Here is exactly how to exercise your horse without riding! Boasting multiple benefits, both physically and mentally for your horse, exercise without riding could be the perfect addition to your spring routine. It is suitable for every level and age of horse, reaping rewards of weight loss, increases muscle tone and suppleness, as well as mental stimulation. Plus, adding just one session of non-ridden exercise could transform your horse’s ability and attitude to work. But what non-ridden exercises can we do with our horses?
Lunging
Lungeing can be an instrumental part of your horse’s ‘keep fit’ routine, being a great way to burn calories and therefore extra weight!
Performed on a circle, this non-ridden exercise is exertive on muscles, tendons and ligaments, so although great for taking away extra energy, it is also recommended to be incorporated into routine in moderation. This means session should be built up gradually in length, reaching a maximum of 30-minutes including a warm-up and cool down period.
Whilst lungeing you can perform numerous exercises, whether your looking to improve balance, suppleness or even utilise the session to improve response to your commands!
Free Schooling
Quick and easy, free schooling is the answer to any busy equestrian’s prayers, burning off excess calories, fittening, all whilst adding variety into routine too. Free-schooling is a favourite ‘go-to’ for many horse-owners when their horse’s cannot reap the benefits of turnout.
In an enclosed arena, use a lunge whip to encourage your horse to move around the arena in a variety of paces. Incorporate pole and even small jumps to aid joint’s range of movement. Maybe even try adding some unfamiliar object to help give your horse a confidence boost!
Long Reining
Long reining is a fantastic way to improve both your own and your horse’s stamina, requiring simultaneous and similar intensity work!
Long reining should be introduced and practiced at home, in an enclosed area first, as it involves you controlling your horse from behind. Once confident in your own and your horse’s ability to long-reign, take it to the roads (with hi-viz gear, of course) and incorporate hill work, trotting and different terrains to reap the full fitness benefits. It’s also a great exercise for when bringing your horse back into work!
Walk Your Horse
Ever thought of taking your horse on walk? Again, it’s a much quicker and easier way of getting some extra steps into your horse’s day, without the need to tack up. Take them on your usual hacking route for the unique benefits of environmental stimulation, or just in the arena. Practice stopping, moving off and negotiating obstacles.
If you’ve got multiple horses to exercise, why not try a ride and lead session. This involves leading one horse, whilst riding the other. However, it is very important that the horses you choose to ‘ride and lead’ get along, as they will be in close proximity with each other, and are well-behaved.
In-Hand Horse Agility
You may be familiar with dog agility, but have you ever tried horse agility?
This form of equestrian groundwork is growing in popularity, with it now becoming an international competitive sport! Horse agility focusses largely on communication and positive horsemanship and can really help your relationship with your horse!
Utilise whatever you can get your hands on, with horse’s competing in the sport even being known to jump through hoops! It’s the perfect way to build confidence, whilst getting you and your horse moving!
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Journalist and News Reporter, Everything Horse
Reporting on equestrian news stories, Abby also produces a variety of engaging content for the magazine.