10 Things to Do with Your Horse That Aren't Riding

Going for a long horseback ride can be fun and relaxing. In fact, riding is the number one thing to do with your horse, but did you realize there are many other things you can and should be doing with your horse?  Below you will find some of the best and most beloved ways to do things with your horse outside of the basic ride.  

10 Things to Do with Your Horse

Although riding is fun, you and your horse may actually enjoy doing some other activities together. And sometimes, perhaps due to injury or another issue, riding simply isn’t an option. These reasons are why I thought it would be great to create a list of things you can do with your horse that don't involve riding or getting in the saddle. 

Depending upon the season, you might also like to check this list of things to do with your horse in the fall.  And for all horse lovers, knowing things you can do to improve their lives is another good read.

Picnic

I have always enjoyed a picnic when the weather is nice, and if you do too, it's actually a perfect way to spend time with your horse.   Maybe it’s because when I was growing up, often on Sundays we would go for a drive and end up having a picnic lunch. Or maybe, I just enjoy the simplicity of a meal outdoors. Either way, the first thing on my list is to have a picnic!

How do you do this?  It doesn't have to be anything big or fancy.  Just make yourself a snack or lunch, and toss in a few fruits and veggies that are safe for horses.  Find them in the pasture, or even go to their stall in the barn, and eat your lunch while sharing treats with them and talking to them.  Horses may not speak our language, but they do understand the tones of your voice and will love being near their human. 

Go for a Walk

Just because you can’t ride your horse doesn’t mean the two of you can’t go for a walk. Find a quiet trail or just walk around the pasture and you will find that not only will you both get some exercise, but you will learn to relate to your horse differently by walking side by side instead of riding.

Sometimes, just leading your horse around the pasture is a good activity to help them as well as give you a chance to connect.  This is especially helpful when you have a horse that has been injured and needs to take things slowly but still get some exercise.  It is also great for those who may have had a fall or have a horse fear.  This gives you closeness without the fear or danger of riding. 

Practice

Is there something your horse doesn’t enjoy, is spooked by, or is hesitant to do? Take time to practice these things to help your horse grow less scared and more confident. If your horse is hard to load in the trailer, take time to practice this. Is your horse unwilling to eat from a bucket or your hand? Now is a good time to practice this too.

Bathe Your Horse

Giving your horse a bath may seem like an odd thing to include on a list like this, but it is actually a fun activity for both of you.  In hot summer months, a bath can be a great treat to help cool off a horse, but can also be a way for you to cool off.  Many horses love being rubbed down and like bathtime, so it may be a way to just give them a bit more attention. 

Groom Your Horse

Grooming your horse is always an important part of taking care of your horse. As mentioned above, most horses love the attention and a good rubdown after a walk or just because can be amazing for them.  If you are unable to ride your horse, then use that time to give your horse thorough grooming. 

There are tons of tips and grooming secrets to check out but also make sure you are aware of the red flags to look for when grooming.  Make sure you are paying attention to wounds, sensitive areas, or any flinching. 

Photograph Your Horse

In a world of cell phone cameras and selfies, it’s impossible to create a list of things to do with your horse without including photographing your horse. Take the photos yourself or you could hire a photographer to come to take photos of your horse alone or even your family with your horse.  You could create a photo book, calendar, or even a coffee mug featuring a photo of your horse.

Just because a horse is a pet doesn't mean they aren't a part of your family.  Regularly photographing them and keeping snapshots on hand is expected and makes sense for any horse lover. 

Teach Your Horse a Trick

Horses are very smart animals, and it can be great fun to teach your horse a trick. Common tricks are picking up an object from the ground, smiling, dropping their head, and bowing.  We even have a tutorial on how to teach your horse to bow if you want to start there. 

Practice

Is there something your horse doesn’t enjoy, is spooked by, or is hesitant to do? Take time to practice these things to help your horse grow less scared and more confident. If your horse is hard to load in the trailer, take time to practice this. Is your horse unwilling to eat from a bucket or your hand? Now is a good time to practice this too.

Play in the Water

If your horse likes water, then take some time to go to the nearest creek or pond and let your horse go for a swim or just wade and play in the water. This is a fun activity in warmer weather. Just be sure that the body of water is safe for your horse and that you have a long lead line so they can have safe fun.

Help Someone

Let your horse help someone overcome their fear of horses. If you have a friendly horse, then allow a friend or family member to stop by and meet your horse.

If you have a friendly horse that is well adjusted to interacting with people, then you can help someone else have a good experience with a horse.  We even have some tips for how to teach kids a healthy fear of horses and how to help adults get past a fear of horses.  

Study Your Horse

Lastly on my list of things you can do with your horse is to take time to study your horse. Take time to look for your horse’s physical cues so that you can better recognize when your horse is stressed or relaxed. Just like humans, horses use body language to communicate. Watch how your horse uses his eyes, ears, and facial expressions to communicate with you.

When you think of your horse as your friend, it’s easy to be creative and enjoy a variety of activities with your horse!