Winter Training

Winter is an essential season for sport horses and their riders. Less visible than the competition season, it lays the groundwork for performance, mental resilience, and the horse's longevity. It's a privileged time to work on fitness, suppleness, balance, and relaxation, while respecting each horse's individual rhythm.

The different perspectives from our professional riders show that winter training is not a constraint, but a strategic opportunity: build muscle, improve coordination, develop the horse–rider connection and prepare the horse for the demands of the season ahead — whether on the flat, over fences or out on the cross-country course. Discover their advice, exercises and essentials for this very special time of year 👇

🔥 Winter training as seen by Gwnedolen Fer

For her, winter is a time of slowing down — or even pausing the horses' training. After the season ends, she typically plans a month of rest. Depending on each horse's needs, this break may be complete or include some light outdoor activity to maintain muscle tone and mobility, while still allowing the body to recover.

For her, winter is one of the most important seasons of the year. Winter training is not about immediate performance, but about the physical, mental and technical development of the horse, allowing for a calm and confident preparation for the season ahead. It's the time to make real progress without pressure, in a quieter environment.

A key period, not a constraint

When competitions stop and the schedule eases, she can work without pressure, return to the basics and observe her horses to tailor the work to their needs.

During this period, she focuses on:

The consistency and quality of sessions rather than their intensity
Mental work, with fewer competitions and more time to strengthen the rider–horse relationship

Progressive muscle strengthening

Muscle strengthening is done in a thoughtful and progressive way:

Work over ground poles and cavalettis
Work on varied terrain when conditions allow

The goal is to develop strength, stability and coordination, without overloading the horse. This work prepares the body for the more intense efforts of spring while limiting the risk of injury.

Maintaining cardiovascular fitness without overdoing it

Even when overall intensity is reduced, maintaining cardiovascular fitness remains essential. Sessions are adapted to the weather, ground conditions and the horse's mood, with comfort and safety as the top priority.

Build today to perform tomorrow

Winter training is often quiet and less visible, but it is fundamental to what comes next. A horse well prepared during winter becomes:

Physically stronger
More mentally available
More consistent in performance

Winter is therefore the time when she lays the foundations, and the competition season is when those foundations bear fruit.

The serpentine exercise: a cornerstone of winter training

The serpentine is an exercise that looks simple, but proves extremely comprehensive when executed correctly. It fits perfectly into winter training, as it helps develop suppleness, balance and straightness simultaneously. Accessible to both young and experienced horses, it offers many variations to adjust the level of difficulty.

Exercise objectives

Supple the horse laterally, from shoulders to haunches
Encouraging balance and stability through changes of direction
Work on straightness, particularly in the transitions from one bend to the other

Technical section 👇

The serpentine can be made up of three loops, or extended to four or five loops to increase the workload
The curves should be smooth, with a clear, fluid, and consistent track
The change of bend takes place on the centre line, with the horse straight and without rushing

Throughout the exercise, the horse must maintain a steady, consistent rhythm.

Key points on the horse's frame

When a serpentine is correctly ridden:

The horse shows a light bend adapted to the direction of the curve
The neck remains supple, without excessive bend
The shoulders stay in front of the hips
Contact with the hand is steady and balanced on both sides, without pulling

The goal is never to force the bend, but to seek a progressive and natural flexion.

Rider aids and common errors to avoid

The rider plays a key role in the quality of the exercise:

The inside leg supports the bend and encourages engagement
The outside leg controls the line of travel and limits the movement of the hindquarters
The inside rein follows the movement and accompanies the bend
The outside rein channels the shoulder and maintains straightness

The rider's gaze and upper body follow the track and anticipate each change of curve.

That said, the serpentine quickly highlights imbalances. The most common mistakes are:

A horse that leans heavily on the inside shoulder
A bend change that is too abrupt
A loss of impulsion during transitions between loops
An imprecise or irregular track

These points should be corrected gradually, without seeking immediate perfection.

