Top 15 New Years Resolutions

1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends
2. Get Fit
3. Tame the Bulge – Loose Weight
4. Quit Smoking
5. Enjoy Life More – Reduce Stress
6. Quit Drinking
7. Get Out of Debt
8. Learn Something New
9. Help Others – Volunteer
10. Get Organized
11. Get a Better Education
12. Take a Trip
13. Get a Better Job
14. Eat Healthy Food
15. Spend more time on your Hobbies

Coming in January we’ll look at some of the top horse resolutions to make.

Snow is Best

When you’re horse riding in the winter, it’s best to go out when there is a few inches of snow on the ground. This gives the horse’s hooves some cushion, as opposed to riding over frozen or icy ground (and icy ground should be avoided to prevent falls and other accidents).

Snow also provides the horse a great workout for both its heart and leg muscles. In the winter, you don’t even need to ride your horse at a gallop – a walk or especially a trot will do just as well since your horse will be pulling his legs out of the snow as he goes. Even a nice, long, relaxed walk on a long rein can give him all the exercise he needs.

Some Winter Riding Safety Tips

When riding during the winter, be sure you’re only riding along paths and trails that you know well. If you’re riding in a new area, you risk stepping in or on something that can injure your horse or cause an accident because you are not able to see what is underneath the snow cover.

As we said earlier, it’s best to ride on snow cover only. Avoid riding on ground covered by rain, slush or ice, or plain frozen ground. These don’t lend themselves well to the kind of footing your horse needs during a ride, and can lead to injuries to your horse or an accident.

No jumping your horse outside during the winter months. Even if you’re riding in snow, the ground is still slick enough to not allow for proper footing on landing. The impact from landing on frozen ground or snow can also injure your horse’s legs. Make sure that if you will be doing any jumping during winter months, it is in an arena that allows for proper and appropriate footing.

The winter months are a great time to take your horse for a ride, and can provide a break from the indoors for both you and your horse. Taking the proper precautions and preparation will ensure you have a safe and enjoyable ride.

If the blanket you select is too large or too small, the blanket could slip out of place or rub against the horse’s skin, causing irritation. There are two major factors to take into account when picking the right blanket size:

Accurate measurements: The most important measurement to find is the length of blanket needed. To find this, measure the distance from the center of your horse’s chest to the rear of his quarters, or the point where you expect the blanket to finish. Most blankets are measured in two- or three-inch increments, so figure accordingly in your measurements.

Your horse’s build: Is your horse stocky or bigger in size? Is he more finely built or skinnier? Knowing the answers to these questions tells you whether you need a blanket that’s slightly larger than the length you’ve measured (for the stockier horse) or one that is a size smaller (for the more finely built horse).

Also, you should have two separate blankets, one for turnout and one for when he is in the stable. Keep in mind that the blanket you use for turnout will probably be a size bigger than the stable blanket to allow for movement.

Finding the right-sized blanket ensures your horse is warm and comfortable during the cold, winter months.