Tips To Balance School and Horse Showing
Managing a busy school schedule can be a challenging task, especially when you are also trying to horse show. Read some tips from junior riders who are able to successfully balance their schoolwork with their competition schedule.
Stephanie Garrett of New York, NY
10th Grade
Photo by Sportfot
What are some of your biggest challenges in balancing school and your show schedule?
My biggest commitment outside of school is riding yet my closest friendships are with friends outside of the riding world. So, my biggest challenge isn’t balancing school and riding, because I find that just comes down to time management. For me, it’s balancing my life with friends outside of the riding community. Since I am away most weekends competing and I miss a lot of the social events, making sure I stay involved is an equally important part of my life. I especially try to make an effort to socialize with my friends on those weekends that I am home.
What are three things that you do to successfully stay on top of schoolwork while showing?
I’m super fortunate that my school allows me to miss Fridays during the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit, as long as I keep up with my grades. I try to get most of my schoolwork done when I am flying back and forth between Florida and New York. Time management is also extremely important. I try to look at my schedule in the beginning of the week to see what work I can get done ahead of time. That way I usually will not have as much to do on weekends when I’m busy showing. The last thing I find extremely beneficial is communication. Whether that is with classmates or teachers, I think staying in touch with everyone is key. On days that I miss school, I try to reach out to a friend to send me the notes, and I really take advantage of meeting with my teachers for extra time if I ever feel confused or behind on certain material.
Lila Nelson of New Preston, CT
12th Grade
What are some of your biggest challenges in balancing school and your show schedule?
One of my biggest challenges is that a lot of the time I have school when I am showing. I go to a boarding school so we have class on Saturdays, which can be hard to manage. School takes a lot of mental focus, and showing also demands that same mental focus. Sometimes it is hard to concentrate on both things at once. School can be exhausting and having to show right after can be a lot, but it is worth it and necessary to be successful in both things.
What are three things that you do to successfully stay on top of schoolwork while showing?
Photo by Sportfot
The first thing I do to make sure I am staying on top of my work is to have a planner. This is essential to keep my life running smoothly. At the beginning of every week, I write down what classes I have, what homework I have to do, and when I can ride and show that week. The second thing I do is I meet with all my teachers during conference blocks to discuss when I am going to take tests and quizzes, and also make sure I am staying on top of all my work. Most of my teachers are very understanding, which definitely helps. Lastly, I make sure to set time out of my day to get my work done and still have time to hang out with my friends. It is important to do well in school and in the show ring, but it is equally as important to maintain a good social life and have fun.
Gabrielle Sokolow of Westlake Village, CA
12th Grade
Photo by Shawn McMillen
What are some of your biggest challenges in balancing school and your show schedule?
My biggest challenge in balancing school and my show schedule is finding time during the show day to sit down and get my schoolwork done. On an average day I show at least two or three horses, so finding time can be difficult depending on when my horse show classes go. Luckily, I do online school so my schedule can be a little more flexible.
What are three things that you do to successfully stay on top of schoolwork while showing?
I try to get my schoolwork done early in the week before my show schedule starts getting busy toward the end of the week. I also try to plan ahead on weeks that I’m not showing. During those weeks I try to get as much schoolwork done as possible. That way I don’t have work piling up when I’m busy showing. Another thing that I find important is planning out my school and show schedule every week. I write down everything I need to get done for school and when I’m showing. I then make a detailed plan so I do not feel overwhelmed.
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