Variations and progressions

To progress with the exercise:

Introduce walk–trot or trot–walk transitions on the centre line
Reduce or enlarge the loops to adjust the level of difficulty
Add ground poles on certain curves to encourage engagement
Incorporate shoulder-in or travers on the curves

These variations help maintain the horse's interest while respecting their physical condition.

The five-pole circle: a complete walk and trot exercise

The five-pole circle is a particularly relevant exercise for winter training. It allows you to combine suppleness, coordination, engagement and regularity. Workable at both walk and trot, it adapts easily to the horse and rider combination and makes an excellent muscle-strengthening exercise.

Exercise objectives

This exercise is designed to:

Improve regularity of paces
Encourage hindquarter engagement
Develop coordination and proprioception
Work on balance along a curved track
Encourage the horse's attention and focus

Setting up the exercise 👇

The setup consists of five poles arranged on a circle:

The poles are spaced approximately 1.20 m apart on the outer side and three feet apart on the inner side
Passes are done at walk on the inside of the circle and at trot on the outside

The circle must be ridden accurately to ensure the exercise flows smoothly and consistently.

Execution at walk

At walk, the exercise allows for gentle, supple work:

The horse maintains an active and regular walk
It teaches the horse to better break down its strides
Hindquarter engagement is encouraged progressively

Execution at trot

At trot, the exercise becomes more technical:

Rhythm should remain constant throughout the circle
The horse should neither speed up nor slow down when approaching the poles
This exercise develops engagement and coordination
It also helps quickly identify a horse that is falling in or drifting on the curve

💡 Rider aids

For a good execution:

The inside leg supports the bend and the impulsion
The outside leg controls the hindquarters
The outside rein stabilises the shoulder and the line of travel
The inside rein follows the movement without pulling

The gaze and upper body follow the circle to maintain a consistent track.

Key points and common mistakes

Some challenges may arise:

A lateral or longitudinal imbalance
A loss of rhythm when approaching the poles
An insufficiently precise track

Variations and progressions

To progress with the exercise:

Alternating walk and trot on the same setup
Raise certain poles slightly to increase engagement
Add transitions before or after the exercise

🥰 Winter training through the eyes of Alexia Pittier

Winter training: her vision and how she organises it

Winter is an essential period in equestrian training. It's a unique time, free from the pressure of competition, that allows you to build solid foundations for the season ahead.

1. Her approach to winter training

For her, winter training is above all a time to step back and reflect. Without the pressure of upcoming events, it becomes possible to observe, analyse, and adjust the horse's work.

It's the ideal time to check the fundamentals, go back to basics and work on specific areas in depth.

The goal is not to chase performance at all costs, but to build: a stronger, more responsive horse and a more harmonious working relationship. This quiet, often invisible work is nonetheless what shapes everything that follows.

2. What is concretely put in place during this period

During winter, she adapts her schedule and sessions as follows:

Sessions focused on quality rather than intensity
A progressive warm-up, taking time to properly prepare the horse
Particular attention to the physical: suppleness, balance, musculature
Extended recovery and care time, essential in cold weather

Exercise 1: Working on the horse's frame

The aim of this exercise is to vary the horse's frame over short sequences, without ever locking it into a fixed position.

Setting up the exercise

You can start with simple shapes, such as a straight line or a half-circle.

For example:

A few strides in neck extension
Then 4 to 5 strides in an intermediate frame, at the height of neck chosen by the rider
Finally, a slightly higher and more uphill frame

The key principle is never to stay in the same frame for too long: four to five strides maximum. This alternation keeps the horse active, responsive and open to the aids.

Incorporating frame variation into serpentines

This work can be effectively incorporated into serpentines, which promote suppleness and connection.

On a three-loop serpentine, for example:

First loop in a long and low frame
Second loop in a higher, more uphill frame
Third loop back in neck extension

This alternation allows the horse to naturally adjust its balance while keeping a relaxed and mobile back.

