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The Legal Equestrian

November 18, 2016

10 ways to manage stress during finals/holiday season

It does not matter if you are a student, part of the workforce, or both, the holidays are fast approaching, and it is sure to cause everyone’s stress level to sky rocket! Between finishing up the semester, getting caught up on tasks at your job, planning dinners with family, and buying gifts, there is a lot to get done in the next month!

Here are 10 ways that help me reduce and manage stress.

  1. Chew gum or pop a mint in your mouth during a stressful class or during a meeting. The semester is winding down, and it is going to become crunch time with getting papers and projects in and studying for midterms. I have always found that a mint or gum helps me stay focused. As for work, odds are you will have some time off due to the holidays, but this also means deadlines for projects are fast approaching. I would suggest a mint for a meeting, as it is far less noticeable.
  2. Make time for yourself: Paint your nails, take a bubble bath or maybe light a candle, grab a snack and catch up on an episode of your favorite fall show. It is so important to invest in your own wellness. Self-care is hugely important, and it is something we often put aside for other things we deem “more important.” However, how can we properly care for others, get tasks done, and do our best at work or in school if we are not ensuring we are both physically and mentally healthy?
  3. Try to get a full night’s sleep. The less sleep we get, the more stress we encounter. Additionally, a stress increase weakens one’s immune system which means we are more prone to getting ill, potentially severely. Getting the recommended 7 hours of sleep a night will help  fight off any viruses.  
  4. Make every effort to eat properly. Eating properly ensures you have the energy to stay awake and maintain focus the whole day. Remember, the most important meal of the day is breakfast! Consider consuming oatmeal or eggs with some delicious fruit on the side. Also be sure to pack healthy snacks to take with you to ensure you do not go hungry and keep your energy level up at peak performance.
  5. Put your thoughts on paper. Writing, such as making a list or taking random notes throughout the day can help declutter your mind and ensure you do not forget anything. Use a planner or consider bullet journaling to help you manage your workload.
  6. Read something in which you are interested. There is nothing quite like a good book. It helps us escape from reality and get our minds off of our real lives, even if only for an hour or two. If you’ve chosen a book, make sure to devote the time to actually reading it, even if it is just 10 minutes before bed. Reading will help clear your mind and allow you to unwind before retiring for bed.
  7. Plan ahead. By planning ahead, you can ensure that you do not have any additional stress from procrastinating. Personally, procrastinating is a horrible habit of mine. It is important that I make an extra effort to get tasks completed to eliminate stress. If procrastination is a habit of yours, be sure to try extra hard to complete tasks before the deadline is right on top of you, and you have to rush through them or risk not getting those tasks done.
  8. Exercise. Working out can really help you eliminate any anger or nervous energy. Exercising has been proven to release endorphins which act as natural painkillers. Personally, working out makes me feel like I have really accomplished something.
  9. Go to the barn. Going to the barn makes me feel a million times better! It clears my mind of everything that is bothering me, and seeing my horse makes me so much happier. Even if it’s my horse’s day off, I still like to visit the barn and see my horse as well as the other boarders.
  10. Smile. Forcing yourself to smile has been proven to help a person feel happier. In addition to this, you can take some time to write a few compliments about yourself. The better you feel about yourself, the better you will feel about handling all the things that could be thrown at you.

Everything can seem so overwhelming during this time of year. You might feel as though you do not have time to do any of the things thrown at you, but it is important to take some time to create a plan of action. Remember that your personal health is most important. You need to take care of yourself first and foremost.

With that being said, if you are having serious trouble with managing your stress seek help from a close friend, family member, a certified counselor, or a licensed physician. They may be able to help you work through your issues and help you develop resilience and coping skills., which will, in turn, help you in dealing with your stress levels..

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Equestrian Health, Guest Posts, Lifestyle, Tips

November 16, 2016

Bullet journaling: The latest way to express yourself, keep organized, and improve your mental health

Written by Katie Stone, assistant editor.

