Winter Exercise Ideas for Horses When the Arena Is Frozen

When the arena is frozen, the fields are waterlogged and it’s dark by half four, it’s easy for your horse’s fitness to slip over winter. The good news is that a lot of useful work can be done in a small space, even in the stable yard.

Here are the winter exercise ideas we rely on to keep our horses supple, strong and mentally engaged until the spring.

1. Balance work in the stable or cross ties

You don’t need an arena for balance training. The Small wobble board is designed for two legs at a time, so it works on a flat, non-slip stable floor or in cross ties. Ten minutes of front or hind legs on the board gives your horse’s core and stabilising muscles something to do on days when nothing else is possible.

2. In-hand stretches

Carrot stretches (nose to girth, nose between the front legs, nose to chest) take five minutes and can be done in the stable. They encourage your horse to flex through the back and engage the abdominal muscles.

3. Walking in hand

A brisk walk in hand around the yard or along a safe track keeps your horse moving when riding isn’t an option. Add some backing up and halts to make it more demanding.

4. Pole work on good ground

If you have even a small patch of safe, unfrozen footing, a few poles walked in hand ask your horse to think about its feet and lift through the back.

5. Keep the brain busy

Winter boredom is real. Learning something new, like standing calmly on a wobble board or a simple groundwork exercise, gives your horse a mental challenge as well as a physical one.

Safety in cold weather

• Only do balance work on a level, non-slip surface. Never use a wobble board on ice or frozen, rutted ground.
• Warm your horse up with some walking before stretches or balance work.
• Keep sessions short and stop while your horse is still relaxed.
• If your horse is on box rest or in rehab, ask your vet or physio what’s suitable.

A 10-minute winter routine

1. Two minutes of walking in hand.
2. Three carrot stretches on each side.
3. A few steps of backing up, twice.
4. Five minutes on the wobble board, with a short break halfway.