Stride length variation

You can then enrich the exercise by adding variations in scope, always based on the principle of short sequences.

On a straight line or a curve:

Four strides with more extension
Then four strides with a slight collection
Without ever losing fluidity or connection

The key to this exercise is the horse's responsiveness: it must stay listening to the aids, free from tension or resistance.

Why this exercise is particularly valuable

This work allows:

To engage the horse's entire musculature
To improve connection and back function
To strengthen the quality of the horse–rider relationship

Deceptively simple in appearance, this exercise is in fact extremely comprehensive, particularly during the winter period.

Exercise 2: Adapting the work to the horse and rider combination

The work can be adapted to the level of both horse and rider through a variety of lateral exercises:

Shoulder-in
Leg yield
Half-pass for more advanced combinations

The goal is not the difficulty of the exercise itself, but what you are seeking to develop within it: short, precise and controlled variations.

Amplitude variation in lateral work

Within each lateral exercise, it is possible to incorporate amplitude variations over short sequences.

For example, in leg yield:

Ask for a few strides with more scope
Then, in the same movement, collect slightly
Before asking for more extension again

Ground poles can serve as visual reference points and help the rider structure the exercise.

This work can be done at walk, trot, and even canter, depending on the level of the partnership

Applying the same principle in shoulder-in

On a straight line, the same principle applies. Between two letters, you can ask for:

Stride length variation
Then a light collection
Before asking for extension again

With highly schooled horses, you can be more demanding. Otherwise, take more time to preserve suppleness — for both horse and rider.

Playing with crossing and angle

Within all lateral exercises, it is also possible to vary:

The degree of crossing
The angle of the movement

For example:

In shoulder-in: varying the angle
In leg yield or half-pass: more or less crossing, while maintaining a fluid and stable movement

✨ Alexia's 3 winter essentials

🧡 Winter training through the eyes of Clara Cazeneuve

Winter training: a key step in preparing for the season

Winter is an essential period in the preparation of the sport horse. Less visible than the competition season, it is nonetheless crucial for performance, longevity and the wellbeing of both horse and rider.

❄️ The importance of rest… for the rider too

Before talking about training, winter begins with a necessary pause.
During the season, the pace is intense and highly structured. She wears many hats: rider of young horses, competitor on the professional and international circuit with her top mares, coach to her students, and supporter at their competitions.

The winter period is therefore essential for stepping back, taking personal time and returning with renewed energy and motivation.

She approaches winter training in three key phases, each with a clear objective.

1️⃣ Phase 1: the post-season break

After the competition season, the first step is the break.
Horses need time to recover both physically and mentally after months of sustained effort.

This phase includes:

Complete rest
Gentle hacks
A significant reduction in work intensity, tailored to each horse

The goal is to allow the horses to recharge, without overloading them.

2️⃣ Phase 2: gradual return to work

The return to work is then gentle. Sessions are often long (over 40 minutes) but remain undemanding.

During this phase, she focuses on:

Plenty of outdoor work (walk, trot, hills)
Sessions focused on stretching and relaxation
An approach that is always positive, free from pressure or unnecessary constraint

The goal is to rebuild fitness and mental freshness, without chasing immediate results.

3️⃣ Phase 3: returning to full training

In the final phase of winter, demands increase progressively.

Sessions become shorter (around 30 minutes), but more focused and precise
More technical work is reintroduced, with greater engagement and specific preparation for the season ahead

This phase prepares horses to meet the demands of competition again, while consolidating the gains made in previous phases.

Two essential exercises for the winter period

1. Ground poles

Ground poles are essential tools for winter training, both at trot and canter. They help mechanise the horse's movement and work with precision on coordination, balance and hindquarter engagement.

