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11 New Year’s Resolutions
Every Equestrian Should Make for 2014
Every year at this time we are bombarded with novel tips for the New Year. For the coming year, the team at Angelstone Tournaments presents an equestrian-themed list of our top eleven New Year’s Resolutions every Equestrian should make (and keep) for 2014.
1. Host a Dinner Party on Sunday Night
In January, the Wellington set is firing on all cylinders with both The Grille and Player’s (Coach House) rocking into the early morning hours. After eight weeks, we’ve seen the most adventurous burnout, so why not mix in a low-key Sunday night dinner party once a month for your closest friends?
Ordering-in doesn’t count, so acquaint yourself with Gordon Ramsey on Youtube, head down the local market and pick some great bottles of wine and serve them up a night that will be far more memorable than waking up with Champagne-soaked clothes from the night before (although that can be a lot of fun, too).
2. Introduce Others to the Sport
You’ve spent the better part of your life either in the saddle, caring for horses, or teaching others how to become better riders. In equestrian circles, you know what others know, that being a fan of show jumping is an incredibly exciting adventure, one that most have not had the opportunity to experience.
Understand that nearly everyone outside your equestrian circle likely hasn’t a clue regarding the difference between Thoroughbreds, Jumpers, Hunters, and Eventers. Beezie, Kent, Ian, and Eric are as synonymous as Bill, Mary, Ted, and Sarah.
Each season, make a point to reach outside the horse world and invite, host, and introduce a new legion of fans to the sport by taking them to a marquee Grand Prix event and topping it off with a behind-the-scenes tour of the stables. Not only will you be helping the sport grow, but you will be exposing an entirely new world to wide-eyed fans who are likely to continue to follow show jumping as they become more familiar with the athletes, horses, rules, and venues of this exceptional sport.
3. Venture Abroad
 Every show jumping fan has a bucket list of International Shows on their list, you might not ever get a chance to compete at one of these events, but you can certainly attend and experience the action for yourself.
Whether it is a visit to Spruce Meadows, a weekend jaunt to Wellington, or a Euro-Centric showdown in Aachen, the world is at your doorstep and the time is now.
4. Buy Local
 When it comes time to seek out your next great horse, why not focus on trying out horses from North American trainers before heading directly to Europe? The chances are that the horses you try at home were originally purchased in Europe, meaning that North American trainers have already done all the hard work for you.
It also never hurts to explore finding North American bred horses at a young age. A great place to start is within the ranks of the Young Horse Series in Wellington, or the Canadian Young Horses Series based out of Angelstone, both hotbeds of young talent.
5. Give your Staff a Break
 Absolutely no one works harder than the dedicated groom professionals that overcome 4:00 am wake-up calls and midnight barn-checks throughout the season. Surprise your hardest working team member with an unexpected day off where you take over stall duties.
Bonus points if you send them to the beach and a spa appointment. Paying it forward will get you all through some of the more difficult points in the season.
6. Give Thanks
 Everyone started somewhere, often on the back of a twenty-year-old pony in a pasture down the road. Remember those that helped you along the way, from parents, coaches, trainers, grooms – they all played a part in contributing to where you are today. You can be certain that they remember you, so take some time out of your day and visit the farm you learned to ride at or walk across the showgrounds and give your first coach a hug to let them know the special part they played in your life.
If you are an accomplished competitor, seek out younger riders to mentor and give back to the next generation who are vying to become North America’s new breed of professionals.
7. Polo? Why Not!
Hunter and Jumper riders tend to isolate themselves into their disciplines, no doubt it is due to the fact that to become the very best – there is a need to specialize. That being said, there is surely room for a bit of adventurism.
For those looking to break out into something different, we propose an introductory Polo lesson during your time in Wellington. If you haven’t bumped shoulders with the Polo set on Sunday and don’t know where to start, then you can’t go wrong getting in touch with Kris Kampsen, one of the nicest professionals on the circuit today. Kris’ polo field is a short drive from WEF and is pure perfection for a lesson at sunset.
8. Smile More, Gossip Less
No doubt, the world of show jumping is a competitive sport. There are rivalries, enemies, frienemies, and drama at every turn at every venue. Overcome the negativity that holds you back and cut through divisional lines that are often based on nothing more than unfamiliarity or misunderstanding.
Smile more on the showgrounds, flirt with the guy or girl that was checking you out last Sunday night, mend old disagreements and spend more time developing relationships with competing riders, trainers, and coaches.
Live passionately by creating your own life story rather than gossiping about others. The chances are that the ones being gossiped about having far more adventurous and fulfilling lives than those doing the talking.
9. Take a Dressage Lesson
 Equestrian great George Morris once mentioned that the best riders in the world have the ability to take one great idea at a time, implement it and repeat. Great ideas could come from a number of different places, from clinics to classic equestrian books to lessons from professionals outside your discipline.
