More than 700 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, “Do you have any equine-related New Year’s resolutions?”

• Yes, for both me and my horse(s): 60.53% (437)
  
• I don’t make up New Year’s resolutions: 26.18% (189)
  
• Yes, for me personally: 10.39% (75)
  
• Yes, for my horse(s): 2.91% (21)

While riding more often and with more precision were common responses, some readers also noted that they be actively involved in supporting equine-related legislation in the upcoming year.

All comments submitted by poll respondents are listed below.

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• To very soon witness passage of HR503/S311
  
• Passing The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act
  
• Own my own horse or two
  
• To fight for the passage of the AHSPA – HR503 / S311
  
• To stop horse slaughter and the wild horse and burro wipe out
  
• I will fight harder than ever to see that anti-slaughter legislation is passed in the U.S. Congress
  
• Fight harder for passage of the AHSPA HR503 / S311
  
• Get the 3-year-old colt broke to saddle, have fun at show with the show horses, learn more!
  
• to learn as much as I can
  
• I plan to spend more time on ground training.
  
• to purchase a horse and get back into riding this spring
  
• We resolve to do more trail riding and do an overnight campout.
  
• I’m going to compete in an endurance event
  
• Continue informed care, ride more using natural horsemanship and common sense
  
• To lobby show, breed, breeder, trail, state, horse assns to regularly raise $ for rescue & retire
  
• More time training my horses and myself and make it fun
  
• to ride and play more with our 3 Clydesdales
  
• more training hours and miles
  
• a new business, will be fantastic! My horses will benefit greatly, and there will be $$ to afford!
  
• lose weight and get in better shape!
  
• Ride more and get back into shape
  
• Working with my ponies and becoming more confident
  
• become a better rider; begin dressage w/ horse
  
• More riding and exploring!!!
  
• I want to lose at least 50 pounds so I can ride my daughters new horse he’s only 14 hand /850 pd
  
• To spend more quality time in the barn
  
• want to get out and do more trail riding and some showing
  
• Ride more!!
  
• More riding (horse) lose weight (me)
  
• start running again- will improve my riding and get a few extra pounds off Immi’s back
  
• to have both of my yearlings green broke by or in summer
  
• ride her more
  
• complete the Dennis Reis training program I got for Christmas
  
• No
  
• Ride more & to get healthy
  
• Learn to drive
  
• I need to develop my core strength. For my horse, I need to gain confidence in riding her in a few
  
• training level dressage
  
• Get my 5 year old to respect me under saddle & get my yearling to accept me working above his back
  
• More ride time!
  
• I want to ride more
  
• I have some colts to break, and I am going to ride more
  
• To ride more , spend more time w/ my horses and less time worrying over stuff that doesn’t matter
  
• All going on a diet, getting into shape, and having fun riding in 2008. Less stress more fun.
  
• ride/drive more: worry less
  
• I would like to get my horses in better physical condition.
  
• more schooling
  
• More regular training for the horses and increased learning/training for myself
  
• For all of us to become the right weight and fitter
  
• Will try to ride as much as I can.
  
• To get my new horse, Nero, and myself through about 400 AERC miles together.
  
• I do plan this year as every year, to donate as much as I can afford to end equine abuse.
  
• To work harder to help end horse slaughter in Canada.
  
• I will work to pass S311 / HR 503 this year so ALL America’s Horses will be safe from slaughter for
  
• I make them when I see a problem!
  
• Learn to ride and train my horses.
  
• Make horse a medical account for emergencies; get self in better physical and financial shape.
  
• I want to become braver(after an accident)and I want my horse to trust my judgment more.
  
• to help bring an end to horse slaughter for human consumption in Europe and Japan.
  
• I plan to be more consistent in my riding and conditioning for better performance.
  
• Spend a lot less time working around the place and a lot more time riding!
  
• We both need to get in a lot more riding
  
• we are both going to get in shape
  
• Hope to be able to ride better
  
• Lose weight!
  
• I want to finish my Level II Parelli certification
  
• I’ll my horse much more often, for health.
  
