We’ve waved goodbye to summer; autumn is flying by and the countryside is already very wet… At this point, after just so much rain, we’re not sure if it’s worth building an ark and sailing somewhere warmer and drier. But the months ahead will bring more rain, colder weather and long, dark nights. Coupled with rising feed and bedding bills as we stable our horses more in winter, and horse ownership can feel a lot more daunting at this time of year. And, unless you’re lucky enough to have access to lots of great draining turnout that you can use all winter long, the next five or six months won’t be easy for your horse either. But horse ownership is supposed to be fun, and it’s important to remember why you love spending time in the saddle. That’s why this month’s blog shares 10 ways to keep both you and your horse motivated in winter. Five tips for you, and five tips to try with your horse! Let’s take a look…
Top tips to help you stay motivated in winter
- Invest in proper winter gear
From a head torch for dark mornings to wellies that don’t leak and warm, lined winter breeches, proper winter gear will help you stay warm and dry. We know we’re much more motivated to head to the yard and ride when we’re kitted out properly for the conditions.
- Ride with friends whenever you can
We know it can be hard when chances to ride are often limited to evenings and weekends but arranging to meet a fellow rider or two will help you look forward to those rides a lot more. Riding in the rain together is a lot more fun than getting soggy out hacking on your own, don’t you agree?
- Explore new competitions and clinics
Having a competition, no matter what level, to look forward to will help keep your motivation high. There’s winter dressage, indoor showjumping, arena eventing and a plethora of clinics under floodlights and indoors away from the rain. Plus, unless you suffer terribly from nerves, it’s a day out to look forward to!
- Plan training sessions ahead of time and get accountability
Whether you’re training for a winter competition or ready for spring and summer events, make a clear plan to work on. That way, riding and other horsey activities each week will be non-negotiable. Instead of having an internal argument with yourself before you pull on your breeches and hop in the car, you just stick to your plan.
- Work on your core strength, balance and fitness ready for spring
We completely appreciate that after an early start, working all day and then doing evening stables in the dark, flopping on the sofa to watch TV looks very tempting. But why not spend 45 minutes doing some Pilates, yoga or weights so that you’re in tip top shape ready for spring adventures? Keeping fit and well will help boost energy and motivation – plus, the moment the ground improves and the clocks ‘spring’ forward, you’ll be ready for action!
Five ways to keep your horse motivated in winter
- Keep their ridden work varied.
We know that for many of you, hacking can be tricky in winter and the school can get very samey. Why not look at your diary and block out a morning to box to the gallops one week, a day at the beach (if you can) another week and book the occasional clinic or training session? That way your horse won’t get bored to death trotting around the same school every time you ride.
- Make being stabled as comfortable as possible
Standing in a stable for hours on end isn’t ideal for a horse’s physical and mental wellbeing, but our wet British winters mean being stabled at least overnight and some of the day is likely. Try to feed plenty of forage (from a small-hole hay net or a dedicated forage feeder), make sure they can see other horses, hang stable toys and even try the old school trick of threading carrots and apples on rope for them.
- Spend quality time out of the saddle
Winter’s short days mean less riding unless you have a floodlit school. But why not use some of the time you’d normally spend riding to practise carrot stretches and groundwork? Stretching is always beneficial, and groundwork can help improve your ridden partnership. Even a good grooming session will help you bond with your horse and boost their motivation!
- Treat them to some TLC
Routine chiropractor and physio sessions aside, getting some professionals to work on your horse is a great way to ensure they feel like a million dollars and are in tip top shape when winter is over. There are excellent equine massage therapists who could visit, or you could take your horse to use a water treadmill or salt therapy chamber…
- Learn a new skill together
If you are confined to the school during the winter months, why not learn a new discipline? If you’ve never played with pole work and jumping grids, now could be the time. Or perhaps you can find an old polo mallet and ball and teach your horse to stick and ball… just make sure you have the right safety kit for you and your horse for any new adventures.