7 Winter Horse Riding Exercises to Keep Motivated

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In colder winter climates like Canada, staying motivated to ride during the cold weather can be quite the challenge. Dealing with the cold takes some preparation and financial investment of insulated riding boots, winter breeches, extra warm gloves, warm socks, outer garments, and a face cover.

Preparation to stay warm and protected from the elements for you and your horse is of utmost importance during the coldest months.

Pre-Riding Checklist

Wear warm clothes and wear lots of layers with thermal underwear that will soak up the sweat.

Stretches for you and your horse. The cold weather makes it harder on our muscles. Stretching for you and your horse will help to prevent injury.
Use a quarter sheet on your horse to help keep muscles warm
If you ride outside your horse should be barefoot, or have shoes with pads and ice caulks.

If you are lucky enough to have an indoor arena to continue riding during the winter months there is the added challenge of keeping your horse from getting arena sour! Days and days of schooling in the arena for months on end aren’t good for you or your horse.

So how do we stay motivated and keep our horse from becoming arena sour?

Put VARIETY into your riding schedule!

Try to add riding outside to your weekly schedule. Go for a hack in the snow, an outdoor arena or do some hill work. Snow and hill work are great for cardio and muscle building!

Note: your horse should be barefoot or have proper shoes, pads, and ice caulks. Be sure to avoid cantering on unknown footing or unlevel footing.

Add weekly pole work to your indoor schooling routine. Setting up a series of poles set at the correct distance for your horse or pony works wonders for their top-line and encourages them to lift their feet.

For the rider it is an opportunity to work on eye control (looking up) lower leg and core strength.

One ride a week should be dedicated to serious flat work. Work on both you and your horses’ weaknesses and develop them to become your strengths. The following are some schooling areas you could work on:

a) Rhythm and cadence – Work on keeping the same beat working through the gaits.

b) Bending and suppling – make sure your horse is properly bending through the rib off your inside leg to outside hand

c) Lateral work – develop your lateral exercises in skill and add different lateral exercises as your horses strength develops.

d) Collection – lengthening and shortening the stride

Take a lesson with a qualified coach whenever you have the opportunity and ask them to help you develop your position in flatwork or jumping.

5. If show jumping is one of your favorite aspects of jumping try to do some gymnastics once a week

6. Do some groundwork exercises with your horse and let them have a different experience without tack.

7. Lunging is always a good work out if you don’t feel like riding but want to get your horse moving. Make sure you have your horses’ legs properly bandaged and use bell boots if they have shoes and ice caulks.

WINTER ALTERNATIVES

Some of you may not have the opportunity to ride during the winter and decide to allow your horse to have a couple of months off being ridden.

There are still lots of opportunities to develop by doing online courses or auditing clinics.

Stay warm and happy horsing!