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Erin Condren Life Planner. The planners are fully customizable down to the metal binding color!

 

For the last two years I have bought two Erin Condren Life Planners and used them. However, in the past few months I had been struggling to find a planner for 2017 that would be versatile for my life. I am extremely picky about the planner I use and after searching online and in many stores, I was still unable to settle on one that I liked and fit my needs. During this time of research and searching, I found the bullet journal idea on Pinterest!

For me, bullet journaling is my way of creating a planner that has everything I need and nothing I do need. It allows me to keep everything I want and need in one place, whether it is travel information, reminders for school, or important horse information. This method is also not confining. I can design my weekly page however I want, and I can include a page of notes or a big to-do list wherever I want.

One example of bullet journaling.

To bullet journal, any notebook or type of paper can be used. However, it is common to use  a notebook that is dotted to help create straight lines without it looking too busy (This is also the method I prefer). I purchased a hardcover Moleskine from Amazon for around $20.00. Another common brand is Lechttrum 1917 (available at Amazon here), which is a little more pricey (some models are $29.99 while others are less) but does have numbered pages and an index.

Personally, I use a pencil when journaling because I have found that pen bleeds through my Moleskine journal. (Note: It bugged me so much when I saw how bad it bled through!). In the Moleskine, the pages are not numbered, so I numbered them myself and created an index. After doing those tasks, I began with a monthly calendar for October. After the monthly calendar, I created a weekly one for the first week of the month. For the monthly calendar, I used a single page, and for my weekly layout, I had to use the 2 side-by-side pages. During my bullet journaling, I was going to be traveling, and I put all of my travel information, the weather for my destination, and a packing list on one page. I am also the media representative for my IHSA team, so I have a page of the riders, their divisions, and their class standing to help when I have to do write-ups after a busy weekend of showing.  I am only on page 19 of my bullet journal; I haven’t really done much “fun stuff” yet.

Another example of bullet journaling from Buzzfeed.com.

Another example of bullet journaling from Buzzfeed.com.

If you are looking for some inspiration or ideas for your own bullet journal, definitely check out Pinterest and Instagram. These mediums and their content can inspire you. However, be sure to make your bullet journal unique to you and your preferences! It is worth noting that bullet  journaling isn’t for everyone. If you want to ascertain if bullet journaling is for you, take any notebook or piece of paper and give it a try. The great thing about bullet journaling is that you can design it however you would like. It can range from little notes that you jot down or a full-on spread of everything in which you are involved.

For more information on this journaling technique, you can visit one of Buzzfeed’s many articles on how to bullet journal (or simply google ‘bullet journaling’).

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Equestrian Health, Guest Posts, How-to, Lifestyle, Tips

November 14, 2016

Equine chiropractors: One horse’s first experience getting adjusted

Written by Katie Stone.

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An equine chiropractor adjusting a horse. Photo Credit: HorseHarmonics.

Since Furi moved to his new barn, we’ve had some struggles when riding. He was not wanting to pick up and hold his leads. After having the barn owner, who is extremely knowledgeable and certified, take a look at him, she noticed how uneven his muscles are and how sensitive his back was. She also believed his shoulder was out. She recommended sweating out his back and using the Theraplate for muscle atrophy for a full week.

After doing that for a week, I had an equine chiropractor examine him. It was my first experience with an equine chiropractor, and as far as I know, It was Furi’s, as well. Furi is usually well-behaved for the vet and farrier, so I was hoping he would be for the chiropractor as well. However, I had some worries because it was a new experience and one that might be painful for him.

The equine chiropractor asked me to walk Furi up to him, and he was able to get a general idea of what was going on. He asked me to back Furi as he stood behind him also. While the chiropractor worked on Furi, I held the lead rope. The chiropractor immediately felt and noticed sensitivity in my horse’s back. He also was very surprised at how tight Furi was in and how little range of motion he had where his shoulders were, specifically the right shoulder. He stated that my horse was the tightest horse he had seen in a long time!

