Tackling Horsemanship Goals In The Winter - Challenge 1

I like to think of horsemanship as "horsemanship through life." The more I learn, the more it becomes about so much more than just my time with my equine partners. If you've ever read a really good horsemanship book or worked with some solid mentors, you probably get what I mean.

With that in mind, I'm issuing a gentle challenge to anyone struggling with your horses right now—whether it's the weather, an injury, a loss, or just life getting in the way. Take a moment to remember the why. Why did you start with horses in the first place? What made those drives out to the barn feel exciting? The smell of your horse, the feel of being near them, all those little things that made it a priority in your day. Let's reconnect with that spark and channel it into some mini challenges we can tackle no matter the conditions!

Winter drags on, but there are plenty of training aspects we can work on without riding or needing much physical effort—and bonus: some of this will save you money down the road! I'm challenging all of you (and I'd genuinely love to hear how your "homework" goes—bonus points for photos or videos of all of your progress!).

Challenge #1: Help your vet, farrier, and your wallet

Let's get your horse comfortable standing on wooden blocks of different sizes. Why bother? It makes hoof radiographs (X-rays) way easier and often avoids sedation. I've had this done on multiple horses, and when they stand quietly without needing drugs, it saves money, keeps my vet happy, improves image quality, and helps the whole vet-farrier team work better together.

This is perfect year-round training, even in wet or cold weather—as long as you have a sheltered spot or (ideally) indoor access. Work on as level a surface as possible. If you want to go pro-level, ask your vet for the exact measurements of their usual blocks.

Don't stress—I'll break it down so it's super achievable. The goal: Your horse stands square, calm, quiet, and as still as possible with front feet on, hind feet on, or any combo you ask.

Where to start? Small blocks can feel intimidating at first, so begin with something taller but with a bigger surface—like a sturdy reinforced plastic pallet or a larger uncut wood block. Get them standing quietly on that bigger "target," then gradually shrink the surface area while building up standing time.

Patience and kindness are key—for both you and your horse! Lean on basics like practicing quiet standing or ground-tying to build confidence.

Want to level up? Teach a clear cue like "step up" so they willingly choose to place their feet on the block(s). You could even add a "step down" or "unload" cue. Take this as far as feels right for you and your equine partner(s)!

What do you think—ready to give it a try? Drop your progress in the comments (pics/videos welcome!). Let's keep that horsemanship-through-life mindset going strong, even when the weather (or life) throws curveballs.