I can't believe it's nearly Christmas 🎄 and then 'Hello 2026'! As the evenings draw in and the festive season approaches, I wanted to take a moment to wish you and your loved ones (horses included, of course!) a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

This year has been filled with so many memorable moments—coaching sessions in all weathers, lots of fascinating gait analysis appointments, and the usual mix of ups and downs that come with life with horses. Through it all, your support, curiosity, and willingness to learn have truly made this community special. Whether you joined me for coaching, booked a gait analysis, or just enjoyed the blog posts and newsletters, thank you for being part of the journey.

Looking Back: Highlights from 2025

• Welcoming new riders and horses to the Empowered Equitation family.
• Seeing so many of you make incredible progress with your horses—whether that meant mastering a new dressage movement, building confidence out hacking or simply developing a better bond with your horses.
• Lots of curiosity about equine biomechanics—my favourite topic! It is great to see that many horse owners are embracing gait analysis to monitor the movement symmetry of their horses, either due to previous injuries or to check how their horses are coping with training.

Seasonal Tips: Keeping Horses Happy Over Christmas

• In winter, many horses spend more time in their stables due to restriction on turnout. Why not try some enrichment ideas? You can split your horse's hay into multiple haynets and place them around the stable to encourage movement, you can also add carrots or cut up apples into their haynets for additional festive enrichment 🥕🍏.
• Allow more time for a warm up during your riding session to ensure that your horse's muscles are warmed properly as the temperatures drop. This is particularly important for older or stabled horses. 
• Don’t worry if you have to swap a training session for a quiet hack (or even just a good groom)—staying motivated throught the winter can be hard so you might as well focus on doing the things you enjoy doing. 
• Take a moment to simply enjoy time with your horse, no agenda needed. Let's be honest, windy weather with horizontal rain is not the best for a productive riding session anyway 🌧️.

Looking Ahead to 2026

I’m already planning new resources, blog posts, and coaching ideas for the new year. If you’d like to dive deeper into the science of movement or want some practical tips for your winter schooling, don’t forget to have a look at my blog—there’s plenty to explore, from biomechanics basics to advanced training tips.

If you’re thinking about setting goals for the new year, personalised coaching sessions or a gait analysis assessment might be just what you and your horse need to start 2026 on the right hoof 🐴

As always, I love hearing from you—whether it’s feedback on the newsletter, questions about training, or just a festive hello. Simply reply to this email or reach out on social media.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your friends, family, and horses. Thank you again for your support, your trust, and for making Empowered Equitation such a fantastic community 😊. I can’t wait to see what we achieve together in 2026!

Until next time!

P.S. If you’re local to Bedfordshire, I’ll have some new availability for coaching and gait analysis in the new year—just let me know if you’d like to book a session.