All of this completely shocked me. However, Furi is also 16 years old and has never had anything done previously so I kind of expected him to have some issues. The chiropractor also worked out a few other tight spots and suggested I use liniment on the point of shoulders, sternum, and inside of the hock. He also showed me a few stretches to do weekly to help Furi’s shoulders.

A horse (and handler) utilizing the Theraplate. Photo Credit: HorseAndMan.com

Overall, the adjustment lasted 20 – 25 minutes. During that time, my horse was extremely relaxed and compliant with everything being done. As for results, prior to the adjustment, Furi had a particular spot along his spine that was hard; I just thought it was his spine. However, I noticed this particular spot was gone when I went to put him away. It was truly amazing to see the difference. I have been riding as consistently as I can since the adjustment (at least 4 days a week), and he has been doing very well! I’ve noticed major improvements in his canter, and we are working on long and low to build up his topline. I’ve also been continuing to use the Theraplate for muscle atrophy at least 3 – 4 times a week.

Riding wise, we have only been focusing on flat work, and we will hopefully be jumping during winter break when we go home for the month! I really feel that the chiropractor helped my horse, and I am interested in having him adjusted again. After mine and Furi’s experience, I really recommend checking out ways to help your horse feel their best, whether it’s by learning stretching techniques to use on your own or by contracting a certified equine chiropractor to get your horse examined and potentially adjusted.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Equine Health, Guest Posts, Horse Advice, Horses, Tips

October 26, 2016

Lessons from a green horse: What I learned from my chestnut OTTB mare

 

Written by Liv Godfrey.

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Liv & Lulu.

Liv & Lulu.

I was sitting in my room thinking about my horse (per usual I’m not hiding it anymore… let me live) and how wonderful she is. I was also thinking about when I first got her and how absolutely awful she was and what an incredible journey this has been for me.

For those of you that don’t know – I adopted a just turned 4 year old chestnut OTTB mare in 2014. I was 15 years old. I started Lulu pretty much on my own (with moral and on the ground support from my best friend Aurora & her mom Cat) until I met a wonderful woman named Jill with whom I worked to teach Lulu the basics and so on from there. Lulu and I are now competing in the 2’9” jumper division, and I hope to move her up to 3’ next summer. She is an amazing mare who gives 100 percent every time. She loves to jump, and she enjoys learning and going fast. On the ground she’s really snuggly and loves her faced rubbed but only by certain people. She becomes shy around strangers. She is also unbelievably sassy and tends to get jealous when you don’t pay attention to her, and you can tell exactly what she’s thinking based on her face.

img_1419Lulu was a challenge for me though, and we didn’t really get along for a long time. There were many days I questioned if I’d ever be able to accomplish my dream, which was, at the time, making her a hunter. She was fast, really strong because she braced against the bit, had absolutely no balance or muscle, had disgustingly maintained hooves, and she had the attention span of a toaster. Another thing I must emphasize is how fast this horse actually is. While she failed as racehorse, I swear if you’d ever see her go in the jumper ring I wouldn’t need to explain myself any further. If you haven’t seen her, as a point of reference, the EMT at an away show told me we were the entertainment of the day.

There were weeks to months where I would have crappy rides everyday. I will never forget the multiple times I just stopped her dead at the trot and got off because I was so emotional and scared of what I had gotten myself into. One time I dismounted and ran into the barn aisle bawling my eyes out to my trainer, Renise, saying how I just couldn’t ride and couldn’t click with this horse and how I wanted to sell her. I honestly had no idea what I was doing, and I put a ton of people in shock when I bought this mare.

