ARE YOU WHERE YOU THOUGHT YOU’D BE?

Resetting training goals

By mid-year, it’s easy to feel like you’ve fallen behind. That competition you hoped to enter hasn’t happened. The lateral work you planned to master still feels elusive. Your horse had time off. You had time off. And now, as winter settles in, it’s tempting to believe the year has slipped away.

But goal setting — and more importantly, goal re-setting — isn’t about how fast you progress. It’s about how sustainably you progress, and how honestly you can adapt when life, horses, or circumstances shift your path.

The illusion of the timeline

Equestrian sports can make it feel like there’s a race on — invisible, but very real. Social media shows riders jumping higher, competing more, and winning more. People at your yard seem to move up a level while you’re still trying to get your canter transitions clean.

But as Dr. Jenny Susser, a US-based equine sports psychologist and former Olympic team consultant, has said:

“Goals are not linear. There are setbacks, loops, recoveries and rediscoveries. It’s the willingness to stay curious and kind in the face of pressure that separates resilient riders from burnt-out ones.”

Instead of asking “Why am I not further along?”, it may be more productive to ask:

“What did I learn this season that I wouldn’t have if things went to plan?”
“Is my horse telling me they’re ready for more — or asking for less?”
“Have I been training for progress… or for approval?”

Burnout

Burnout doesn’t only affect riders competing at the elite level. In fact, amateur riders may be more prone to it — juggling work, home life, and riding, often without the emotional and financial support systems professionals have in place.

Burnout is a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion, often accompanied by reduced motivation, feelings of inadequacy, and withdrawal from previously enjoyable activities.

Signs of equestrian burnout can include:

Apathy or dread around riding or tacking up
Emotional reactivity or loss of patience with your horse or yourself
Feeling like you ‘should’ be doing more
Measuring your worth by your progress
Persistent fatigue, even when not overtraining
Feeling guilty when taking time off
Avoidance of the yard or riding peers

According to a 2022 paper in Frontiers in Psychology, athletes experiencing burnout show increased emotional fatigue and decreased motivation, often without recognising the early signs. This same study highlighted that burnout was most commonly linked to unrealistic expectations, external pressure, and low perceived reward — all common stressors for non-professional riders trying to ‘keep up.’ In addition, unrealistic training timelines, comparison with peers on social media, a pressure to justify financial investments, juggling too many roles and a lack of time for rest or unstructured equestrian activities can lead to overwhelm.

If any of this sounds familiar, the solution isn’t to power through. It’s to pause, zoom out, and ask yourself what you actually need, not what the timeline demands.

The following activities can help:

Reframe your goals to prioritise process over progress
Schedule breaks for both you and your horse
Focus on relationship-building, not just results
Seek connection, not competition: ride with friends, join a clinic, or talk to other riders honestly
Consider support: working with a coach, counsellor, or bodyworker can provide clarity and lift pressure

“Burnout is not a personal failing — it’s a signal that something needs to shift,” says Dr. Alison Lincoln, an equestrian performance psychologist. “And sometimes, that shift is as simple as giving yourself permission to breathe.”

Horses aren’t on your schedule

Your horse doesn’t know what month it is. They don’t care that you planned to move up a level by September. They live in the now, responding to feel, energy, and connection.

Many horses experience their own mid-year shifts:

Muscle loss from winter
Increased stiffness due to cold weather and limited movement
Setbacks from minor injuries or inconsistent footing
Training plateaus as mental or physical thresholds are reached

This isn’t failure. It’s a normal part of development. In fact, training plateaus often precede breakthroughs — if we respond with patience instead of panic.

Rewriting the plan

Resetting goals doesn’t mean lowering them. It means realigning them with reality.

A mid-year review could look like this:

Old goal	New framing
“Move up to Elementary by August”	“Build consistent balance in Novice movements with relaxation”
“Jump 1.10m before year-end”	“Strengthen rhythm and rideability at 1.00m while protecting soundness”
“Compete every month”	“Alternate schooling weeks with arena-free weeks for variety”

Consider focusing on themes rather than outcomes. For example:

“Build better straightness”
“Improve saddle fit and symmetry”
“Understand my horse’s digestive health”
“Learn to school better on bad days”

These goals grow your partnership. They also last, even if the rosettes don’t come right now.

Community without comparison

If you’re feeling behind, you’re not alone. Quietly, many riders are in the same space, especially after a tough few years of economic and emotional strain. What we need more than timelines is community and understanding: places where riders can share honestly, recalibrate together, and remember that this sport is not about being the best — it’s about being the best for your horse.

So here’s a gentle invitation:

Review your goals. Reflect, without judgement. And if you find you’re not where you thought you’d be? That’s okay.

You’re still here. You’re still showing up. And often, the best work happens in these quieter, less glamorous seasons — when growth comes not from chasing more, but from embracing exactly where you are.

And here at HQ Magazine, we’re in it with you!