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Home » Winter Activities with Your Horse

Winter Activities with Your Horse

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Need some ideas for activities to do with your horse this winter? There are many deterrents when it comes to old man winter. The cold, the footing, and the short days keep us out of the saddle. And if you’re like me, I need some ideas to keep things interesting. I hope this list helps you and your horse to survive this long winter and make the most of it!

Caught Poncho running in the snow.

Winter Actiities with Your Horse

1. Walking

If the footing is good, I recommend taking your horse on a 20 to 30-minute walk. This warms you up and keeps you healthy as well! Take this time to enjoy your horse’s company and work on transitions and speed control.

winter activities with your horse

2. Flexiblity

Sometimes horses stand around a little more eating hay or hunkering in the barn out of the wind. You can stretch their muscles with some carrot stretches. Check out this book, Stretch Exercises for Horses.

3. Pole Work

Try some new pole exercises. These can be great for building muscle, communication, and posture in your horse. It’s actually quite easy to set up a few poles in a unique pattern to get a little time in with your horse. Check out this book, 151 Polework Exercises for Horses.

4. Grooming

Grooming is great to improve circulation in your horse during these cold months. Keeping the coat clean also helps insulate your horse, thus keeping them nice and toasty this winter!

5. Spruce Up Your Barn

Barn time still equals horse time for me. I may not be riding, but whenever I can my horse close I’m happy. Winter is a nice time to tidy up and make a few changes in your barn. There is always loose hay to sweep or making sure items that may freeze are taken inside. Maybe add a cute sign or work on reorganizing things. When Spring comes you’ll be so busy wanting to train or ride you might not have time to do that Spring cleaning.

6. Tricks/Play

Have you ever taught your horse tricks? There are some easy ones to teach. You can do these in most any weather.

You can teach your horse to kick a ball back and forth and it’s kinda fun.

Check out this book, The Handy Book of Horse Tricks.

7. Bonding Time

winter activities with your horse

Bonding time can be anything that requires pretty much nothing from the horse. The time you spend with them petting, grooming, and hanging out are all great ways to simply bond. Do you know their favorite scratchy spot?

8. Learn more about Horse’s Hooves

The Essential Hoof is a book you might want to read. But just spend some time learning the anatomy of the foot. And if you’re really ambitious, maybe learn to trim your horse yourself.

9. Write out Some Goals

I think winter is a great time to sit, reflect, and look forward to what is to come. Just like a farmer plans out their garden for the coming spring, think about what you’d like to accomplish next year with your horse. Here are some ideas: enter a show, learn liberty, fix a problem you’ve been having, build more confidence riding, go on a trail ride, or learn a new skill. Brainstorm these ideas while you groom or bond with your horse. Keep a running list on the notes section in your phone or journal.

10. Winter Pictures

I love photography and taking pictures of my horses in the winter. You can get some really lovely pictures such as their breath coming out of their nostrils, snow falling, or snow stuck on their cute nose. Cell phones do pretty well these days, so get out and start shooting. It’s all about fun and being with your horse.

I hope this list of winter activities to do with your horse gives you some inspiration to survive these long cold days. Our horses still need attention and they still need our love. It is so hard for me to want to go out in the cold and dark. But sometimes motivating myself to get out the door is the hardest part.

Take one of the ideas from this list and just head out. You won’t regret it. Ride if you can, but remember that if you don’t do much with your horse, this winter it’s okay. Give yourself grace.

Wishing you a beautiful winter and happy memories with your horse!

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I feel so lucky to have this little mustang. 🤎 I feel so lucky to have this little mustang. 🤎

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Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior for each da Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior for each day he carries us in his arms. Psalm 68:19

So thankful God carries me and holds me. It's not just in hard moments it's not just when we repent. It's each and every day. Draw close to him today. He's closer than you think.
There is about a million blessings a day we can pr There is about a million blessings a day we can praise God for. Can I get a hallelujah 🙌 
God's goodness is everywhere!!! If you don't see it. Then be a blessing to someone today!! Can I get an amen? 🙏

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Just have fun! ❤️ Just have fun! ❤️
We all need love ❤️ We all need love ❤️
Cold weather keeping you out of the saddle? I got Cold weather keeping you out of the saddle? I got you covered! Check out the latest blog for some ideas for you and your horse to spend some much needed time together this winter! 

Follow the link in my bio and click most recent articles. 

