The Power of the Pen: Why Every Rider Needs a Training Diary in 2026

As we approach the final days of 2025, the pressure to set “big” New Year’s resolutions is everywhere. But as equestrians, we know that progress isn’t made in one giant leap on January 1st; it’s made in the quiet, consistent moments every day.

If you want 2026 to be the year you truly level up, don’t just set a goal, change how you track your journey. This is where the training diary becomes your secret weapon. It’s the tool that turns “Thinking Rider” theories into tangible, trackable growth.

1. Turning “dips” into data

The human brain is notoriously bad at remembering gradual progress; we tend to focus on the frustrations of the “now.” A training diary provides objective proof of how far you’ve come. When you are struggling with a transition today, you can look back three months and realise that back then, you couldn’t even consistently maintain the gait as you worked different school movements.

It silences comparison – the “thief of joy” – by giving you the only metric that truly matters: your own history.

2. Identifying your unique variables

Equestrianism involves a complex mix of physiological, environmental, and psychological factors. By documenting your rides, you begin to spot patterns that are invisible in isolation:

• Physiological patterns: Does your horse feel more ‘switched on’ after two days of hacking versus two days of schooling? Training fatigue, muscle recovery, and even hormonal shifts all play a part in how your horse shows up to work.
• Environmental factors: Does the wind in the trees or the appearance of a new jump wing always change your horse’s focus? External distractions aren’t just inconveniences; they are data points that tell you when your horse needs more support, engagement, or a change in your schooling plan.
• Psychological factors: Do you notice your horse feels “heavy” or “spooky” on days you’ve had a stressful day at the office? Our own mental state – stress, fatigue, or even subconscious pressure – travels straight down the reins to our horse.

3. Creating a better conversation

As your coach, my favourite moments are when a rider arrives with specific data. Instead of saying, “He felt a bit off last week,” a diary allows you to say: “I noticed he’s been struggling to bend to the left more than the right on the last couple of rides. How can I help to balance his flexibility?”

This shift moves our sessions away from “fixing problems” and toward “advanced refinements”. It allows us to be proactive rather than reactive.

The 2026 intention: choosing a theme over a resolution

Instead of a resolution that you might break by February, try choosing a “theme” for your training diary this year. A theme gives you a lens through which to view your data and helps you stay focused during those unavoidable “dips” on the equestrian rollercoaster.

Choosing a theme is the first step in developing your Equestrian IQ. As we discussed in Beyond the Arena, the best riders are those who stay curious and committed to their education even when they aren’t in the saddle. By setting an intention, you ensure that every minute spent with your horse – or your notebook – is moving you toward becoming a more informed partner.

Examples of 2026 themes:

• Balance: Maintaining even balance through transitions, rider straightness, and the horse’s rhythm as you ride different movements.
• Curiosity: Asking “why” after every ride and investigating the science behind the feel.
• Confidence: Prioritising relaxation and positive “wins”, no matter how small.

By setting an intention rather than a hard, time-bound goal, your diary becomes a record of growth rather than a scorecard of “pass or fail.”

The “quick-fire” diary method

You don’t need to write a novel after every ride. If you’re short on time, try this 3-step entry:

1. The win: One thing that went well, no matter how small.
2. The variable: One outside factor that influenced the ride (e.g., “very windy” or “felt tired”).
3. The focus: One specific goal for your next session based on today’s data.

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Your monthly progress review checklist

At the end of every month, take 10 minutes to sit down with your diary and ask yourself these four questions:

1. The frequency of wins: What was the most common “win” recorded this month?
2. The common variable: Was there a recurring factor that consistently led to a “dip” in performance?
3. The “A-ha” moment: Which entry describes a lightbulb moment or a new “feel” you want to consolidate?
4. The next step: Based on this month’s data, what is the one specific area we should focus on in our next lesson?

So, what did you learn in the arena today? Start tracking the trend and let’s make 2026 the year of the Thinking Rider.

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Want to take your ‘Thinking Rider’ journey even further? If you enjoyed learning how to track your progress, check out my previous post: Beyond the Arena: Why the Best Riders are the Best Students. It explores more ways to develop your Equestrian IQ away from the yard.