What To Do With Your Horse When You Can’t Ride or Turn Out

It can be a frustrating time when the ground is so wet that it makes riding or turning out tricky or not possible at all. However, I think it's always important to remember that no time spent with your horse is ever wasted.

Even when you can’t get out and about, there's still so much you can do. It may be tricky to find the motivation but this is the perfect time to focus on strengthening your partnership, improving your horse’s comfort and posture, and building solid foundations that will help your training and performance in the future.

Instead of feeling stuck, I find it really helps to give your week some structure. To help, I’ve put together a simple seven-day plan of things to do to keep your horse’s body and mind active.

Day 1 – Strengthening

Choose exercises that focus purely on strength. There are many Pilates exercises that you can do for this. You might decide to perform a set number of repetitions of a specific in-hand exercise. A great example and one of my favourites is backing up.

I know many of you already incorporate this valuable exercise into your horse's routine, but winter is the perfect time to really perfect it. The next time you ask your horse to back up, ask yourself:

• Are the steps even and symmetrical?

• Is your horse completely straight?

• Does the head and neck stay low?

• Do they back up with minimal pressure?

• Do they respond to a subtle body cue or voice command?

Backing up down a slope can add a different challenge to this already hugely beneficial exercise

Once you’ve nailed that you can then try different challenges:

• Backing up on a gentle slope

• Backing up on a 20m or 15m curve

• Using lighter and lighter aids

Remember, the goal isn’t to just to “do” the exercise, it’s to improve the quality. Better quality means better posture, clearer communication, and improved strength.

If you want some inspiration on which Pilates exercises to try with your horse. Take a look at The Complete Pilates for Horse Programme. This unique resource will give you all the skills you need to help your horse using Pilates exercises.

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Day 2 – Stretching

After a strengthening day, I would suggest following up with stretching. This is a lovely way to use the muscles in a different way. Here are a few suggests on what to include:

• Carrot stretches (low between the legs and low to each side)

• Forelimb protraction stretches

• Whole spine extension stretch

Adding a different challenge to the whole spine extension stretch can make it more dynamic

Again, make the focus of each exercise about refining what you do and challenging it a bit. Let's take the whole spine extension stretch as an example:

• Could you safely try a slight uphill or downhill position?

• Can you gently sway side to side in a slow, controlled way?

• What happens if you slightly raise or lower the tail within the stretch?

These small variations improve awareness and encourage a more dynamic stretch. As you do them, watch how your horse responds.

Want to know more about carrot stretches? Have a read of a previous article: Pilates for Horses - Part 1: Carrot Exercises

Day 3 – Mobility

Mobility is different from strength or stretching. It’s about moving joints and limbs through their normal range of motion. Make small turns to the left and right. Lift up each leg and gently move each joint through its full range of movement - noting how it feels. You can do this in the stable, or in-hand in a quiet area of the yard. The aim is controlled, comfortable movement in all directions.

Doing this helps maintain joint health and keeps your horse feeling supple, even when turnout is limited.

Day 4 – Balance and Proprioception

Proprioception is your horse’s awareness of where their body. When movement is restricted, it’s important to keep this system stimulated. This is why it's important to use exercises that really challenge your horse and get him thinking about where his body is. Again, I would recommend Pilates-style exercises in-hand, these are great for making the horse more aware of how far they can move their body.

Then you need to add in the challenge, so this could be varying the surface that you do the exercises on. For example, standing on foam balance pads (such as Pilates pads) can gently challenge stability. Even subtle changes in surface can encourage your horse to think about posture and weight distribution.

These exercises build coordination, strength, and body awareness, all essential for future ridden work.

Performing wither rocks, hindlimb lateral sways, tail exercises or core stability exercises whilst standing on Pilates pads, increases the balance demands.

Day 5 – Introduce Something New

When horses have less turnout, mental stimulation becomes just as important as physical movement. This is why I think it’s important to add something new into your routine that's going to stimulate your horse’s mind. What you’re trying to do is to get your horse thinking and challenges them a little.

Here are a few things that you could do:

• Introduce walking over a tarpaulin carefully and positively

• Place a safe, unfamiliar object nearby and encourage your horse to investigate

The key here is to help your horse gain confidence. Something new may feel uncertain at first, but when your horse works through it calmly, it helps to build trust in themselves and in you. Always introduce new things gradually and safely, you know your horse better than anyone.

Day 6 – Massage

Massage is a fantastic way to bond with your horse

A hands-on day can be incredibly rewarding. Massage is such a valuable skill to learn and it helps:

• Improve comfort

• Reduce muscular tension

• Strengthen your bond

• Increase your awareness of your horse’s body

Watch for positive responses such as soft eyes, licking and chewing, lowering the head, or gentle leaning into your hands.

Massage isn’t just about muscles, it’s about connection. A calm, focused session can deepen trust and help you understand your horse’s physical needs better.

You can discover more about massage for your horse and how to perform the simple technique of skin circling in this previous article: Build a bond with your horse - Learn Equine Massage or why not take a look at our online Massage Course for Horse Owners to learn massage techniques you can do on your own horse.

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Day 7 – Training Focus

Finally, dedicate a day to training. When we can’t ride, it’s easy for everything to become routine; feed, muck out, repeat. Instead, I suggest using some of this time to teach or refine a skill.

Here are a few things you can try:

• Teaching your horse to lower their head from light poll pressure and a voice cue

• Improving halt transitions, this can be done in-hand. Always making sure they are standing square and correcting if it isn’t

• Refining responses to voice commands again this can be done in-hand

Even a few minutes each day makes a difference. Training keeps your communication sharp and reinforces good habits.

When the weather isn’t on our side, it’s important to stay purposeful. There’s so much we can do that doesn’t involve riding. When the weather improves and you’re back riding and turning out regularly, you’ll have a stronger, more comfortable and confident horse. Plus, you’ll have a better bond with them too. Do let us know what you think and comment below if you have any tips, activities or effective techniques that you enjoy performing with your horse at this time of year!