Winter WONDERS

Don't let the chilly weather put a stop to your equine education and activities.

- BY SHOSHANA RUDSKI

Brr! Who turned off the heat? You spent all summer trail riding, showing, and hanging out at the barn. Now with snow on the ground and dropping temperatures, it might seem like the horse activities are done for the year, but with creativity and a little planning, there's plenty to do!

The winter can be a great time to earn some extra money doing the chores and tasks that others want to avoid when the weather gets chilly.

PRACTICE HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS

Do you know how to do standing wraps on your horse's legs? Or if a vet tells you a horse has a puncture wound on his hock, do you know where that is? It can get so busy during the warmer months with riding activities that sometimes it's easy to forget that the off-horse knowledge is even more important than what you learn in the saddle.

So now that it's chilly outside, why not take some time to study up?

Get your barn friends together, some sticky-notes, and a tolerant horse to see how many parts of his body you can label. If you're feeling extra clever, try remembering some of the bones, tendons, and ligaments.

With the help of your trainer or other knowledgeable adult, it's also a super time to practice wrapping your horse's legs. Just remember that accidentally making a wrap too tight or loose or wrinkly can damage your horse's legs, so ask for help if you aren’t sure. Once you're comfortable with standing wraps, ask to learn how to do a stack wrap or spider wrap, too!