Winter Horse Play

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, and at least a little snow in the mountains, many of us aspiring horsemen and women are thinking about activities we can do with our horses during the winter months.  For some, the option of riding is limited to access to an indoor facility and the quality of the roads to get there. Many of us are also a little afraid of the cold factor in keeping the human warm and the horse from getting too warm.  I think the dilemma can be solved by dedicating at least a couple of ground school sessions to your horse every week.  This gets his mind warmed-up, both of your bodies exercised in a quality manner, and allows for a little 'hands-on' horse time which is just plain good for the soul!

In a series of articles for Just Horses magazine, I will be detailing the elements of several 'Work in Hand' maneuvers, dances really, that will give you that half-hour winter workout.  The benefits beyond exercise in a balanced manner for both horse and human, include developing self-confidence and self-carriage.  These exercises will have huge returns when you do get back in the saddle!  We will accompany this series of articles with Tip for the Ride videos, that demonstrate the concept, position, balances, and movements attained by just a few minutes of 'Work in Hand' several times a week.  Let's get started with the Just Horses article:

Winter Horse Play

For many of us in the western states, actually riding our horse in the winter months can be quite limited.  Having access to a safe facility, traveling over questionable roads, not to mention bundling up to face the elements, all lead to very little saddle time.  However, our horses sure can use some winter conditioning and most of us are still greatly in need of some quality horse-time.  Here are a few suggestions for activities you can pursue with your horse that do not require saddling up, but still exercise the body, mind, and spirit of both horse and human.

Work in Hand – If for only 30 minutes, twice a week, develop a routine of interacting with your horse in a manner that will build self-carriage and self-confidence.  Work in Hand is a ground school that positions the human in a very close and intimate posture at the shoulder of the horse.  It establishes the outside rein to aid in the balance or self-carriage of the horse.  It does not matter what discipline or jobs you may be pursuing with your horse under saddle, as work in hand will help you to act as a masseuse, a chiropractor, and a mental health therapist for both you and the horse.  By asking your horse to stretch over his top line and then seek a balanced position for lateral flexion and movement, you will be providing positive bio-mechanical feedback necessary for every discipline to be successful.

Equipment – You can accomplish work in hand maneuvers in a horseman’s halter, hackamore with bosal, or snaffle bit.  When the temperature is really low, I don’t like putting a bit in the horse’s mouth, so the halter or hackamore make for a good alternative. A dressage whip will also be handy to give clear direction to specific parts of the body.

Start with Stretching – Begin you session with stretching over the topline and through the ribcage.  This can be accomplished by directing the horse’s energy forward, down, and around you, as if you were a bullfighter, the rein were your cape, and the horse were the bull pursuing the cape. (See Tip for Ride video on the ‘Bolero’ at: tnthorsemanship.com http://youtu.be/zqCG7UvmsMI  )  You are looking for a release in the back muscles of the horse, a dropping of the head and release of tension at the poll, and a slight crossing of the hind feet as the horse moves forward, down, and around you.

Self-Carriage Dances – Once you have warmed up both sides of the horses by accomplishing the ‘Bolero’ in both directions, you should have a happy horse that is ready to work on some Pilates-type exercises, where the tummy muscles are engaged, the shoulders are balanced, and the horse (and human!) carry themselves with good posture.  If you are using the horseman’s halter with 12’ lead, you will need to make a loop rein with the lead rope, so that you can establish an outside rein. First, make your ‘Rein Triangle’ (Articles on Work in Hand at: tnthorsemanship.com). Now you are ready for a variety of maneuvers, dance steps really, to accomplish with your horse.  Here is a list of maneuvers and over the next few months in Just Horses and in video via Tip for the Ride, we will pursue how to employ these steps to develop effortless communication, lightness, and great winter exercise for both you and the horse.  Follow us on the blog at: http://horsemanshipjourney.blogspot.com/

 

• Small circle Shoulder-in (Human pivots)
• Larger circle/square Shoulder-in (Human moves w/horse)
• Leg-yield to wall and backup
• One-hand Work in Hand
• Haunches-in to Half-Pass
• Reverse bend circles
• Piaffe and Passage
• Spanish walk and high school maneuvers