Horses’ brains want some selection of their actions. Due to that, I convey path horses in for enviornment work at instances, ship jumpers out to discover the neighborhood, and educate True to deal with all kinds of issues that his breeding and self-discipline don’t require.
Final week, we went for a journey within the snow.
True and I discover snow-plowed driveways each winter, both mounted or on a lead. We now have a number of enjoyable doing that; he appears to be like throughout on the atmosphere, checks out the opposite horses, will get a pleasant lengthy fluid stroll that stretches his hips and shoulders, and learns to deal with uncommon occasions.
However till final week, I had by no means ridden him via deep snow.
Deep snow is tough work for a horse, so I saved the hills to 2 10-minute stretches on this primary try. We added deep snow on the flat for a complete journey of about half-hour. We went with a horse-and-rider crew who True is aware of effectively, so he would really feel extra comfy. His equine companion has been ridden in deep snow usually, is calm on trails, and is aware of the ropes, so to talk. We walked on the plowed driveways for quarter-hour first, then I requested him to step via a berm of plowed snow to get into the virgin stuff.
It was 2 ½ to three ft deep past the berm, however the berm itself was larger than that. True sunk to his elbows on step one and stopped. It was a pleasant cease—a check-in, as if to ask “Hmm, are you positive about this?” My legs gently stated sure, so Trooper proceeded via the berm.
My good friend and I chosen a location we knew effectively from summer season and fall using—a spot with no holes. Holes are my greatest fear in deep snow. You may’t see them, and a hoof or leg down a gap guarantees harm.
True’s jumper legs can’t afford any accidents. They’re nonetheless easy and tight, and I goal to maintain them that method.
It’s additionally a good suggestion to test for ice beneath the snow and to make certain your horse has good hoof traction. We traversed a path that we knew contained no holes or ice, and we remained at a stroll.
We additionally don’t do roads, until the shoulders are large sufficient to maintain us 40 or 50 ft away from vehicles. The roads close to the ranch are not often used, however it solely takes one dashing automobile to slip on gravel or snow and scare or hit a horse. That’s not an opportunity I’m keen to danger. We now have loads of sq. miles to journey that don’t comprise roads or vehicles.
Nicely, over the berm and off we went.
There’s no higher approach to really feel the energy of a horse than to journey him up a steep hill in deep snow. True paused with questions a few times, however instantly continued up, up, and up once I requested.
His good friend remained somewhat forward of him the primary time up, although we had been on separate tracks in order that each horses would get the total impact of snow train. True led the way in which on the second climb. Hill work in any season is nice train for constructing hindquarters, and snow amps up the outcomes.
It was a easy day, with a brilliant solar in a deep blue sky, making our excessive plateau stuffed with snow sparkle like sugar. I felt pleased with my horse for his energy and energy, however equally for his psychological willingness and cooperative nature. My good friend and I chatted; True’s good friend and he adopted one another quietly. The one time True grew to become excited is once we noticed 4 or 5 free horses galloping in an enormous neighboring subject. He was able to gallop too, in solidarity.
Subsequent time you’re complaining about winter—the indoor is dusty, the climate is chilly, the horses are cooped up, the jumps are buried and the paths are coated—go searching and see if there’s an out of doors journey close to you that could be a enjoyable tour for each you and your horse.
Even an enviornment in deep snow might be nice.
Associated studying:
Mind-Primarily based Horsemanship is a weekly column that chronicles Janet Jones, PhD, and her journey with True, a Dutch Warmblood she educated from age three utilizing neuroscience finest practices. Learn extra about brain-based coaching in Jones’ award profitable e-book Horse Mind, Human Mind.
A model of this story initially appeared on janet-jones.com. It’s reprinted right here with permission.
