Turn Them Out First
A horse can't concentrate and respond to commands when he's full of energy. If he's been in a stall for a while, he needs to blow off steam. For his safety--and that of his handler--turnout time is important, says Team Horse & Rider member Lynn Palm, a world-renowned competitor and trainer who has earned more than 34 world and reserve championships.
Because one of Lynn's two training facilities is located in Bessemer, Mich. (the other's in Ocala, Fla.), she knows what it's like to own horses during long winters. But even in places like Michigan, she maintains, you can work your horse outdoors.
If you live in a place that has ice frequently, consider outfitting your horse with borium shoes, she notes. "And ride your horse in the snow," she says. "They like it and you will, too."
But don't try to work your horse indoors without first giving them turnout time, she admonishes. "Try to turn your horses out daily if they must be kept in a stall," she says.
"The best exercise for a horse in winter is to work them at liberty. Work in both directions from the ground at the walk, trot, and canter with no attachments for a maximum of 20 minutes. Then you can work your horse indoors. He will do it more quietly, stay fit, and continue to build muscle. His joints will be strong, and he'll be happy."
If you don't have a work area with footing you can use during winter, consider creating one. Although special all-weather footings are available (search online for 'all weather footing'), they can be expensive.
But it's hard to beat sand. "Sand is one of the best footings," says Lynn. "It's less expensive. You can work on it sooner after ice has melted than on a clay-type ground."
Lynn prefers to school her horses in an oval area, rather than a round pen, so they can be worked on straight lines as well as curves. This develops a horse's balance and fitness better, she says. She recommends a pen that's a minimum 60 feet wide by 100 feet long, but one that's 70 to 80 feet by 150 feet is most desirable.
While working with an untrained horse, or one that's sensitive, excitable, or over-responsive, consider wearing a helmet. Remember that it can more difficult to get away from a fractious horse when you're in a small space, too.
Extras to Remember
Bobbie Skelton has worked with hundreds of horses as a riding instructor at Colorado State University, where she has taught the horse training laboratory, equine science, and equine sales management since 2002. The 1994 CSU graduate also taught equine science at colleges in Oklahoma and Texas, and has coached champion collegiate horse-judging teams.
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- Want to desensitize your horse to strange sounds and object? You don't need a lot of room for that. An aisle or stall is a good place to familiarize your horse with tools like a hair dryer.
- Photo by Caroline Fyffe
Bobbie offers these suggestions when doing small space training. They can be applied to any equine instruction, as well.
- Change the routine. Keep exercises from becoming monotonous. Some horses get bored and ill-tempered if they're asked to do the same things in the same order repeatedly. For example, you could reinforce "whoa" one day; on another, you might turn on the forehand. This will also prevent them from anticipating your commands.
- Have a plan. Know what you want your horse to do and reward him when he does it correctly. "That's where your average horseperson gets into trouble," Bobbie says. "They don't think about what they want before they ask their horse to do it, so they end up teaching him to do something they don't want him to do without realizing it."
- Quality counts. A horse's responsiveness is not a result of how much you handle them. It's the quality--not the quantity--of handling that counts.
- Consistency is key. What you ask, how you ask, and the release of pressure are the best ways to maintain responsiveness.
- Don't overdo it. "I think working with a horse over the winter can be useful if done in moderation," Bobbie advises. "Turning them out first is important."
The editors wish to thank Melissa Peterson of Shingle Springs, Calif., and her Paint mare, Butterscotch, for serving as models for this article.
This article originally appeared in the January 2007 issue of Horse & Rider magazine.
