Five things to do with your horse when it’s too wet to ride!

Nothing is more miserable than a wet winter’s day with the wind howling and the rain lashing down. The last thing you want to do is ride in it! But if you want to still spend time with your horse and have a stable, or better still a covered yard there are plenty of things that you can do to enjoy spending time with your horse.

1)      Grooming. It sounds fairly basic, but we are always so busy, a groom usually consists of a flick with a brush, a quick hoof pick out and away we go. Take your time. Groom properly and slowly, feel for any lumps, or bumps, or scabs as you go.

2)      Massage. Give your horse a massage. Horses love being massaged and it’s a perfect way to thank them for the time we spend bouncing around on their back! If you are not sure of how to massage, check out our Horse Massage for Horse Owners bundle deal.

3)      Chalk muscles. Draw chalk muscles onto your horse. This is a great way to learn about your horses muscles and to increase your knowledge.

4)      Do some carrot stretches. Doing some stretches with our horses when we cannot ride them keeps their muscles in good working order. Rather like us doing yoga when we haven’t time to get to the gym!

5)      Standing still. Does your horse rush out of the stable door? The ability to stand still at the end of a line is essential. You can practise this to some extent in a stable. Practise standing with your horse on the end of a line while you walk out through the door, remember to think about your body language as you ask him to stand.

For more help on any of the topics raised here, or if you are struggling with your horse’s behaviour, please contact your local IHRA for expert behavioural advice.  http://www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk/recommended-associates/