2023 Winter Horsemanship Challenge
-Motivation & Inspiration
-Support from other Gritty Riders
-Weekly Prize Drawings
-New This Year: Weekly Groundwork and Riding Challenge Exercises
So you can start 2023 on the right hoof to transform your horsemanship dreams into reality!
13 weeks of motivation, inspiration, and support from other gritty riders so you can start 2023 on the right hoof to transform your horsemanship dreams into reality!
What is the Get Gritty Winter Horsemanship Challenge?
I live in Wisconsin, and I'll admit, the first few winters that I spent on the farm after marrying my husband were really frustrating to me. I had been used to heated barns and big indoor arenas with perfect footing where I could keep riding all winter long. I thought if I couldn't lope and work on spins and stops, that I just may as well turn my horse out for the winter and quit riding until April. And of course, then my horse was pretty fresh and unruly and I felt like I was way behind come show season! And honestly, I missed riding! I knew I needed to keep riding throughout the winter. It was necessary not only for me to be able to make progress towards my goals, but also for my own mental well-being!
That is why I started the Winter Horsemanship Challenge in January 2019. And I learned a lot from this process! I learned that while I may not be able to work on maneuvers for the show pen due to the footing, that the miles I logged with my horse just walking in the snow kept him legged up and mentally fresh. And come spring when the snow melted and we were able to shift our focus to show pen maneuvers, my horse was ready.
Winter is a great time to ride and enjoy your horse. Take the pressure off and shift your focus to your connection and partnership with your horse. There is plenty that you can do with your horse-even basic groundwork in the barn aisle-and your winter work will definitely pay off come spring time!
So from January 1st-April 1st, 2023, the grittiest of horsemen and horsewomen that join this challenge commit to working with their horses at least three days a week-no matter what the weather. Now, if you are in, I expect you to be IN. This means committing to work with your horse 3 days a week for the 13 weeks of the challenge.
Does it cost anything to enter the challenge?
Yes. This year the challenge costs $52. That's just $4 a week to help cover the costs of running the challenge. However, if you sign up before December 1st, the cost is just $26!
Who can enter the challenge?
This challenge is open to any rider, any discipline, any breed-this isn't a training challenge, but rather, an accountability and inspiration challenge.
Does groundwork count?
The challenge is to work with your horse 3 days a week. So yes, groundwork counts! Any activity that you do with your horse that is at least 20 minutes long counts. Riding, groundwork, liberty, bodywork, taking your horse for a walk to get the mail, it all counts!
How do I track my rides?
You are responsible for tracking your sessions with your horse-we are working on the honor system here.
The challenge weeks run from Sunday-Saturday. Every Sunday there will be a "poll" in the group, asking if you have worked with your horse at least 3 times in the previous week. Respond to this poll to be entered into the weekly prize drawings!
It isn't required, however, I highly encourage you to post photos when you work with your horse, and to be active in the Facebook group supporting each other! Many past participants have said this is their favorite part of the challenge.
While not required to participate in the challenge, I strongly recommend that you purchase my Gritty Rider's Goal Planner & Horsemanship Journal to set goals and track your progress. Learn more about this journal at https://www.getgrittywithchevy.com/grittyridersjournal.html
How do I enter the challenge?
Purchase your ticket here, and you'll get a link to join the private challenge Facebook group.
What else is included in the challenge?
This challenge is more than just a place to track your rides. During the challenge you are going to receive encouragement and support from myself and other gritty riders-many of the prior year's challenge participants said this was their favorite part!
Every week I will be posting a mental toughness coaching video lesson and printable pdf workbook to help you and your horse go after your big goals. Post a photo of your completed workbook to earn an entry in that week's prize drawing.
What types of prizes are included in the weekly drawings?
The prizes for the weekly drawings include my products/services, such as my 10 Things Gritty Riders Don't Do book, Confident Cowgirl Workbooks, Coaching Calls with me, etc. Each week's prize is valued at around $25.
What if I don't use Facebook?
Almost all of the challenge activities are in the Private Facebook Group. To get the most out of the challenge, you need to have an active Facebook account and join the Private Facebook Group. If you don't have a Facebook account, you can still receive the weekly coaching video lesson and pdf workbook, and the weekly groundwork and riding challenge exercises via email. However, you will miss out on the support and weekly prize drawings.
Any other guidelines?
The point of this challenge is to be supportive of each other, as such, please support one another by commenting positively on each other's posts. Comments that are not supportive will be deleted, and users that post negative comments may be removed from the group. Giving other riders horsemanship advice is not permitted, unless expressly asked for by the original poster. There are all levels of horses and riders and different disciplines in this challenge. We are all at different places along our horsemanship journey, and there are many different roads to Rome, and we are all starting from different places with different resources and different methods. There are other groups to get a million different opinions on horsemanship and training methods. This group is meant to be a safe and encouraging place for riders to share their horsemanship journey and experiences without judgement.