This summer at Angelstone, we saw Irish professional, Andrew Bourns taking regular early morning lessons from Dressage greats, one example of a leading rider thinking outside-the-box to give him a winning edge in the ring.
Don’t know the difference between a piaffe and a half-pass? Get in touch with Canadian Olympian, Jacqueline Brooks. Not only is Jacquie one of the top dressage riders in the game, but she’s also one of the most down-to-earth women we’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. Taking a page from Andrew’s book, you can also supplement your training regimen with any number of avenues, including cross-training, yoga, swimming, and cardio.
10. Post Better Photos
Ok, we’re not talking about the dreaded “selfie” here (although those are definitely on the out-and-out), we’re talking about endless drivel of hunter/jumper proofs screen capped from professional horse show photographer sites. No one needs to see two dozen low-res pics of your last trip to the hunter ring emblazoned with a giant overlay reading: “THIS PIC HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM PHOTOGRAPHER X”.
For 2014, focus on posting quality over quantity. As the curator of your own social media feeds, you are in control of what the world sees, it’s time to put your best foot forward and “pony up” and buy a few high-res pictures a year from true professionals. Some shows such as Angelstone even release all their photos for free… simply find, download and share, what could be more simple?
11. The Rock Star Approach to Life
 Wearing a neon-colored YOLO T-Shirt to WEMF in Miami does not qualify you as an adopter of unbridled adventurism. Most of the greatest riders in the sport have bigger-than-life personas that stem from a very simple belief in not having any boundaries or limitations. When most are asking “why”, the leaders are asking “why not”. This is the Rock Star Approach to Life and making the most of each 24-hour shot we have each and every day.
For 2014, be your own “Rock Star” and live a life that others want to be a part of, talk about and remember.
This article has been brought to you by Angelstone Tournaments, North America’s fastest-growing show venue, located less than an hour Northwest of Toronto, one of Canada’s most vibrant cities. In 2014, Angelstone is slated to host five weeks of FEI show jumping events, attracting the biggest names in Equestrian Sport.
http://www.angelstone.ca
https://www.facebook.com/angelstonetournaments
http://www.youtube.com/user/theFword
http://thegrillefashioncuisine.com/
http://coachhousefla.com/
http://www.sprucemeadows.com/
http://www.equestriansport.com/
http://www.chioaachen.de/en/
http://kriskampsenpolo.com/
http://www.brookhavendressage.com/
Angelstone Tournaments Schedule of Events for 2014
We hope that all your wishes are fulfilled this year…
Happy New Year!
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Every show jumping fan has a bucket list of International Shows on their list, you might not ever get a chance to compete at one of these events, but you can certainly attend and experience the action for yourself.
When it comes time to seek out your next great horse, why not focus on trying out horses from North American trainers before heading directly to Europe? The chances are that the horses you try at home were originally purchased in Europe, meaning that North American trainers have already done all the hard work for you.
Absolutely no one works harder than the dedicated groom professionals that overcome 4:00 am wake-up calls and midnight barn-checks throughout the season. Surprise your hardest working team member with an unexpected day off where you take over stall duties.
Everyone started somewhere, often on the back of a twenty-year-old pony in a pasture down the road. Remember those that helped you along the way, from parents, coaches, trainers, grooms – they all played a part in contributing to where you are today. You can be certain that they remember you, so take some time out of your day and visit the farm you learned to ride at or walk across the showgrounds and give your first coach a hug to let them know the special part they played in your life.
No doubt, the world of show jumping is a competitive sport. There are rivalries, enemies, frienemies, and drama at every turn at every venue. Overcome the negativity that holds you back and cut through divisional lines that are often based on nothing more than unfamiliarity or misunderstanding.
Equestrian great George Morris once mentioned that the best riders in the world have the ability to take one great idea at a time, implement it and repeat. Great ideas could come from a number of different places, from clinics to classic equestrian books to lessons from professionals outside your discipline.
Ok, we’re not talking about the dreaded “selfie” here (although those are definitely on the out-and-out), we’re talking about endless drivel of hunter/jumper proofs screen capped from professional horse show photographer sites. No one needs to see two dozen low-res pics of your last trip to the hunter ring emblazoned with a giant overlay reading: “THIS PIC HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM PHOTOGRAPHER X”.
Wearing a neon-colored YOLO T-Shirt to WEMF in Miami does not qualify you as an adopter of unbridled adventurism. Most of the greatest riders in the sport have bigger-than-life personas that stem from a very simple belief in not having any boundaries or limitations. When most are asking “why”, the leaders are asking “why not”. This is the Rock Star Approach to Life and making the most of each 24-hour shot we have each and every day.
