June was a slower month for Saro and I, but it was necessary for us to reset and focus on building the foundation we need for the upcoming busy months. After wrapping up finals weekend, Saro had a little bit of a break before we dove back into training. While we were not pushing full-speed ahead, it gave us the time to focus on the details and make sure we’re both ready for July’s packed schedule.
One of my main goals this month was to get Saro back into shape after some time off. We spent the majority of June focusing on muscle-building exercises and conditioning to ensure that she’s in peak physical form for the more intense training ahead. This is the time when I really needed to focus on her fitness without overexerting her. Our training sessions were more about quality than quantity, ensuring that each movement was deliberate and purposeful.
When it came to specifics, I concentrated a lot on improving Saro’s pole pattern. I didn’t want to fall into simply running the pattern over and over again, so we worked on drills that targeted individual components of the pattern. I worked on pushing her past the final pole to really build our speed through the whole run. The goal wasn’t just to run the pattern but to perfect it—making sure we’re constantly getting better with each practice.
This month, Saro also had a visit from her farrier to ensure that her feet were in top shape. Hoof health is a huge part of a horse’s overall well-being, and I always make sure to stay on top of it to keep her feeling her best. It’s easy to overlook things like this, but they’re such an important part of making sure she stays comfortable and sound for the demands of training and competition.
By the last couple of weeks of June, Saro and I both started to feel a lot more confident in our work together. We’ve really progressed as a team, and I’ve noticed a tangible improvement in how she responds to my cues and the flow of the pole pattern. It’s always such a rewarding feeling when you realize the time spent building a solid foundation is paying off.
As July approaches, the pace is going to pick up. We’ve got a few different shows lined up, and my goal is to make sure that Saro is ready for the challenges ahead. I feel good about where we’re at right now, but there’s still a lot of work to do to make sure we’re at our best for competition season. It’s going to be a busy month, but I’m excited to see how far we’ve come and where we can go from here.
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