Moving Into Autumn: Keeping Your Horse Strong, Supple And Connected
Moving into Autumn: Keeping Your Horse Strong, Supple & Connected
As the golden leaves start to fall and the mornings turn crisp, autumn brings a natural shift in routine — for both us and our horses. While this season is beautiful, it also comes with its own set of challenges: changing ground conditions, fluctuating grass sugars, cooler nights, and the physical demands of a coat change.
The good news? With the right approach, autumn can be the perfect season to build your horse’s foundation so they move into winter stronger, straighter, and more resilient.
Common Autumn Challenges for Horses
Stiffness on cold mornings – joints and muscles can tighten up when the temperature drops.
Slippery ground – wet grass and mud increase the risk of strains if horses aren’t balanced and sure-footed.
Energy drain from coat change – growing a winter coat uses a lot of resources, sometimes leaving horses flat or tired.
Digestive changes – fluctuating grass sugars and less turnout variety can put stress on the gut and immune system.
Tips to Support Your Horse This Season
✨ Warm up with mobilisation – before exercise, use gentle in-hand stretches or dynamic walk work to loosen your horse’s body.
✨ Keep sessions short but consistent – even 10–15 minutes a few times a week is more effective (and safer) than the occasional long session.
✨ Focus on posture, not just movement – a horse working in correct posture is strengthening their core, protecting their back, and reducing injury risk.
✨ Incorporate hillwork or raised poles – even in-hand, these boost core activation and balance.
✨ Mind your own energy – horses mirror us; calm, grounded handling helps them feel settled during seasonal transitions.
Why Autumn is the Ideal Time for Core & In-Hand Work
Rather than worrying about what you can’t do as the nights draw in or the ground gets muddy, autumn is the season to double down on what you can do: structured groundwork and core activation.
This type of work is:
Low-impact but highly effective – protects joints while building strength.
Weather-proof – most exercises can be done in a small space, yard, or arena, and in short sessions
Foundation-building – prepares your horse for the physical demands of winter and sets them up for success in spring training.
The Autumn–Winter Programme for Your Horse
To make this simple and effective, I created my Core Exercises for Your Horse and In-Hand Exercises for Your Horse courses. Together, they form a complete autumn–winter programme designed to:
✅ Mobilise stiff joints and improve flexibility
✅ Strengthen the core to support the back and prevent injuries
✅ Improve straightness, balance, and posture
✅ Keep your horse fit and engaged even when ridden work is limited
✅ Build a deeper bond and clearer communication through in-hand connection
You’ll have clear, step-by-step guidance with video tutorials — so you know exactly what to do, how to do it safely, and how to fit it into your routine, even on busy or wet days.
🍂 Autumn doesn’t have to mean your horse loses fitness or you lose momentum. With the right exercises, this can be the season where your horse actually gets stronger, straighter, and more connected with you.
👉 Click below to join the Core Exercises & In-Hand Exercises Courses and set your horse up for a stronger, healthier winter.