Any other questions, please contact me! I am looking forward to seeing you and your horse(s) in the challenge!
Get Gritty,
Chevy
If you want to start 2023 at a gallop and get to work on transforming your horse dreams into reality, then the Get Gritty Winter Horsemanship Challenge is for you!

2023 Get Gritty Winter Horsemanship Challenge
Are you gritty enough for the 2023 Winter Horsemanship Challenge?
Starting Sunday, January 1st through Saturday, April 1st, 2023, the grittiest riders commit to working with their horse(s) 3 times a week. Along the way you'll learn the mental toughness skills you need to achieve your horse goals in 2023.
This challenge is open to any rider, any discipline, any breed. This isn't a training challenge, but rather, an accountability and inspiration challenge. You are responsible for tracking the sessions that you spend with your horse-we are working on the honor system here. I highly encourage you to be active in the Facebook group supporting each other, posting your photos and videos.
What counts? Any session with your horse(s) that is at least 20 minutes of time when you are focused on your horse. This can be riding, doing groundwork, liberty, bodywork, basically any kind of activity with your horse.
Now, if you are in, I expect you to be IN. The challenge is to work with your horse 3 days a week. No excuses-this means getting out there in the cold and snow, the rain and mud. Together, we're going to get gritty, turn our passion for horsemanship into practice, and persevere through the winter blahs. Come spring, you and your horse will be ready to go!
This challenge is more than just a place to track your rides-it is also a motivational mental toughness coaching program! Each week has a different mental toughness lesson with a coaching video and pdf workbook to help you develop the mental skills you need to be successful with your horse in 2023 and beyond.
Here's what you'll get during the challenge:
Weekly Challenge Exercises! There will be one groundwork exercise and one riding exercise posted each Sunday. Complete the challenge exercise with your horse and post of video/photo of it to the Challenge Facebook group for an entry in that week's prize drawing!
Weekly mental toughness video lessons and workbooks. Each week Chevy will share with you a short coaching video and printable pdf workbook so you can apply mental toughness techniques to your horsemanship journey. Topics and techniques include goal setting, positive affirmations, intention setting, visualization, reframing negative thoughts, competition focus, and more. Complete the weekly lesson workbook and post a photo of it to earn an entry into that week's prize drawing.
Daily support from Coach Chevy and other Challenge Participants in the private challenge Facebook Group to keep you inspired and motivated! Post your photos and videos to share every win, celebrate your progress and support each other.
Prizes!
Of course, the biggest prize you'll earn is improving your horsemanship, furthering your partnership with your horse and making progress towards your horse goals.
Weekly Prize Drawings: To qualify for the weekly prize drawing you must worked with your horse at least three times that week OR completed one of the weekly challenge exercises and posted a video of it OR completed the weekly lesson workbook and posted a photo of it. Prize packages vary, but each one is valued around $25.
What are you waiting for? If you want to start 2023 at a gallop and get to work on transforming your horse dreams into reality, then the Get Gritty Winter Horsemanship Challenge is for you!
Note-once you purchase you will get a welcome letter pdf download. This welcome letter pdf includes the link to the private challenge Facebook group and information about the challenge. You'll also be added to an email list to received weekly emails during the challenge.
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Disclaimer: Working with horses can be a dangerous activity which can subject participants to serious injury. Siobhan "Chevy" Allen and/or Get Gritty with Chevy Horsemanship Life & Confidence Coaching is not liable for your equine activities. The information, instruction, and techniques provided in Chevy's online coaching materials may not be suitable for everyone. Personal instruction, as well as detailed viewing and/or reading of the materials is highly recommended before attempting these equine activities. Horsemanship Life and Confidence Coaching is not a substitute for professional mental health care or medical care and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any mental health or medical conditions.
Hold Harmless Agreement: By viewing online coaching materials, I understand and are aware of the inherent risks associated with equine activities. I understand that Siobhan "Chevy" Allen is not acting as a mental health counselor or medical professional. I assume all risks associated in performing any of the activities explained in this lesson, and hereby release and hold harmless Siobhan "Chevy" Allen and/or Get Gritty with Chevy Horsemanship Life & Confidence Coaching, successors and assigns, from and against any and all claims, damages, and/or liabilities arising out of my attempts to perform any of the exercises or activities, including and without limitation any personal injuries or damage to my property which I may incur as a result of my attempts to to perform the activities or exercises explained in this lesson.