Discover ways to keep your horse active
during the cold winter season.
The cold winter season can often cause a
lack of activity or involvement with your horse. Sometimes, this problem is
caused by an absence of knowledge of how to keep up with your horse and
maintain health and physical strength during this generally less than ideal
riding season. But, keeping up with and maintaining your horse's health is just
as important during the winter as any other season. Here are some tips from Michigan
State University Extension to help make sure you are prepared for the winter
season ahead.
- Do your homework: I realize this
may not be the most thrilling tip, but if followed, it can certainly be
the most useful. I understand that when the sun is shining, the light
hours are long, and the temperatures are in the seventies, it's hard to
pull yourself away from the barn. However, when you feel like the blizzard
conditions have you trapped indoors, use that time wisely to research all
those equine conundrums that have puzzled you over the years. Start by
visiting MSU Extension's equine news article section to see articles on a
wide variety of topics. Then, explore how you can use webcasts to further
your education; there's a plethora of free webcasts available at My Horse
University. Looking for even more information? Check out the horse
page on the eXtension website to find just about anything equine related
from Extension experts from Universities across the nation, including Michigan
State University.
- Keep active: As we've mentioned,
it's easy to fall in a rut of inactivity, but it's just as important to
keep up the conditioning of you and your horse. Review these two MSUE news
articles on Equestrian exercises for the off-season Part 1 and Part 2.
Take this opportunity to also learn a bit more about Basic Conditioning of
the Equine Athlete. Recognize that the less you're active in winter, the
longer the recovery period will be when you increase activity in the
springtime.
- Don't skip your maintenance program: The winter months, even without intense exercise, can be very
calorically draining months for your horse, so be sure to maintain that
same high level of care that you'd provided throughout the summer. Do you
keep your horse on supplements? It is likely a good idea to maintain that program
that their digestive system and joints have grown accustomed to. Not sure
about using supplements? No worries, they aren't for everyone! Here's a great
article to help you make some of those nutrition decisions. Additionally,
check out this article on importance of maintaining your horse's hoof care
in the winter months.
- Skip the saddle: Now admittedly,
riding bareback is something appropriate for only a seasoned horse a rider
combination. Additionally, if your horse hasn't been worked as often as
they are in the warmer months, they may also have more energy, making riding
more of a challenge. But, if you feel comfortable riding sans saddle,
you'll be pleasantly surprised how much nicer it can make winter rides.
Certainly, there's benefit and ease in skipping 15 minutes it takes to
tack up, but more importantly, the shared body heat between you and your
horse will help keep you both at a comfortable temperature. And there's no
denying that an active bareback ride can provide you with a great
opportunity for exercising your leg muscles.