is ironic that many of us aim to put the welfare of our four legged friends at the forefront, yet, when it comes to us we tend to park that niggling pain or even how we are honestly feeling.

It only leads to burn out either in the physical sense and or mental, furthermore, impacting on the emotional aspect. Think of it in this light:

you can’t pour from an empty cup so take care of yourself.

So my question to readers today, in response to the month of April being Stress Awareness Month:

What does your form of self care look like?

Self care takes on various appearances depending on each individual. Be mindful that what may work for one, may be different to what another may seek as self care methods. If we really want to dive deeper into this concept then one must be open to the fact that there are not only different types of self care and love but different levels or stages. Each stage, pairing back like an onion, on what needs the time spent on to be most suitable to address specific personalised needs.

When the going gets tough and the tough gets going, I always make a point to just stop. Stop for a second. Then consider my response to how I am feeling, or quickly quantify the most desirable response to best suit the situation. This links back to a previous article I wrote titled ‘Responsive Vs Reactive’. 

In specific scenarios, sometimes stressful ones, this needs to be a split second decision making process to act accordingly and effectively. However, when opportunities arise whereby I can have some time to consider various options;

• Will this serve me well or add value? 
• Will this develop what I aspire to be? 
• Who is this for and why? 
• Who am I helping or caring for? 
• What am I learning?
• How can I manage this better?

Beyond the skills, techniques and processes, always bring it back to one fundamental point when you feel stressed. Not to ever undermine the reasons why you may be stressed. One simple starting point which is why we are doing it all; for the love of it. 

We do it for the love of horses.

Initially, we all started out for the love of the animal. The smell that set our soul alight, that made us recharge, that feeling that brought us so much joy, love and happiness by just being around these glorified farm animals that we now classify as part of our family, our companion, our athlete. 

The love we remember starting off from when we got into ponies and horses is something that we now tend to reminisce on with fond memories as we grow up. But why are these happier carefree times now a thing of the past? Why can’t we ingrain them within our daily routines as little pockets of love, minor yet magical moments, right up towards the amazing achievements? This could then allow our love for the animal to transpire into our practice both in and out of the saddle even more. Consequently, opening the jar of gratitude and in turn lending a hand to our self care to combat stress levels.

It is proven that when we are happier we do things wholeheartedly better. The benefits of doing something you love daily can be seen to have an impact on areas of our lives such as:

• more self motivation
• improved mental health
• increased productivity
• stronger relationships
• lowers stress
• obtaining a new outlook

On the other side of the coin, it is also proven that when we refrain from doing the things we love it has a negative impact on how we feel and think. Hence, not allowing ourselves to fully flourish and access our true potential. 

The reality of it is that being an equestrian is that self care and love can be overlooked.

The benefits and significance of self care alongside having an awareness of what makes you as a person feel most joy is quite important to acknowledge. 

Saying no is also a form of self care. 

Knowing when you need to put yourself first is a skill many are still learning. I refer to these as the four s’s:

• safety
• security
• support
• sanity

I truly believe that by doing something you love each day, it can give you a greater appreciation for life, and enables you to face life’s challenges all that bit better. As mentioned in my article published on 1st April titled: “Laughter as Medicine”, never underestimate the power of a little laugh. Areas highlighted in the previous article were points from research stating that laughter can have a huge positive effect on the mind, body and soul. 

In order to look after our horses we need to be in the best condition we can be and sometimes that means not necessarily taking a step back but taking a moment of collection to regroup and recharge our batteries. This is a form of self care, in whichever shape and form desired. The giver type of person usually requires more encouragement here to turn their attention and energy to the mirror yet not feel an underlying sense of guilt when putting themselves first for once.