#winterhorse #winterequestrian #equestrianwinter #winterideas #funwithhorses
I recently had the opportunity to listen to a prof I recently had the opportunity to listen to a professional horse trainer speak. At the end he opened it up for a Q&A. A few of the riders wondered how to ‘fix’ the problem of their horse taking off before they are fully mounted and ready. It’s a bad habit for a horse to have. Not to mention unsafe for the rider. But he had a great point, he said, “I’ve seen it happen with colts even after a few rides. No habit was formed they just want to take off.” The practical advice he gave was spot on. Suggesting they start over each time their horse takes a step before they are ready. And to also pause at the mounting block taking a few moments to just pet your horse. 
When reflecting later on about what he said my mind went to the Lord and how He asks us to wait. The Lord is ready to go with us, but we are trying to take off before He is ready. Therefore, He’s gives a, “whoa.” Putting a pause on our plans or making things a bit more difficult for us. 
For reasons only He can know does He ask us to wait. Maybe things haven’t fully aligned yet to accomplish His plan. Maybe He is growing our character. 
Just like the trainer said it’s in our nature to be in a hurry and ready to go. No one had to teach us to be this way. But rather, we must learn to wait. God always has something to teach us in the waiting period. 
I know He has great and wonderful things up ahead on the trail for us to see and do, but we must go when He is ready. Let us sit still for a minute while He pets on us and reassures us that everything is okay. 
He will let us know when the time is right. He will give the signal. But learn to wait. Take pleasure in it. By waiting we are doing God a great honor. We all want that horse that doesn’t take a step without the rider’s prompting. Let’s stand firm for the Lord. 
Scriptures in the comments...
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I love how there is a monster truck in the shot 😄 
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I work him completly at liberty. Therefore, he could've ran off. But instead he ran a short distance and turned and faced the ball and me again. Showing great bravery by standing his ground as the scary object continued to advance towards him.
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In Christ alone is salvation, freedom, peace, merc In Christ alone is salvation, freedom, peace, mercy, truth, and joy.
I heard this recently, and I thought about the mos I heard this recently, and I thought about the most profound moments I’ve experienced in my life, and they aren’t the ones you typically celebrate, but they’ve been so profound that they will stick with me forever.

The day my daughter was born, she also died in my arms. I will remember and hold this moment forever in my heart. It was beautiful. It was painful. It was life changing.

Fast forward a week to the day of her funeral. I lay in bed crying out to God. How do I do this? I decided to put worship music on. I found myself with arms raised, worshiping God amidst the most painful time in my life. That moment, that feeling will remain with me the rest of my life. I was so grateful for the gift of having a beautiful baby girl. But was devastated at the loss of her. Pain and joy mingle in the strangest ways sometimes.

This moment on my horse I am wearing a skirt that has been worn by countless other women all over the world who have experienced such a loss. It is beautiful, but it represents pain and loss. But so much more than that. Though we have scars, we are fighting the good fight. We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us!

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Sometimes I pray about something and doubt whether Sometimes I pray about something and doubt whether God will really come
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God, I can’t wait to see how you are going to answer this!

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I tell you what, pray, and keep praying because if God doesn’t answer right away, He is strengthening your faith muscle.

You can’t get in shape after one workout.

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I believe this platform can be used for good. To not just share highlights of our life, but connect and grow in God's word. 
I recently wrote a Bible study about Rahab. Her faith is so inspiring. I'd love to send it to you. 

Comment Rahab and I will send you the link.
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Great news!!! As some of you may know this little Great news!!! 
As some of you may know this little guy came up lame last fall. The diagnosis was an OCD lesion. Which I was told required surgery. Not being familiar with this condition I came across a supplement called OCD Pellets during my research. I decided to start him on that while we saved for the surgery. I began to notice improvement more and more. He wasn't limping at all anymore. I took him in Friday to have him x-rayed again and to my delight he showed 50% improvement in 3 months. 
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I wanted to share this for several reasons. One it's awesome news. Second, to share the OCD pellets. I will leave a link for that at the bottom of this post. And lastly, to offer you the book I wrote to raise money for him absolutely free when you subscribe to my email list. Thanks be to God for answered prayers! 

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This is a fun exercise to work on drawing your hor This is a fun exercise to work on drawing your horse and pushing them away. Spacing the cones out far enough helped and so did my speed to the next cone. 

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About the Author

Hi, I'm Rachel. I am the creator of The Narrow Trail. I've been riding horses since before I could walk. I was the horse obsessed girl that just never grew out of it you could say. I'm like most people, my days are busy and filled with taking care of my kids, running a house, and running my own business, but I always find time to have fun with all- two-legged and four-legged alike. Welcome to my site! Read More…

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