Stuck in small places with your horse this winter and at a loss for what to do with your horse???
Jan 29, 2025
Those of us in the more southern hemisphere’s may not be able to relate but if you’re like the lady who took this photo of her horse after what seemed like endless snow storms, you may be looking for something fun to do with your horse that doesn’t require being outdoors or a lot of space until spring arrives. If you think about it, we train most behaviors start with very small steps (no pun intended)!
Most all of these can be done in the stall or aisleway and with positive reinforcement, your horse is likely to be keen to interact no matter the weather. 
Most all of these can be done in the stall or aisleway and with positive reinforcement, your horse is likely to be keen to interact no matter the weather. Regardless of your locale and weather, here are a some fun and useful examples of things you can do with your horse this winter to created connection, confidence and clear communication that will serve you both well in warmer weather.
Target Games
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Send to a stationary target (we start literally with the target very close by)
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Teach a hold or to stay (mat or other stationary target can be helpful) on the target and eventually without and it becomes a ground tie (with or without a halter and lead)
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Send to a Target
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Train a recall from that target
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A’s to B’s with only a short distance in between
Tricks
- Fetch (starting with holding something in their mouths
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Curtsey bow
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Kiss
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Smile
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Hug
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Play Ball, roll it back and forth to each other
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Play basketball with a kids weighted basketball hoop
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Teach your horse to pick up his toys or tidy the barn aisle
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Sit on their back and have them fetch something from the ground and hand it to you
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Say yes and no
Lateral Movements in Hand, at Liberty or in a small covered area
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Turn on the Forehand
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Turn on the Haunches
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Leg Yield
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Side Pass
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Shoulder fore
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Shoulder in
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Haunches in/out
Other Fun and Useful Activities
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Head Down cues (from the ground and one that can be cued from the tack)
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Husbandry behaviors: mouth inspection, eye and ear inspection
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Condition Clipping and wrapping in case of injury
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Oral administration – condition your horse to accept the syringe with many different flavors
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Train for the vet, temperature, stethoscope, injections, etc.
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Practice taking your horse’s vital signs.
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Teach your horse to identify colors
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Self-haltering
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Self-Bridling
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Tacking at liberty
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Scent work
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Umbrella and slicker exposure.
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Teach your horse to straddle a pole while walkingEnrichment Activities are a Welcome Change too there are a ton of examples online.
What Have I missed? Anything specific that you and your horse can do in winter weather that I haven’t listed here?
PS If you'd like a bit of guidance on these exercises feel free to reach out for a one on one online lesson or coaching.
PS If you'd like a bit of guidance on these exercises feel free to reach out for a one on one online lesson or coaching.
