The roads are narrowing as it’s the beginning of the new year, and the snow keeps piling up. Since we are a ranch with 44 horses on the property, the riding must go on no matter the environmental scenario. Winter creates a particular need to get creative with how we ride our horses because space continually diminishes while the danger only increases.
Before the East Troublesome Fire burned our property and house, we planned to build a covered arena. This would have been a beautiful addition that allowed relief from the elements throughout all four seasons. The arena would have been 80 x 100, and the riding space would have been 80 x 80; the other 20 feet would be an overhang for a shelter so the animals could avoid rain, snow, and wind. Needless to say, that dream has been put on hold indefinitely.
The big thing the arena would have been essential for is footing or, in other words, safety. When working with young ones, a sound footing is desirable to increase the odds of success for all involved; without the arena, that leaves the plowed roads from November till at least April. While the roads are sound footing at a walk or straight line, that’s about it. No steep arcs or sudden speed changes can be made while riding, and the meadow snow is far too deep to ride through. Safety becomes a huge priority during the winter because there is no consistency due to constant snowfall and relentless wind drifting.
On a more positive note, I do find winter to be an excellent practice of creativity and flexibility. Winter allows the modes of exposure to be unique. The horses going through all four seasons at our ranch have a different disposition. A leveling up in their security, confidence, and endurance because you just can’t simulate winter.
While conditions are favorable through the summer, and you can do anything without the fear of lousy footing, winter is a different ball game. You can not take anything for granted; you have to stack the deck in the horse’s favor and yours. While most “trainers” or “professionals” work through every horse similarly year round, that routine would lead to utter catastrophe in this environment. The need to stay fluid and be smart about what you are doing and why is essential to survive and eventually thrive. It is best to become savvy about the capacities and mentalities of the horses you work with. Otherwise, you or the horse will be hurt.
Here are some optimistic scenarios created by winter! Sure, you never want to bury your horse in a snow drift, but let me tell you, it happens. How does your horse react when they get stuck? Does the horse trust you enough to stay calm, or do they panic? I’m not sure if you have ever been on a panicking horse in 3 plus feet of snow before, but I would take a legit bronc ride over that any day. I would guess on the upside, if you did fall off, it’s bound to be a soft landing.
While horses are out free with the herd running and playing, they gain a certain kind of agility and balance needed to move in winter conditions that other horses just never get. Herd pasturing is a priceless feature of the winter that takes no effort other than a good herd and decent fencelines. The horses civilly take care of the rest, given they have appropriately been worked and strategically integrated into the herd.
The other good thing about winter work, you must be sure about your groundwork before ever risking one ride on a snowpack. I just witnessed the Monday night football game where a player went into cardiac arrest after a play; the outcome is still unknown. There hasn’t been an update on a diagnosis of the result yet, but as every football player knows, it’s, unfortunately, part of the game. This is no different with horses; your life could be on the line anytime. This is part of the acceptance of working with any horse. So any chance we get, stack the deck in your favor. Do not take unnecessary risks to compound the chances of injury or death. I have seen way too many avoidable and random accidents out of anyone’s control not to prepare for the unexpected or inevitable.
So in working with horses in the winter, thorough groundwork is unquestionably a must. Extra time must be given and taken whenever there is anything out of sync between you and the horse. As I type this paragraph, two words come to mind: basics and preparation. Don’t take unnecessary risks because if you get on too soon and the horse isn’t prepared, your life or the horse’s could be forfeited. Is that ever worth it?
When starting young horses in the winter, you no longer have a round pen unless you want to shovel a four-foot drift out daily. Even if you clear it, you still have to ride in it. Riding in a winter round pen is equivalent to riding an arc in a skating rink; it will not play out well. So you have to rely on groundwork and intelligent positioning when you ride. If a horse was to take off, where would it go, and how would you react? You must be very calculated in every facet of what could happen and how you will respond if it does before ever stepping on the horse. You do not ride with it in mind or expect it to happen; you are mentally and physically prepared if it were to happen. If that were to come to fruition, you have to dissect what you missed in the preparation phase that led to the horse’s justified reaction unless it were a physical limitation within a horse.
I can tell you one thing about younger or older horses in the snow. You never have an issue with life or elevation. If a horse struggles to move out or pick up their feet, merely put them in deep snow and watch nature take care of the rest!
So that covers your greener horses, but how do you work a refined horse through the winter? Without arcs, you have to work on many short diagonals. You can still do all the basic dressage movements, but how you do them depends on the day. You can side or half pass the width of the road or diagonally down the road, but you must change directions at some point. The roads are slightly angled for drainage, so turning must be done carefully. Many upward and downward transitions are figured into your riding based on the road you are riding. You can not turn sharp, stop hard, or take off too quickly without slipping, falling, or flipping. Extreme care must be taken upon every transition.
My favorite part of winter is all the shenanigans to be had. Dallying onto a tube or sled to slingshot around the yard with kids is a must! Skijoring never fails to get many laughs and even better wipeouts. The quietness of a ride through the fresh powder while skiffs of snow build up on the limbs so I can time a tree shake perfectly. That way, the rider behind me gets buried by all the snow falling from the tree. Always a fan favorite, haha.
Winter riding shows you how well your horse is coming along, for there is no routine or sets of movements you can rely on. Therefore whatever you have or don’t have is exaggerated to the fullest by the conditions.
Exposure to all the peculiarities that winter offers is priceless. Getting on your horse after the night was -20 degrees Fahrenheit after it snowed during the day, creating frozen or wet-backed horses, is an actual test of who your horse is. Trudging through meadows of snow, the horse must trust you to guide them as they have no idea what is underneath. Crossing sketchy gaps of ice where you have to have complete balance and control with your horse. Working on roads where the snowpack is five to six feet tall on both sides, the shadows constantly change while the snow is falling as it melts or shifts. My favorite is seeing how the horse reacts to cascading snow off the roofs. These experiences are pretty hard to replicate, but I wouldn’t have it any other way, as the horse that comes out on the other side is priceless.
Can you genuinely enjoy the Colorado mountain summers if you haven’t ridden through the winter? As much as I despise riding while not being able to feel my hands, feet, and face, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The horses are better because of it, and to be honest, I am better because of it. Falling into the same old routines can stunt a person.
Winter closes in on me every year, allowing me to fully open up through the summers. My horses are better because of winter and in shape to take on the mountains or any other work. I thoroughly enjoy every summer day because I know soon what’s around the corner. There must be a reason for the seasons, so I try to find the positives. Plus, the winter allows me to focus more on my studies and reflections, which I cherish.
Tyler Klees 