TRAINING TIPS
Tips from our Trainer Members
Spring Fitness Tune-ups
__________________________________
The Spring Fitness Tune-Ups: Meeting the Horse You Have Today
by AMY SKINNER
There’s something about spring that makes us eager. The days are longer, the footing improves, and suddenly it feels like we should be able to pick up right where we left off in the fall.
But horses don’t work that way—and if we’re honest, neither do we as riders. One of the biggest mistakes I see this time of year is assumption. We assume the horse is as fit as they were. We assume their mind is in the same place. We assume the buttons we installed last season are still sharp and accessible. And when those assumptions don’t hold up, it’s easy to feel frustrated or confused.
Instead, spring needs to start with a reset. Meet the horse you have today, not the one you remember. Winter, even in lighter climates, tends to bring some level of physical and mental downtime. Maybe they’ve moved less. Maybe their work has been inconsistent. Maybe they’ve just had time to get comfortable in their own patterns without the structure of regular training.
Whatever the case, their body and mind have shifted—sometimes in small ways, sometimes significantly. Your job isn’t to push them back to where they were. It’s to figure out where they are now.
That starts with observation.
How do they feel in your hand? Are they tight, dull, reactive, disconnected?
Do they understand your aids, or do they feel a step behind? Are they physically able to carry themselves, or are they falling onto the forehand and using you for balance?
Take these observations as a way forward without judgement. Let that information guide you. From there, your warm-up becomes everything.
This is where a lot of people go wrong. They think of the warm-up as something to get through so they can get to the “real work.”
In reality, the warm-up is the work—especially in the spring. Take your time. Let the horse walk. Give them the chance to loosen their body, to find a rhythm, to start thinking forward without pressure.
But don’t confuse slow with sloppy. A slow warm-up still needs to be correct. That means the horse is responsive to the aids, even at the walk.
Straightness, bend, rhythm, and connection all matter here, even before you ever pick up a trot. Working on a specific and accurate warm up while you both come back into shape makes a world of difference.
If those things aren’t in place at the walk, adding speed won’t fix it. It will just hide it. As you move into trot and canter, think “legging up,” not “working hard.”
You’re building the horse back into their body—gradually reintroducing strength, coordination, and balance. Short sessions done well will do far more than long sessions where the horse gets tired and falls apart.
Pay attention to fatigue, both physical and mental. A horse that starts out willing but becomes resistant may not be being difficult—they may simply be telling you the work is too much, too soon. On the other hand, a horse that feels mentally checked out might need more clarity, not more pressure.
Spring tuning requires patience and honesty. If the basics aren’t there, go back to them. If the horse is tight, give them time to loosen. If they’re weak, help them find strength without overwhelming them.
There’s no prize for getting back to “where you were” the fastest—only consequences if you rush the process. Done right, this season sets the tone for everything that follows.
So slow down. Pay attention. Be precise in the small things. And let the horse come back to work in a way that leaves them stronger, more confident, and more connected than before.
​
~ Amy Skinner
AMY SKINNER HORSEMANSHIP