Quarantine hasn't been easy for anyone. We've all had to give up our normal routines, which has certainly been a challenge. One of the things I missed the most during those first weeks of quarantine was going to the barn. No students, boarders or leasers were allowed to be on the property, as the owners were very worried about getting fined. I understood why that had to happen, but that didn't make it any easier. Now that I'm able to go to my beloved barn again, I can reflect on the methods I used to cope.
Method One: Exercising
I've always tried to maintain a workout schedule, but I am so so terrible at keeping up with schedules. From journaling to planning out my weeks down to the hour, I've tried and failed it all. But quarantine has forced me to create my own routines in order to avoid boredom as much as I possibly can. One of these routines was to find a simple workout schedule and STICK TO IT. I worked out at least 6 days a week, the times ranging from 15 minutes to 60. When I was able to go back to riding, there was a noticeable difference in my physical abilities. Keeping my core tight? Easy. Shoulders back? No problem. Horse on the bit? Within 5 minutes. Maybe those examples are hyperbolic, but I really did find that my riding improved drastically from working out and getting stronger. And working out gave me something physical to do in order to fill the void that riding had left.
Method Two: Reading
Now, I'm not a big reader. I wish I was, I truly do. I used to be, when I was young and spry and full of hope and wonder. But now, my attention span has hit an all time low. I can't read a novel in a day like I used to be able to. Why did I have to lose that ability now, when I need to read so many textbook pages every day? Anyways, over quarantine I found that reading articles about riding was very doable. Since I was very interested in the subject matter, especially now with this horse-sized void to fill, I was totally ready to eat up any expert advice from top riders. Learning about riding felt like working at it, and that feeling gave me some peace of mind in the midst of this crisis.
Method Three: Sharing the Burden
My situation was not uncommon during the early stages of the pandemic. Many of my fellow riders had been ripped away from their horses, and were feeling the same was I was. I found that talking to other horse people about missing the sport and atmosphere was comforting. We were all handling this together, and I wasn't alone. Plus, we could all share the excitement once we were allowed to go back and get into it again.
I realize that this might sound privileged. I am so incredibly lucky to be able to afford riding in the first place. And for some people, the pandemic brought tragedy and suffering like I have never known. I know this, and I realize that my situation could be infinitely worse. But it isn't fair to compare losses. The barn is my safe haven, and riding is one of my passions. Being away from it all was a challenge, and that is valid, as any other rider will tell you. Now that I'm looking back on this, I think it was good for me. It certainly made me appreciate the joy of riding, and I am taking advantage of my time at the barn even more than I was before.
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