Most horses get the winter off.

Not officially. Nobody decides it.

It just happens. Dark evenings, wet fields, "I'll get back to it when the weather's better."

And by spring, you're not picking up where you left off. You're starting from behind.

So here's what I'd like you to imagine instead. 🍂

Imagine how your horse could be by spring after a whole winter of working gently, properly, slowly and consistently on their strength, posture and movement. 🌟

Walk work is more effective than anyone realises.

Hand walking. Walk hacking. Walking over poles. In-hand work. Walking on the lunge.

All of these are ways to maintain your horse's strength and flexibility in short sessions.

But there's one condition. Your horse has to be trained to move correctly.

A horse walking round hollow and on the forehand isn't building anything. A horse who moves with their core engaged and their back lifted and actually carrying themselves properly is working hard, even at walk.

That's what the core exercises are for. And the complete method sets it up as your horse's default, so every walk, every session, every pole is doing the job.

The plan: four sessions of 20 minutes a week, plus stable-based core exercises.

That is a WAY better plan than just hacking at the weekend.

It fits around dark evenings. It doesn't need a huge arena (or an arena at all!), or perfect ground, or a free Saturday. And it adds up, because little and often is how strength is built.

Give your winter a goal.

Not "keep him ticking over". Something specific.

For example: by spring, left rein in trot and canter will be more supple and easier to ride.

Then use the slower winter months to actually make that correction, and build strength into it with corrective work. No deadlines, no pressure, and the time to do it properly at the foundation level.

Look after your mind, too.

Winter is hard on motivation. It's dark, it's cold, and it's very easy to talk yourself out of it.

The difficult days are the ones that decide your winter, so plan for them:

• Plan your sessions in advance

• Keep to a set time

• Commit to walking or riding with others, for accountability

• Keep a daily gratitude diary. It helps rewire your brain towards the positive instead of the negative, and it works like a dream. 💛

And get ahead before winter kicks in.

Ask yourself what your horse actually needs this winter, based on your situation. A senior horse? A horse in rehab? One who's stronger on one side, or who lost topline last year?

Decide now, before the weather decides for you.

I'll be doing exactly this with Azuro this winter as he rehabs, so I know how much difference a plan makes.

If you'd like the whole plan laid out for you, this is what my Signature Course is for.

How to Build a Stronger, Straighter Horse is my complete method, everything in one place, at your own pace, so you're not piecing it together yourself. It's for the owner who wants more this winter.

£149 / $196 - lifetime access.

👉 How to Build a Stronger, Straighter Horse: CLICK HERE

And if you'd rather start with just the in-hand exercises, without the full method, they're still half price.

£49.50 / $68 — lifetime access.

👉 In Hand Exercises Course: CLICK HERE

New here, or not sure where to start?

Everything in this plan builds on the deep postural strength underneath it. If you haven't started there yet, Step 1 is my Core Exercises Course: 11 stable based exercises, no special kit, and the same ones I use with Azuro and in my practice.

Still 80% off at £9 / $12, lifetime access.

👉 Core Exercises Course: Click here

Your horse's spring starts now.

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. 💛