School and Riding; The Fine Balance

 Hi all!
Hopefully you are all having a fabulous day. Today I'm going to write about something that truly scared me so much the beginning of this school year... balancing riding and schoolwork. Here are a couple of tips that have help me do well in school while riding daily.
   I am a full time student in grade 9 this year, and I also go to the barn every day. Making the transition into high school terrified me, I thought I would have no time whatsoever and would barely be able to spend any time at the barn. In reality, it's easy to be committed to both school and horses, as long as you are doing it right. So here are my pro tips on how I manage being a competitive equestrian while still maintaining good grades.

  The first tip is to make a schedule and stick to it. Either come up with one in your head or write one down. Plan how much time you intend to spend at the barn, and be sure to leave some time for homework.  I usually go the barn almost right after school. I'll stay for about 2 hours, then head home to have dinner. After dinner I have plenty of time to shower and study. It's all about planning ahead to ensure you have time to do everything that needs to get done.
  Secondly, remember that school does come first. Our horses mean so much to us that sometimes we forget about everything else. Everything including schoolwork. But keep in mind you need good grades to get into college or university, which will land you a better paying job. More money means more horses, so don't write off that math test! Another way to make schoolwork a bit less unbearable would be to bring it to the barn. If you have lots of boring reading to do, sit down in your horses stall or paddock and do it there. Even if you have to read a very dull 50 page science textbook, at least you'll be doing it in the company of your horse.
   Third, get your priorities straight. Do you want a social life, good grades, and sleep? Then you might not be able to go to the barn every day. We have to make sacrifices, because unfortunately there are only so many hours in a day. Don't spread yourself too thin. And remember, you are a human and humans need sleep. Accept that you are not a superhero and sometimes you will have to decide between that party and going to your lesson. You won't perform well in school or riding on 4 hours of sleep. Remember that you can't have it all, you've gotta decide where your true dedication lies.
   My last tip is not to isolate yourself. Too often people find themselves alone and miserable because they've pushed all their friends away to commit themselves to one thing. Don't be that person. Make good friends who understand your dedication to your sport. You don't have to be lonely to succeed,  because when you do succeed,  there will be no one there to cheer you on. So try not to push those good people away. I know we all wanna crawl into a cave with only horses and the last 7 seasons of heartland sometimes, but friends are important to have. They make the miserable parts of school less miserable and a good friend is worth a lot. Barn friends are the best kind, and if you make good barn friends, you two can just go live in that cave together and live happily ever after.

  So I hope you enjoyed my tips for being successful equestrian students. But always remember after a long day be sure to hug your horses. Thanks a ton for reading,
Annie