Putting it into practice:

Set the poles on a straight or slightly curved line, depending on the training goal
Vary the number of strides between poles to work on extension or collection
Adjust the height or the spacing between poles according to the horse's level and physical condition

Benefits:

Develops coordination and regularity of paces
Improves the horse's overall balance through the whole body
Builds engagement without causing excessive fatigue

The progressive use of ground poles keeps the work safe and motivating, even in short sessions.

2. Lungeing work

Lungeing is particularly recommended in winter, as it allows you to observe and understand the horse's movement from a different angle than ridden work.

Putting it into practice:

Allow the horse to move freely on a circle, at walk, trot or canter
Observe its movement, balance, the relaxation of its back and neck
Use subtle aids to guide the horse without constraint

Benefits:

Helps strengthen the horse–rider connection
Promotes a correct and relaxed way of going
Gives the horse the freedom to move with full expression while remaining attentive to the aids

Lungeing is an excellent complement to ridden work — it develops the horse's responsiveness, relaxation and muscular engagement while respecting both physical and mental wellbeing.

✨ Clara's 3 winter essentials

😍 Winter training through the eyes of Marie Catrevault

For her, winter is an essential period for establishing or reinforcing the foundations of the work.
Without the pressure of competition goals, it's the ideal time to improve the horse's fitness, suppleness, and balance while protecting its mental wellbeing.

She favours progressive, varied and quality work, to prepare calmly for the season ahead.

What is concretely put in place during winter

During this period, she shapes her sessions around a few simple principles:

Regular but shorter sessions
An emphasis on flatwork
A mix of ridden work, hacking out and in-hand work
A longer and more gradual warm-up, essential in cold weather to prepare muscles and joints

The goal is to keep horses available, relaxed, and in good physical condition throughout the winter.

Exercise 1: Short transitions in a stable frame

Short transitions are a fundamental exercise in winter training. They help maintain the horse's responsiveness to the aids while building muscle, without excessive strain.

Setting up the exercise 💪

The exercise involves chaining simple transitions:

Walk–trot–walk
Or trot–canter–trot

These transitions can be ridden:

On straight lines
Or on large curves, to preserve the horse's balance and suppleness

The rider focuses on maintaining a clear and consistent track, riding a precise line.

🔥 Key points in the execution

When executing transitions, several elements are key:

Maintain a stable, consistent position without constraining the horse
Preserving straightness, especially in downward transitions
Achieve clean but fluid transitions, without rushing or breaking the rhythm

The goal is not speed of execution, but the quality of the horse's response to the aids.

Benefits of the exercise

Frequent transitions allow:

To improve the horse's responsiveness to the aids
To improve the quality and precision of transitions
To engage the musculature in a progressive and balanced way

This exercise also promotes the horse's focus and contributes to more accurate, more consistent way of going.

Exercise 2: Stride length variation over ground poles

Amplitude variation combined with ground poles is a very complete exercise, particularly valuable during winter. It allows you to work the horse effectively even in short sessions, while remaining progressive and respectful of their physical condition.

Setting up the exercise

Set up two to three ground poles in a straight line or on a slight curve, depending on the level of the horse and rider.

The distances between poles can be adjusted depending on:

The pace being worked
The horse's level
The horse's physical condition and natural stride length

How the exercise unfolds

The exercise consists of:

Alternate passes by adjusting the number of strides between poles
On the same setup, alternate between asking for more extension and a light collection

The rider adjusts their aids to guide the horse without restraining it, maintaining a fluid and consistent line.

⚠️ Key points to watch

The rhythm must remain consistent, without excessive acceleration or slowing
The horse must remain straight and balanced through their body
Amplitude variations must remain progressive and controlled

Benefits of the exercise

Stride length variation over ground poles allows:

To engage the horse's whole body
Developing coordination, engagement, and proprioception
To improve pace quality and the horse's availability

It is a particularly effective exercise for maintaining fitness and work quality, even during shorter sessions.

