Winter Mindset Shift
The Winter Mindset Shift That Changes Everything for You and Your Horse
For some of us, winter exercise with our horses isn’t optional.
If you’re rehabbing, starting post-rehab strength work, or supporting a senior horse, keeping your horse moving through the colder months is simply non-negotiable for their health.
But even when we know it’s essential, winter work can feel… boring.
Hand walking, poles, in-hand exercises, slow foundation work — it’s hardly the glamorous, sunny riding sessions we crave.
And that’s exactly where the mindset shift comes in.
From “I’ve got to do something…”
→ to “This is foundational, connected, intentional work.”
Most riders step into winter feeling the pressure of:
“I’ve got to do something with my horse… I can’t just stop.”
It’s reactive.
It’s pressured.
And it makes winter work feel like ticking a box.
But what if the shift was this:
→ Winter isn’t a season where you “just get something done.”
Winter is the season where your foundation gets built.
Because when you slow down and work intentionally from the ground:
You actually learn more about your horse’s body
You see patterns in their posture, crookedness, and movement you would miss in the saddle
You remove rider interference, giving their body space to move freely
You build real connection, the kind that lasts far beyond winter
You give your horse the chance to develop confidence step-by-step
You create strength, mobility, and alignment that riders can’t always build from on-top
Winter isn’t a setback.
It’s a recalibration.
It’s where you build the movement you want to ride in spring.
Slowing down shifts your connection — because you finally notice the small things
Here’s the magic of winter work that most riders only discover once they lean into it:
When you step onto the ground, slow everything down, and really look at your horse…
You start noticing things.
Little things.
Beautiful things.
Things you miss in the fast, riding-focused seasons.
Like:
The moment your horse gives you one soft, correct step of shoulder-in
A tiny exhale that shows they’re releasing tension
A stretch through their topline they’ve never offered before
A flick of the ear showing they’re trying their absolute best to listen
A shift in weight that says, “I’m working with you, not against you”
These small moments would fly past unnoticed when you’re rushing or riding with an agenda.
But in winter — with the slower pace, quieter work, and more grounded sessions — you actually see them.
And when you start seeing the small things… you start feeling grateful for them.
Gratitude turns effort into connection — and connection builds confidence
When your mindset shifts into:
“Thank you for that one good step.
Thank you for trying with me.
Thank you for softening into this movement.”
Your whole experience with your horse changes.
You stop measuring success by how much you did.
You start measuring it by the quality of the connection you created.
And your horse feels that shift.
They feel safe.
They feel understood.
And that alone builds confidence — sometimes more than any exercise ever could.
This is where winter work becomes powerful:
Slowing down + being intentional + noticing the effort
= a more confident, connected, willing horse.
Winter is where strong, straight, supple bodies are built
Hand walking.
Polework.
In-hand exercises.
Mobilisation work.
Core activation.
Posture awareness.
This is the work that:
prevents reinjury
supports ageing joints
creates better movement patterns
builds genuine core strength
improves straightness
prepares the horse for ridden work in spring
and keeps the rehab journey moving forward
Winter isn’t the lull in your horse’s training.
It’s the base everything else stands upon.
If you want guided winter exercises to make this work easier…
Here are the programmes that support exactly the kind of winter groundwork, strength-building, and connection-focused training I’ve talked about in this blog:
👉 Core Exercises for Your Horse
Your step-by-step foundation for true core activation, posture improvement, and safer movement.
👉 Exercise Bundle: Polework & The Art of Lunging
Everything you need to keep your horse developing straightness, mobility and strength through winter — without relying on ridden work.
👉 In-Hand Exercises for Your Horse
Step-by-step system to build strength, flexibility, and connection from the ground. Perfect for winter groundwork, rehab support, or teaching your horse to move more freely without a rider.
When you combine the right mindset with the right exercises, winter becomes one of the most transformative seasons of your horse’s year.