• Ride more. Or at all.
  
• To do something with each horse (4) – ground work or ride – five days a week
  
• no, but what a good idea!
  
• get in better shape to ride better
  
• spend more time ‘training’ the New Haute Ecole doing groundwork to improve well-being and relationship
  
• assess part of our Parelli Level 3
  
• Get my horse back into good shape after being pregnant.
  
• Take time to Ride!
  
• To own a horse, and accomplish Parelli
  
• Starting Jan. 1 I will start my new business.
  
• I am resolving to spend more time riding my horse this year
  
• Do lots of trail riding and camping
  
• daily exercise, hugging, talking, affection
  
• not church holiday so id don’t observe & nether do my horses
  
• I’ll show my dog less and ride my horse more
  
• more quiet time
  
• Move up to FIRST LEVEL in Dressage!
  
• To ride more on a regular basis and compete in a local show
  
• Ride 4 or more times a week
  
• To ride more, and work with my young mule
  
• Ride everyday it is not raining
  
• to ride more
  
• I resolve to do whatever I have to do to keep my horses happy and healthy–they are my life!
  
• More trail riding
  
• To be jumping consistently 3’9″ in the show ring!
  
• RIDE MORE!
  
• ride more and play more
  
• Ride more!
  
• To be the best we can be in our chosen discipline.
  
• Make more time to ride.
  
• ride more
  
• I want to earn more respect in the show ring by becoming better at showmanship
  
• Give More Attention
  
• get my horse back in shape and get my confidence up. I haven’t ridden in a couple of years.
  
• We both could use more exercise.
  
• I would like to get into the show ring and on the trails more. taking hunter lessons is a priority
  
• Lose weight & improve my fitness; more riding time
  
• sell 3 horses so I can spend more time with the remaining one!
  
• Spend more time listening to them and learning their language, become a horse whisperer!
  
• Of course! To spend more time with them & ride more often (same one every year!)
  
• I WILL have a healthy back. I WILL start training my half tb/half Friesian colt! I will feel good!
  
• Buy Insurance. Agreed Value — NOT Actual Value!
  
• We are all going on a diet and get in shape
  
• For him, keep him sound and fit, for us, get our Parelli Level 1
  
• had a hip replaced, and want to get back to riding ASAP
  
• To improve my relationship with my horses
  
• Ride more and devote more time to my horse-if not riding then grooming and pampering
  
• Dedicated Riding Time!!!!!
  
• More riding, more fun stuff and not all shows.
  
• prepare a “paddock paradise” for lamaminic prone ‘easy keepers”
  
• No feeding treats while in the cross ties
  
• Lots of riding – another trip to Nebraska!
  
• Start training my pasture ornaments
  
• both of us to get more fit, do better at shows, and enjoy some trail riding
  
• Go to more shows!
  
• Spend more individual time with each horse, and get myself fit!
  
• To try and get in more play and training time with them
  
• more play, work with them more, no excuses!
  
• Stay healthy!
  
• I plan to “Ride Today”, because you never know what may happen tomorrow.
  
• I had a hip replaced 3/06, I want to start riding my new trail trained filly, Ms Bacacita Bella.
  
• Volunteer my time at a Rescue Ranch
  
• I am claiming time in the diary so I don’t get to this time next year and wish I had done more.
  
• To simply move up a level with my riding
  
• To put in 110% effort in lessons to get ready for lvl 1 dressage.
  
• I would like to pass myself and my horse out of novice and do well in Endurance next year.
  
• Work harder at training
  
• I would like us to move up a level in dressage!
  
• ride as often as I can with my kids
  
• More time just hangin’ out
  
• To become mentally and physically fit for both my horse and myself!
  
• I want to ride more often, not just once or twice a month.
  
• Ride much, MUCH more!
  
• Ride more!
  
• To ride more often
  
• I plan to finish the new horse barn and buy a new horse or two.
  
