The long, cold and damp months of winter have a way of making even the keenest horse owner lose a bit of enthusiasm. Short days, wet fields, frozen ground and limited turnout can leave horses feeling fresh when you’re in the saddle and bored when they’re stuck in their stable. That’s why we’ve come up with a few creative ideas that encompass a mix of routine, enrichment and variety, to help you keep both you and your horse engaged right through to spring weather arrives.
Stable enrichment ideas
We know that lots of yards have to limit turnout during the wet and muddy months, and that means the stable becomes a much bigger part of your horse’s day. This is where taking some time to provide enrichment can make a huge difference.
Our horses have evolved to trickle feed for between 12 and 20 hours a day, so it’s important that they have access to forage for as long as possible in the stable. If your horse tends to eat their hay or haylage very quickly, consider using multiple small-holed hay nets, adding a forage ball or using chopped fibre to encourage slower eating and help keep horses occupied for longer. Treat toys, lick blocks and safe chew products can also reduce stress and help prevent stable habits forming.
Many horses enjoy visual stimulation too. A shatterproof stable mirror or being able to see and even touch their neighbours can take the edge off long hours inside. If there’s a way to ensure every horse in the yard can see other horses, try to make it happen! Keep stables well-ventilated as fresh air is vital to good respiratory health for horses kept inside.
Turnout tweaks for winter
Not every yard boasts lots of well-draining winter turnout and so most have to juggle fields carefully during winter. Whatever the situation, it’s vital that every horse gets the chance to spend time out of their stable (while not being worked) every day. If hours spent in the field aren’t possible then short, structured spells outside can make a big difference to a horse’s wellbeing. If your yard has all-weather turnout pens or woodchip areas, these can be invaluable when the fields need protecting.
You can also add simple features to encourage movement outdoors, such as spreading hay stations in fields and turnout pens further apart or using safe logs and poles for horses to step over for some mental stimulation.
Add variety to winter exercise
Pole work and purposeful schooling – pole work is a great winter boredom buster as it encourages horses to think, lift through their bodies and engage their brains without needing a long or intense schooling session. Fans, mini grids, raised poles or poles set out on a circle all work well and can be tackled under saddle or in hand
Your ridden work doesn’t have to be lengthy, something that might be music to your ears if you hate being out later on winter evenings. Short, focused sessions, sometimes only 15 to 20 minutes, can be a good chance to work on transitions and lateral exercises to keep horses engaged without overdoing it.
Freshening up on the gallops
If you’re building up fitness ready for spring competitions or maintaining condition for clinics and events now, the gallops are a brilliant asset in winter. When the fields are deep or you’re short on time, a session on the gallops gives horses a chance to stretch out safely and enjoy a change of scenery. It’s a great way to let off steam, maintain fitness and bring some fun back into the week for you and your horse.
Groundwork and in-hand options
Not every session needs to involve riding. Long-reining, lunging with poles, in-hand lateral work or confidence-building obstacle exercises all provide mental stimulation. These are especially helpful if the weather limits saddle time or your horse thrives with varied routines.
Even when working them outdoors or in an indoor school isn’t possible, there are plenty of ways to stay connected with your horse. Thorough grooming sessions help boost circulation, reduce stiffness and keep winter coats in good condition. Adding stretch routines or using a massage mitt can make grooming feel more like a treat than a chore and help you build an even closer bond.
Water treadmill sessions to build condition
And for those wanting a productive alternative to riding, the water treadmill is ideal. While often associated with rehab, it’s also fantastic for general conditioning and mental stimulation. The change of environment, controlled movement and gentle resistance all keep horses curious and engaged. At Thorpe Farm, we know that horses really enjoy their sessions, and their owners appreciate having a purposeful, weather-proof option during the toughest weeks of the season.
Boredom busters for riders
It’s not just our horses who can find winter boring and restrictive. Humans miss sunshine, warmth, evening rides and long summer weekends at the yard! That’s why it’s important plan how you’ll tackle winter too. Here are some ideas that we hope you’ll find useful…
Winter can be a good time for learning and setting clear goals for the season ahead. Whether it’s watching online training videos, booking a lesson or attending a yard talk from a physio, farrier or nutritionist, there are lots of ways to stay motivated even when the weather isn’t playing ball. We love scouring equestrian magazines like Horse & Rider and Your Horse for schooling ideas and pole work exercises to try when you get can in the saddle in winter, and Horse & Hound for some inspiration from reading top riders’ stories.
You can also use the winter to help hone your fitness, balance and flexibility so that you’re the best possible partner for your horse or pony when spring competitions roll around. Adding Pilates, yoga and strength sessions into your week now will make a huge difference and help fill the winter evenings.
We hope that these tips help break up the winter monotony and see you and your horse through to spring happy, healthy and ready for your best season yet! And remember: everyone finds winter hard. Missed rides, soaking wet rugs and days when it feels like EVERYTHING is covered in mud will happen. The aim is to keep you and your horse feeling positive, healthy and ready for spring.