✨ Marie's 3 winter essentials

🚀 Winter training through the eyes of Maxime Livio

Winter training: the three key phases

Winter training is structured around three distinct phases, each with clear objectives to prepare the horses for the season ahead.

1. The rest period (4 to 6 weeks)

The first phase begins right after the last competition and lasts four to six weeks. It doesn't look the same for every horse: some enjoy complete rest in the paddock, while others follow a light programme including flatwork, hacks, or short lungeing sessions.

The goal of these exercises is not to fatigue the horse or create tension, but to maintain the horse's muscle tone and mental wellbeing while supporting recovery after an intense season.

2. The return to work (4 to 6 weeks)

The second phase also lasts four to six weeks and corresponds to the gradual return to work.

It is built on:

Very simple flatwork exercises: fundamentals, impulsion, throughness, straightness, simple transitions
Graduated trotting poles, ranging from easy to moderately challenging
Jumping sessions over cavalettis or gymnastic exercises, keeping fences no higher than 1.15 m

The goal is to get horses moving again, strengthen their foundations and gradually prepare their body and mind for the more demanding work ahead.

3. Building intensity (approximately 4 weeks)

The final phase of winter lasts approximately four weeks and is focused on preparing the horses for the first competition of the season.

During this phase:

Flatwork becomes more technical, with a focus on dressage
Jumping work increases in intensity, with slightly more height and technical challenge
One session per week is done outdoors to vary the environment

For the most experienced horses, outdoor sessions are often limited to the gallop track, while less experienced horses can alternate between the track and small cross-country courses, to rebuild confidence before the first competitions.

Flatwork: true canter, counter-canter, and lateral work

On the flat, work focuses mainly on canter. The exercise involves alternating between true canter and counter-canter, while varying alignments and bends. This work can be enriched by adding large leg yields, performed with calm and fluidity.

The goal is to keep the horse balanced and responsive, regardless of the bend or direction asked. Alternating between true canter and counter-canter particularly challenges lateral suppleness, balance and the quality of hindquarter engagement.

This type of work also helps improve the quality of the canter and the horse's overall way of going, while offering the rider a wonderful feeling of lightness and connection.

Jumping work: cavaletti circuit in a closed loop

Over fences, the exercise involves setting up a cavaletti circuit in a closed loop. The layout is designed to be ridden in both directions without stopping, to encourage continuity of work.

The horse works through the course for approximately seven to eight minutes. The lines, turns, and landings on both reins, combined with stride adjustments, gradually develop the horse's relaxation and focus.

Repeating the exercise without chasing performance helps the horse unwind both mentally and physically. Gradually, it becomes more in tune with the rider's aids and gains confidence, until it flows naturally into the movement.

✨ Maxime's 3 winter essentials

🤍 Winter training through the eyes of Mado Pinto

Winter training is a fundamental stage in a horse's development. For her, it spans an average of three to four months at the end of the season. It's an essential time to take stock of each horse: assess their level, identify their strengths and determine the areas for improvement or new skills to develop over the winter.

Based on these objectives, she puts in place a tailored training programme, to support consistent and lasting progress. This period also allows her to spend more time at the yard, offering the opportunity for more regular work with the young horses, who are not yet competing.

Winter is also a time for recovery. Horses enjoy a few days of rest, particularly over the Christmas holidays. This break allows her to structure the work in two phases: reviewing progress already made and defining the final objectives to work on before the start of the new season.

✨ Mado's 3 winter essentials

Conclusion

Winter training may not be immediately visible, but it is fundamental to the success of the following season. It builds strength, develops suppleness and engagement, while preserving the horse's mental wellbeing and health.

A well-structured winter gives horses a solid foundation, greater consistency, and the best possible preparation for the season ahead. For the rider, it's also a valuable opportunity to analyse, observe, and refine their work while deepening the bond with each horse.

In short, winter is the season of quiet but essential groundwork, preparing horses and riders to perform at their best.