What to do with your horse in the winter?

[Former_Member]

It is really hard to work with my horse in the winter because I do not have an indoor riding arena. What do you do with your horses in the winter?

[Former_Member]

I am lucky enough to have a covered partially enclosed arena 7 minutes from my house that I can rent on a monthly basis, and I also do ground work, showmanship/respect exercises that don't take too long out in the cold and wet or that can be done in a stall or barn aisle.

[Former_Member]

The big key is to make sure they dry quickly after work... modified clipping and a warm up quarter blanket is good... as are heated socks and glove warmers. If the ground is frozen, you will have a harder time with their feet. However, if you are not able to get enough work in, a horse actually loses less condition when not worked for a season than if they have light work... weird fact I remember from my equine exercise phys class.

[Former_Member]

all 11 of our horses roam the 100-acres of snowy fields here in Colorado. On the other hand, they do this year-round, not just in the winter.

[redmorningstudios]

We have an indoor arena, though it can get busy with boarders and lessons all in the same place during the winter. I try to take advantage of the rare nice days to go trail riding. You can always work on groundwork and desensitizing (bring out those tarps and plastic bags!)

[Former_Member]

redmorningstudios,

Yes, good idea to desensitize all winter.
Thanks.

[HummingbirdArtGlass]

We use them in good weather for our equine experiential learning programs. We don't have an indoor arena and most people don't want to brave the cold and wind so all five of mine become pasture potatoes until the spring thaw and solid ground again!
Jackie

[Sahara050303]

In the winter, the arenas are always crowded with rider or whatever. (I'm at a public barn) So, we normally will sneak in some time to ride alone when no one's there. (like at lunch, really early in the morning, or late at night.) But, sometimes when there's nothing more to do I'll walk Sahara around the barn. (when it's not icy or extremely snowy)

- Sahara

[TheHomespunLoft]

We have a farm, so my Donkeys have their pen in the barn and days they wander with yearling calves.. year round.. every day but a rain storm (my Donkeys do not like rain!).

[ContessaAnnabella]

Hi, first time posting here. We have 40 acres and no indoor as well. My daughter rides in a hunt club during the winder months, and occasionally we trailer her horse to a local friend with an indoor. She trail rides a lot in all kinds of weather.

[PeacefullyPerfect]

We do not have an indoor arena, only a grass ring to ride in during the summer. I used to board my jumpers out in the winter months at a boarding facilitly with an indoor to keep up their training.
Since then, I've sold my boys and have had to take a break from showing currently due to school.
The rest of our horses here are retired and living out there days eating hay and grazing through the fields.
I did just buy myself a young prospect to work on, but not sure if I'm going to board her out this winter or not. She'd make a really nice little hunter, but again, at this point i've only been pleasure working her. If I can find the time, and money lol I'd love to work her up and get into the show ring next year. We'll see how it goes lol

[Sahara050303]

I wish I could ride my horse in a grass ring or a pasture. She doesn't like arenas very much, and riding in circles. But she's gotten a ton better!
She is defiantly an outdoor horse, she loves to watch things and ride in a straight line! :)

-Sahara

[Former_Member]

I think a lot of it would depend on how much snow you get and the footing in the arena.

I don't own a horse :( but the places I did ride usually kept the horses outside all year (blankets in the winter if needed) with shelters for when it got really nasty. If it wasn't sloppy or icey outside, sometimes my polo club could get in the outdoor arena to exercise the horses, at the very least a walk and trot (these were athletes so they had to stay in shape. They got to be pasture ponies in the summer.). The barn I interned at got super sloppy during the winter. The round pen seemed to be the only place that dried out quickly after rain and even that had to be checked before I'd bring out horses and work them.

[SterlingToLove]

We have no season change so we are able to ride all year! It's nice in the winter but boy does it get HOT in the summer!

Holly