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| I’m curious to know what everyone does to keep their horses in shape over the winter months. We have snow and frozen ground here in the winters so riding outside is not a fun option. I do have a small indoor that I go ride in a few times a week but it gets kind of boring just going around in circles. Does anyone have any exercises that can be done in small indoor or any other fun things they do to keep their horses in shape over the winter months? |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
 
| We only have a small indoor. I usually do a lot of long lining and ground pole work to build topline. I also pick something I want to work on over the winter. One year we perfected our flying lead changes, another year we worked on pivots and counter bending. I do a lot of serpentines and bending exercies. Spirals and flat dressage work.
But I get bored too. So interested to see what others do. |
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 I don't want to screw up!
Posts: 3881
Location: North Dakota -> Colorado | I still long trot outside, but that's mainly because I don't have access to an indoor during December, and in the past thats what I've done all winter. This winter I'm bringing two back in January to college to ride. So, I'll be doing long trotting outside in December (after I go home so second week of Dec) to start getting them in shape, and then start with trotting and drills inside in January and then I'll probably exhibition/maybe run at the barrel series end of Jan-March. I know they won't be in tip top condition but I have to get ready for college rodeo which starts early April. It's just super hard to keep one in 100% condition over the winter up here. |
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Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | I took my gelding to a ground pole lesson at my daughter's english barn. It's not a huge indoor, but the instructor had about 10 ground poles setup that we trotted and loped through. It was fun, and felt like it gave my gelding a good chance to stretch out and work. I've seen ground pole patterns on Pinterest and such also.
This just came across on Horse Collab: http://www.horsecollaborative.com/fire-up-your-flatwork-with-this-e...
Edited by Ridenrun4745 2015-12-01 6:00 PM
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Cat Collector
Posts: 1430
| Lots of long trotting, drills with cones, rope practice, little obstacle courses with tarps and such to keep their minds sharp, poles. Winter is when I go back to the basics and lots of slow work. I do a lot of Clinton Anderson round pen work in the arena as well. |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | I still work outside, wherever I think the ground is safest. Long trotting or just out goofing off in a field of snow. Anything to keep them active.
I have a space in my barn about big enough to lunge in so if I don't ride I'll usually at least lunge or hop on bareback and just have a refresher on little things, flexing, shoulder control, things like that.
If there is a will, there is a way! Even in -40. HA. yuck. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | I would work on strengthening exercises. Seems like a great time to work on a new skill too like maybe mounted shooting type practice or some other thing they can learn that won't bore you or them to tears but lets them get some conditioning. |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | I saaaaay..... Be happy you have an indoor. Cause it's gonna be a mother keeping mine legged up outside... |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I ride outside all winter long..i had to stop riding my 4yr old as the ground conditions and her attitde were not a good combination and throw in the fact that i ride in the dark..so i just stick to the 2 mares im running.....and its tough right now as its frozen and we dont have snow..so we have to tip toe through some areas but i get them rode....its been great temps i think the coldest night was -18.....m
Edited by mruggles 2015-12-02 10:27 AM
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 Veteran
Posts: 239
| mruggles - 2015-12-02 8:44 AM I ride outside all winter long..i had to stop riding my 4yr old as the ground conditions and her attitde were not a good combination and throw in the fact that i ride in the dark..so i just stick to the 2 mares im running.....and its tough right now as its frozen and we dont have snow..so we have to tip toe through some areas but i get them rode....its been great temps i think the coldest night was -18.....m
How long do you ride and how many times a week?
I am near Edmonton but have no dirt roads or anything and this year our friends who go to AZ are no longer going....so I got no indoor to ride in LOL... so it's gonna be the field for me. Been doing the head lamp thing now that the days are getting shorter, but its been very mild and warm anyway!
I have some hills, so I am trying to do lots of hill work to strengthen hind end...but it is getting boring.... LOL |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | You'd be amazed hos much conditioning work you can do in even just a very small indoor. Good lateral work at the walk and trot, when done correctly, will really get them using every part of their body. Haunches in/out, shoulder in/out, halfpass, sidepass, it all gets them responsive, supple and fully engaged if done correctly |
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | 2H~QH - 2015-12-05 11:34 AM
mruggles - 2015-12-02 8:44 AM I ride outside all winter long..i had to stop riding my 4yr old as the ground conditions and her attitde were not a good combination and throw in the fact that i ride in the dark..so i just stick to the 2 mares im running.....and its tough right now as its frozen and we dont have snow..so we have to tip toe through some areas but i get them rode....its been great temps i think the coldest night was -18.....m
How long do you ride and how many times a week?
I am near Edmonton but have no dirt roads or anything and this year our friends who go to AZ are no longer going....so I got no indoor to ride in LOL... so it's gonna be the field for me. Been doing the head lamp thing now that the days are getting shorter, but its been very mild and warm anyway!
I have some hills, so I am trying to do lots of hill work to strengthen hind end...but it is getting boring.... LOL
Well im about 3hours north east of edmonton ...:)....week nights i stick to straight lines and long trot and lope around the neighbors quarter....i only used a headlight in nov so i didnt get shot at...lol....i actually can see better without it...the ride its self may take 30 to 45 minutes.....and i ride every night.... |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: USA | mruggles - 2015-12-02 9:44 AM I ride outside all winter long..i had to stop riding my 4yr old as the ground conditions and her attitde were not a good combination and throw in the fact that i ride in the dark..so i just stick to the 2 mares im running.....and its tough right now as its frozen and we dont have snow..so we have to tip toe through some areas but i get them rode....its been great temps i think the coldest night was -18.....m
Holy cow you're tough!! I complain when it's 40 outside and I'm layered up and look like the Michelin man! Kudos!! |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Dressage and ground poles.
Edited by cavyrunsbarrels 2015-12-05 12:18 PM
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | For once I have an indoor for the winter months. I plan to get this book and do different drills to keep it interesting:
http://www.amazon.com/101-Arena-Exercises-Horse-Rider/dp/088266316X
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Veteran
Posts: 239
| mruggles - 2015-12-04 1:08 PM 2H~QH - 2015-12-05 11:34 AM mruggles - 2015-12-02 8:44 AM I ride outside all winter long..i had to stop riding my 4yr old as the ground conditions and her attitde were not a good combination and throw in the fact that i ride in the dark..so i just stick to the 2 mares im running.....and its tough right now as its frozen and we dont have snow..so we have to tip toe through some areas but i get them rode....its been great temps i think the coldest night was -18.....m How long do you ride and how many times a week?
I am near Edmonton but have no dirt roads or anything and this year our friends who go to AZ are no longer going....so I got no indoor to ride in LOL... so it's gonna be the field for me. Been doing the head lamp thing now that the days are getting shorter, but its been very mild and warm anyway!
I have some hills, so I am trying to do lots of hill work to strengthen hind end...but it is getting boring.... LOL Well im about 3hours north east of edmonton ...: )....week nights i stick to straight lines and long trot and lope around the neighbors quarter....i only used a headlight in nov so i didnt get shot at...lol....i actually can see better without it...the ride its self may take 30 to 45 minutes.....and i ride every night....
Thanks for the response! You are much more hardcore than me, LOL.... turned mine out Nov 30 to resume in the New Year....when the days get longer, LOL |
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Keeping them in shape over the winter in a small indoor