Everything Horse magazine Magazine, October 2014 | Page 44

Winter Riding Tips
I

with Jane Lavington

f your horse or pony seems
to change from the perfect
angel to little devil during
the colder winter months, then
schooling can become a little more
challenging than constructive!
Courtesy of on-line retailer
Dressage Deluxe, sponsored rider,
AI and list 3a judge Jane Lavington
has some great advice and tips for
some sane schooling.
Winter riding can prove a real
challenge if you own or ride
a sensitive or sharp horse.
The combination of cooler
temperatures, a clipped horse
and less turnout can all add to the
excitement!
The first aspect of winter riding is
to look at the weather and work
your schooling session around
it. If it is windy then there is no
problem in lunging your horse
prior to getting on board if he
is looking a bit fresh, however
make sure that you are wearing
gloves and a hard hat and that
your horse’s tack is secure before
sending him out on a circle (you
might want him to start in walk –
but he might have other ideas!)
Ideally you should start off in walk
to allow his muscles to warm up,
however if he is spooking and
feeling like he is going to explode,
dependent on arena surface
conditions, you should po