• stop “nagging” my horses with leg aids
  
• to spend more time riding
  
• I need to spend the time needed with my horses so we all benefit from being able to trust each other
  
• Focus on reducing both our hay bellies!!!
  
• I like to make a change whenever it’s needed-not just at new years.
  
• To stay in the saddle and avoid those pesky involuntary dismounts!
  
• To stop boarding my horse out and bring him home to our new barn and pasture
  
• I am working on my level on in PNH with all three of my horses.
  
• We all need to get fit and ride more!
  
• Keep those long Andalusian manes combed out.
  
• I will spend more time with my horses as it is good for them and relaxing for me.
  
• Share quality time, train , have fun and compete and listen to my equine partner for feedback
  
• I have 5 AWSOME horses that have all gotten fat and lazy, much like me! We are all shaping up!
  
• we will both loose weight
  
• To get back in the saddle on all 4 horses & on the bridle path again with friends
  
• ride more
  
• Praying for this weather to end, so I can get the horse trailer to ride reiners, in an arena, an not
  
• To better train my horse
  
• do hill work 2x a week
  
• Schedule unalterable appointments with my horse for my own sanity and her development!
  
• time to finish the dressage horse
  
• We will get out to some horse shows this year.
  
• I’m starting a new mule; he’ll be 3 in May, and will begin his training as a driving pony!
  
• to spend more time just being “present” with them, and teaching other owners to do the same
  
• TB brat–no bucking at canter and jumping, quit spooking. me–less fear, more riding, better form
  
• to lose more weight…for my horse too!
  
• I’m going to spend more time cleaning hooves
  
• Getting into better shape, learning to communicate better, always working to be a better horse owner
  
• We’re taking training/lessons to help both of us.
  
• We’re both going to lose weight and exercise more!
  
• To become much more advanced in our discipline
  
• spend more time in the saddle
  
• get all of us back into show shape
  
• But I hope to give the same high quality care.
  
• sell one and save some $$$
  
• Make a better effort to save money to be able to show more
  
• Listen to my horses more and be as natural as I can
  
• To get us both into better shape by personally exercising-treadmill and outside walking, weather per
  
• I have a new horse–we will get better acquainted
  
• After losing one late this year, I resolve to spend more time and ride
  
• Making more time for riding and horse fun
  
• get to work on me and her
  
• To ride more often and get both of us in better shape.
  
• we are getting ready for a new foal this spring-first in 9 years!
  
• I want to improve my riding and also get a young horse driving.
  
• Work harder!
  
• Exercise More!
  
• to start and finish Tevis
  
• Build a fabulous extended trot – and RIDE it!
  
• We are going to work together more regularly.
  
• We both need to lose weight and get more physically fit – so we’ll do it together!
  
• better balance in the saddle for me and more respect for me from my horse
  
• Spend more time with my horses
  
• We both need to get in shape.
  
• I want to do more winter riding.
  
• More exercise for all and more time just hanging out being part of the herd (me too)!
  
• I plan to work daily to condition horses and myself. As it is now, I do well to accomplish 3x/wk.
  
• ride more
  
• I am switching over from shavings to straw. .
  
• Ride more!
  
• Only recently on vacation have I ridden in several yrs & my horses are fat so we will start working!
  
• Riding more & spending more time with my horses.
  
• try to go to a few out of state horse shows to show my horses
  
• I set goals daily 4 us, try to stick w/them. Less chance of failure than 1x yr resolution.
  
• We are both going to get into a good training program & get fit!
  
• get into better shape for riding, get more supple to match the suppleness I am asking of my horse.
  
• To have more fun!
  
• Keep them healthy
  
• Going to start riding again…hopefully shed some pounds doing so too…
  
• Get my green bean to his first show!
  
• Be more efficient! Get my Arab to Regionals.
  
• I WILL ride 5 days a week
  
• spend more time together and workout!
  
• try to find a boarding barn that won’t rip me off or starve my horse
  
• I would like a fitness routine for myself, and my horse. No more excuses for not riding. I am look
  
• To bright to light the brutality of horse slaughter & to educate on non-violent options instead

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