The Equestrian Journal
Clean, Crisp... Just Waiting to Be Written in by YOU!
I have been experimenting with The Equestrian Journal designed by Catherine Respess and I’m so excited to share some of my favorite features with you guys. Catherine is an accomplished equestrian who has presented to The Team Tate Academy, the Potomac Valley Dressage Association, Lendon Gray’s Dessage4kids and the Savannah College of Art and Design. With over 35 years of riding and training experience, the journals are truly tailored to equestrians. Renee and Catherine have been friends for over 20 years, which makes this journal just that little bit more special to us.
I don’t know about you, but for so long, I had a few notebooks, random pieces of paper, and notes jotted down in my phone regarding different things for my horses. Whether it’s a vet
appointment, the last time they were dewormed, or key takeaways to remember from a lesson…the list goes on and on. So, having a journal that had everything I needed in one place, has been super helpful and insightful for me.
The Equestrian Journal has so many amazing attributes. There’s thought-provoking questions, horse and rider diagrams, and monthly, weekly, and daily prompts. Not to mention the beauty in the clean and crisp white pages that are waiting to be filled. What makes a journal so special is that it contains information to remember the journey with my horses. The good, the bad, and the ugly, but that’s what makes each story unique. The Equestrian Journal is there to hold that space for every equestrian to track, stay informed, and to feel fulfilled with their journey.
Not sure what you’re even supposed to write or where to begin? They have you covered! At the beginning of the journal, they offer prompt starters to get you thinking about what to write. One of my favorites is their “descriptive emotions”… a few of my favorite words from here are flummoxed (I definitely had to look up the definition), whimsical, and inquisitive. Super fun, right?
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Another feature I love about this journal are the many inspiring quotes throughout:
“Accept what the horse offers. It is his interpretation of what we are asking.” -Mark Russel
“We not only need to strengthen the muscles but, in particular, the personality of the horse.” - Reiner Klimke
Using the Equestrian Journal has been a great way for me to track our rides and be more purposeful with how we are progressing. The diagrams allow me to visually see where Belle or I feel “stuck” in our bodies. Lately, my left hip has felt very tight, and it’s been interesting to see how that affects Belle’s body, too. She definitely lets me know when something is out of alignment…mares!
Here’s a few notes I jotted down from my last ride:
- We worked on transitions within the gaits to make sure Belle was listening and waiting for my aids
- Utilized smaller circles to further engage the hind end
- Her stretching was awesome today…extra sugar cubes!!
- Finished off with a long walk around the barn, no spooks, just a perky girl with happy ears!!!
It’s super cool and satisfying to look back at previous days and see how far we’ve come. I’m reminded of those awesome rides that I don’t want to forget. And on the contrary, I can track any behaviors or attitudes that aren’t the best to see if there’s any “puzzle pieces” to be put together.
For trainers, this could be a great way to keep track of the many horses that are ridden daily. A quick 2 minutes after your ride can make all of the difference in tracking progress and allows the owners to stay updated and in the loop, too. It’s a win-win!
This is from The Equestrian Journal team….“Remembering your breakthroughs and your fails FUELS YOUR PROGRESS. Your tack, boots, trainer, amazing horse, etc. doesn't matter unless you are actively remembering what works and what doesn't - no matter how many lessons you take. If you want to the REMEMBER THE BREAKTHROUGHS from “everyday” rides and have CLEAR ACTION STEPS to get better, you need this journal! So stop going in circles and try it out today.”