But because I had this fire in my stomach that lit up every time I saw her and had an immense love that I wanted to give to this horse, I didn’t give up. I kept riding, kept grinding through the bad, sweaty, frustrating, teary-eyed rides and finally everything started getting better. I had an awakening when I went back to my old trainer for a month in the summer as a getaway, and even the owner of my barn said something changed when we were away and returned as a different pair. We were starting to jump consistently and perfect a flow. I started to finally put my leg on again which is always nice, and I learned how to keep a steady, supportive leg on a strong horse. I also learned to steady my hips, which in turn slowed down the center of my motion. My hands and elbows also became a lot better, and I was starting to have better consistency. Lulu got really excited and strong to jumps at first, and it was really hard to school her out of it, but eventually she learned she didn’t need to rush to every fence. This was accomplished using a lot of gymnastics work, pole work, halts, transitions, trot fences, and overall practice.

Through all of this with us confidently jumping 2-9 to 3’ with some 3’3 tossed in with our jumper, not hunter attire, I’m so happy I didn’t give up on this little mare. She was so difficult but worth every tear, aggravation, and dragging my butt to the barn when I knew the last thing I wanted to do that day was get into fights with my horse. All of it – every moment and every fall was worth it.

She taught me that if you want something you need to work so unbelievably hard for it. Give it your all even when you don’t want to because at some point that’s what you lived for.

But also… let things work out the way they are meant to. Sometimes our perspective changes, but you will need to accept that change. I wanted Lulu to be a hunter so badly, but she is nothing close to that, and I needed to swallow my pride and realize that I bought her in order to turn her into whatever she wanted to be and help her reach her full potential.

img_1422Now I have so much fun in the jumper ring and at home because we both love what we’re doing, and I’ve found that the jumpers are much more my speed. Patience is also a virtue in life and with horses. I think as riders it’s important to recognize this virtue.

Getting frustrated only makes our horses more upset, so be calm and handle the situation with grace. It is still really hard for me to remember that, but I’m getting better at it. Overall, Lulu did not only teach me how to be a stronger rider in all aspects, but also to live in the now and experience what you can from what life presents to you with open arms – even if it’s not exactly what we expected.

1 Comment · Filed Under: Guest Posts, Horse Advice, Horses, Riding Tips, Tips, Training Tips

October 6, 2016

Product Review: Equestrian Weekender Tote

By Senior Editor: Joscelyn Richards

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Photo Credit: Georgia Horseback

I recently had the opportunity to try out the new Equestrian Weekender Tote from Georgia Horseback. Immediately I fell in love with the hunter green color and the horse and rider silhouette, complete with red and blue racing stripe accents. The tote bag is big enough to fit everything from your tall boots to an entire weekend’s wardrobe without being bulky (the exact size of the tote bag is 18″ x 26″.)

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The Equestrian Weekender tote in real life

Photo Credit: jlrequinephotography

I have used the bag everyday since I received it, and thanks to the water resistant microfiber material it has not gotten dirty at all. The tote has been everywhere with me from the barn, gym and even to school. This weekend I will be taking it to the beach with me! No matter where I go with it I always receive complements on it, from both equestrians and non-equestrians.

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Photo Credit: Georgia Horseback

 

Aside from the beautiful design and durability of the tote, what impressed me the most with this bag, was the attention to detail. The tote has a two-way zipper, a longer strap so it can easily be worn on your shoulder, as well as a brass horse shoe that you can hook your keys to.

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The Detachable Pouch with attached mirror

Photo Credit: Georgia Horseback 

The tote bag comes with a detachable pouch which easily stores your phone, gloves, mints, etc. There is also a small mirror attached to the pouch, which can be used to check your hairnet or makeup.  Additionally included with the tote is a drawstring bag that features the same horse and rider design that is on the tote bag; it is the perfect size to keep your helmet in!

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The Drawstring bag that comes with the tote

Photo Credit: Georgia Horseback

The Equestrian Weekender Tote would make a perfect gift for any equestrian- including yourself! Georgia Horseback is currently offering a $10 discount on the tote bag which can be purchased here. 

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Equestrian Fashion, Fashion, Guest Posts, Horses, Product Review

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amateur hunter/eq rider. lawyer. entrepreneur.
two horses, one pony.
zone two.
perfectionist.
loves the expensive & innovative.

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