The autumn weather is changeable, posing challenges to regular riding training. This article series provides inspiration on how to strengthen your bond with your horse when weather prevents your usual training routine. The first part focused on teaching your horse fun tricks to challenge it mentally. Now, we turn to how you can engage in trust-building environmental training without needing a riding arena or stable.

Read part one here: Strengthen the bond with your horse - Learn tricks

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It is advised to only train these aspects with your horse as long as it remains calm and relaxed. It's not recommended to pressure the horse, causing it to feel insecure or stressed. The training should be fun and exciting for both horse and human, perceived as a playful activity.

You can decide whether to train with treats, other forms of reward, or by removing pressure when the horse correctly performs a task.

Environmental training

Environmental training prepares your horse for situations where it must trust you. For instance, you can acquaint your horse with elements encountered in competitions or nature. The following ideas can help, whether you have access to a box, a stable aisle, or just a corner of an old barn.

Tarpaulin

Try getting your horse to walk over a tarpaulin in the stable aisle or barn. If the aisle is narrow or flanked by a wall or box on each side, it's an ideal place to spread the tarpaulin. This way, the horse won’t have room to bypass it.

Remember, trust and patience are closely linked, so take it step by step – literally. Initially, the goal might be to get the horse to sniff the tarpaulin, then to step onto it. Eventually, hopefully, the horse will trust you enough to walk all the way across. When the weather permits, you can continue this training outdoors and from the back of the horse.

Read also: Most of us ride with a helmet. Is it false security?

Squeaky toys

Squeaky toys can familiarize your horse with something new while it’s in its box or loose housing. Though unlikely to encounter squeaky toys at competitions or in nature, they are excellent tools for environmental training. Their unique appearance and sound are unfamiliar to the horse, hence useful for building confidence towards new experiences.

First, let the horse sniff the toy and then make it squeak. If the horse remains curious, leave it in the box or loose housing overnight, but only if it shows no discomfort with the toy. Believe it or not, some horses end up using it as a toy.

Umbrella

An umbrella, preferably colorful, can also be effective. It doesn't require much space; just ensure you can tie and easily release your horse if it gets scared. Umbrellas are common both at competitions and on trails, so it’s sensible to accustom your horse to one.

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Start by letting your horse sniff the umbrella while it's closed. First, unfold it halfway, then fully, to gauge the horse’s reaction. Once the horse is somewhat comfortable, try waving the umbrella and even touching the horse with it while folding and unfolding it. This helps the horse learn that fluttering objects are harmless.

All kinds of items can be used for environmental training. You know your horse best, so you might already have an idea of what would be beneficial to introduce. The goal is simply to strengthen the trust between you. Hopefully, the training will boost your horse’s confidence enough to face new experiences outside its comfort zone when the weather permits riding out.

In the third part of the series, you'll find a series of dressage exercises that can be performed while you're on the ground, aimed at simultaneously enhancing your horse’s physique and bringing you closer together.

Source:

Horse & Hound