As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, many riding instructors face a familiar challenge: how to keep lessons engaging and productive when riding time becomes limited due to cold, wet weather or less daylight. While it’s easy to feel that all progress comes from time spent in the saddle, the truth is that unmounted lessons can be just as valuable—if not more so—during the fall and winter months.
When executed well, unmounted lessons offer an excellent opportunity for students to build the skills and knowledge necessary to become well-rounded horsemen and horsewomen. They also help instructors maintain student engagement during the off-season when riding may be less frequent.
Why Should You Incorporate Unmounted Lessons?
The value of unmounted lessons goes beyond simply filling time when riding isn’t possible. These lessons allow students to develop a deep understanding of horsemanship, stable management, and equine care—aspects that are often overlooked in favor of riding technique.
Here’s why unmounted lessons should be a staple in your lesson program, particularly during the fall and winter months:
1. Weather-Proof Your Program
Let’s face it—fall and winter can bring unpredictable weather. Rain, snow, or cold winds can make it unsafe or uncomfortable to ride. But rather than canceling lessons, instructors can pivot to unmounted activities that keep students engaged and learning.
💡 Pro Tip: Use rainy or snowy days as opportunities to host unmounted lessons that focus on stable management, horse grooming, or basic veterinary care. Not only will this prevent lesson cancellations, but it also helps students remain connected to their riding goals—even when they’re not in the saddle.
2. Develop Well-Rounded Horse people
Mounted lessons teach riding skills, but unmounted lessons develop horse knowledge. Understanding a horse’s body language, learning how to care for tack, and grasping the basics of nutrition and health are all essential aspects of horsemanship that students need to master to become competent riders.
During fall and winter, unmounted lessons are perfect for educating students about:
- Equine anatomy: Help students identify muscles, bones, and joints to understand how the horse moves.
- Grooming and health care: Show how proper grooming supports horse health and teach basic first aid for minor injuries.
- Tack maintenance: Teach students how to care for saddles and bridles, something often overlooked during regular riding lessons.
Students who gain this level of knowledge often develop more respect for the horses they ride and can approach mounted lessons with greater awareness of their horse’s well-being.
3. Strengthen the Rider-Horse Connection
Unmounted lessons offer the perfect setting to help students connect with their horse outside of riding. Fall and winter months are great times to introduce bonding exercises and groundwork that strengthen the rider-horse relationship.
💡 Groundwork activities such as leading, lunging, and liberty work allow students to gain a better understanding of how horses communicate and move. These activities help to build trust between the student and horse, which ultimately translates into better riding partnerships when they do get back in the saddle.
4. Master Equestrian Theory
The off-season is an excellent time to help students dive into the theoretical side of riding. While most students may prefer time in the saddle, unmounted lessons can cover important topics that often get sidelined during busier months.
Key topics to introduce during the fall and winter include:
- Rider biomechanics: Help students understand how their body impacts their horse’s movement and how to improve their position for better balance and communication.
- Training principles: Teach students about dressage tests, jumping courses, or the scale of training, so they can better understand the purpose of each riding exercise.
- Goal setting: Use the downtime to help students create riding goals and identify the steps needed to reach those milestones when the riding season picks up again.
💡 Pro Tip: Encourage students to keep a journal during these unmounted lessons. Whether they’re documenting horse care tips or reflecting on personal riding goals, having a written record will help them stay engaged and motivated.
5. Encourage Mental Resilience and Focus
One often overlooked benefit of unmounted lessons is their ability to teach mental resilience. Without the distraction of riding, students have time to focus on the mental aspect of riding—whether it’s overcoming fear, understanding their emotions in the saddle, or setting a clear vision for their progress.
You can use this time to:
- Discuss the mental challenges of riding, such as competition nerves or fear of certain skills.
- Encourage students to practice visualization techniques that they can use before their next ride.
- Analyze past rides: Help students break down their recent rides, identify areas for improvement, and develop a strategy for next time.
6. Keep Students Engaged During the Off-Season
It’s no secret that student motivation can dip during the colder months. Riders might feel less enthusiastic when they’re unable to ride as often or if weather conditions disrupt their routine. Unmounted lessons provide an opportunity to keep the learning momentum going.
To prevent the winter slump, consider:
- Hosting group unmounted sessions where students can learn together, building a sense of community.
- Planning fun activities like trivia games about horses, mock horse shows, or unmounted horse care competitions to keep students engaged and excited.
- Offering “mini-courses” where students can earn certificates for completing unmounted training modules, such as basic first aid, tack cleaning, or lunging.
Ideas for Unmounted Lessons in Fall & Winter:
- Tack Cleaning and Maintenance: Teach students how to properly care for their saddles and bridles to keep them in top shape for spring.
- Horse Grooming Contests: Host a grooming competition where students can show off their grooming skills and creativity, focusing on health and appearance.
- Vet 101: Introduce students to basic horse care, from identifying health problems to learning about common equine ailments.
- Horse Behavior and Body Language: Teach students to read and understand how horses communicate with us through body language.
- Groundwork and Lunging: Teach your students how to safely and effectively lunge their horse, focusing on posture, transitions, and voice commands.
Conclusion:
Unmounted lessons offer riding instructors a chance to expand their students’ horsemanship skills, deepen their knowledge, and build their confidence—whether they’re in the saddle or not. As we move into the fall and winter months, incorporating unmounted lessons into your program not only helps weather-proof your schedule but also creates well-rounded, educated students.
Instructors, don’t let the colder months slow your program down! Instead, embrace the season as a time for growth, connection, and education. You’ll be setting your students up for even greater success when they’re back in the saddle come spring. 🌱🐴
Have you tried unmounted lessons in your program? Drop a comment and share your favorite fall or winter unmounted activity with us!
Until next time …
Alisha Van Harn
