WO RKING on by Vanessa Hood
wellness
Mind, Body, Soul … Sip, Snack, Squat
photo © Kaitlyn Karssen
Vanessa Hood is an equestrian based in Wellington, Florida together with her daughter Milly and husband Gavin. She grew up competing in the pony, hunter, equitation and jumper ranks nationally and, later, internationally. After attending Yale, she took over a decade off from the horses to work in government and business, a career which took her from D.C. to New York, London, the Netherlands and California. After returning to the sport a few years ago, she quickly realized that working with horses is her life’s work. She currently trains with American international show jumper Kent Farrington and spends her time competing on the circuit with her team of high-level jumpers.
92
· spring/summer 20
1. M I N D I listen to a lot of podcasts and audiobooks. It’s like chatting with a star athlete, business leader, musician, or leading doctor – I love it. Boss Files with Poppy Harlow and The Goop Podcast are my favorites. As for audiobooks, I often listen to sports psychology books. Having a healthy mindset is important to persevering and succeeding in show jumping, so I like to keep growing in this area. Then, there are some books that just beg to be read the old-fashioned way! The best book I’ve read in hard copy recently is The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates. I also enjoy meditating; I notice a big difference in my quality of life when I keep up a daily practice.
4. SIP Tea is my hot drink of choice. I have a cup in the morning and one to jump-start my afternoon. I look forward to those few simple moments everyday! I’m a big hydrator, so I drink a lot of water. If it’s really hot, I’ll add an electrolyte packet once a day like Electrolyte Recovery Plus or Liquid IV. For cocktail hour, I recently discovered Ketel One Botanicals with lots of lime and a splash of soda.
2. BODY Working outside everyday, sunscreen is key. My two favorites are EltaMD UV sunscreen and Supergoop! PLAY Everyday SPF 50.
5. SNAC K Recently, I experimented with going vegan and I felt good and energized. After a while, I craved meat and fish and started eating some animal protein again. I think going vegan improved my diet and taught me to incorporate much more fruit, veggies and seeds into my diet. To treat myself, I’ll eat savory (specifically french fries!) over sweets any day.
3. SOUL The best thing for my soul is spending time with friends and family. In Wellington, I’ve reconnected with a lot of old friends, some of whom I’ve known since our pony days, so it has been really special to catch up. I’m not sure any of us have changed that much since we were 12! The best therapy I’ve found is reading chapter books with my daughter Milly. I hope she still wants to read with me many years from now. It’s so important to take regular breaks since the horses are time-consuming. My favorite off-duty activity is chilling by the pool with my husband Gavin.
6 . S Q UAT We ask the horses to be in top condition so I try to be as fit as I can. For strengthening, aligning and recovery, I do Pilates. I’ve been working with California-based trainer Tom McCook for many years, and now that I live in Florida, we do weekly virtual sessions. Sometimes I’ll supplement with his videos on the Pilates Anytime app. He’s truly a master at the mechanics of movement for athletes. Pilates is a great complement to riding and even short 10-minute sessions help me get ready for or unwind from my day.