Autumn Planning: Building Your Winter Routine

Part 1 — In-Hand Foundations

Right now, you've probably still got decent daylight. Reasonable ground. Enough energy at the end of the day to actually get out there.

That's about to change.

And when it does, I don't want you starting from scratch, trying to figure out what to do with a horse who's suddenly got less turnout, less daylight, and less consistent movement — while you're stood in the dark wondering where to start.

So let's sort it now, while it's still easy. 🍂

Here's the bit that matters — why this actually matters for your horse's body.

Winter means less movement. That's just the reality — for a lot of horse owners, it's less turnout, definitely shorter days, and more time standing in a stable or a smaller paddock, or waiting by the gate to come in.

And less movement affects more than you'd think. Circulation. Joint lubrication. Muscle tone. Digestive function. Every system in the body relies on regular movement to work properly — it's not just about "fitness."

This matters for every horse. But it matters most for:

• Senior horses — who lose muscle and mobility faster with reduced movement, and take longer to build it back

• Horses in or recovering from rehab — where consistent, controlled movement is often the entire point of the programme

• Anyone prone to stiffness or stocking up — which gets worse, not better, with less turnout

Which means winter isn't the season to do less. It's the season you need to be more deliberate about maximising the movement your horse gets. ✨

So here's what I actually do.

Cavesson on. In-hand work. 20 minutes. Done.

That's genuinely it.

You don't need an hour. You don't need perfect ground or good weather. You need a clear, simple session that you can do on the yard or in the arena, that actually works your horse's body properly in a short window.

In-hand work — once you know what you're doing — ticks every box. Core engagement. Flexibility. Straightness. Movement through the whole body. All in less time than it takes to muck out one stable.

Here's what makes it so effective, specifically.

Working from the ground means you can actually see and feel where your horse is struggling, in real time — and make a change in that exact moment. You're not guessing from the saddle. You're right there, watching the response, adjusting as you go.

And it's not just a warm-up or a filler. Teaching lateral work from the ground is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your horse's ridden work, competition scores, and straightness. It builds the understanding and the strength before you ever ask for it under saddle — which makes everything that follows easier for both of you.

Imagine how strong and straight your horse could be after a full autumn and winter of this kind of work. 🌟

In my course, I teach this as a building block approach. You start right at the basics — nothing complicated, nothing your horse can't already do — and build up, step by step, into shoulder-in, quarters-in, leg yield, and turn on the forehand. All from the ground. No riding required to build genuinely advanced work into your horse's body.

That's the whole point of building this into your routine now — before you need it, not once you're already behind. 💪

Over the next few weeks, I'm continuing this autumn planning series — walking you through exactly how to make the most of short sessions this autumn and winter, using in-hand work, polework, and lunging, so whatever time you've got, you're using it properly and effectively.

Consider this your autumn/winter movement toolkit. All the pieces, so you can build whatever fits your horse and your time slots.

👉 Start with In-Hand Exercises — the foundation for short, effective sessions when time is tight, and everything I've just described (the building blocks, the lateral work, all of it) is inside the course.

Still half price at £49.50 / $68 — lifetime access.

👉 In Hand Exercises Course: CLICK HERE

And if you haven't already, Core Exercises is the piece underneath all of it — the deep postural strength that everything else builds on.

Still 80% off at £9 / $12 — lifetime access, but not forever.

👉 Core Exercises Course: CLICK HERE

Get your routine sorted now. Your horse's body will feel the difference by January.

And as always, if you have any questions, need help deciding which course is right for you and your horse, or want to chat about 1-2-1 support — you can get in touch via the Contact page. I'd love to hear from you. 💛

P.S. Watch this space over the next few weeks — I'll be sharing more on making the most of short sessions this autumn and winter, so you've got everything you need in place before the season really turns. 🐎