News | 14 January 2026

NAF’s Top Tips on How to Keep Your Pony Happy and Healthy this Winter

Winter can feel long and chilly for all of us, and our ponies feel it too! Shorter days, muddy fields and icy roads can make riding tricky, but there are still loads of fun ways to keep your pony happy, healthy and busy until spring arrives.

Try Somewhere New to Ride

If your field or arena is too wet or icy, why not hire a local school? It’s even better with friends – you can share the cost and make it a fun outing. Set up a little polework session, practise jumps, or play “Chase Me Charlie”! Riding somewhere new also helps your pony get used to different places, which is great practice for shows and rallies in the future.

Teach Your Pony a New Trick

If the weather stops you riding, you can still exercise your pony’s brain. Training with treats, clickers and praise is a brilliant way to help them learn new skills.
Just like us, ponies find thinking hard work, you might spot yours yawning or licking and chewing afterwards as they relax!

You can teach simple things like touching a target or lowering their head on cue. These sessions are short, fun and perfect for rainy days.

 

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A Fun Game: Rug or No Rug?

Did you know ponies can be trained to tell you whether they want a rug on or not? Scientists have shown that horses can learn to touch symbols meaning “rug on”, “rug off”, or “no change”.
Horses in a study usually chose rugs only when it was cold, wet and windy, and preferred no rug when the weather was mild or warm. They often picked “no rug” far more than their owners expected!

It’s a brilliant reminder that ponies often stay warm naturally and over‑rugging can make them sweaty, move less, and increase the risk of obesity.

Make Stable Time More Interesting

Ponies move much less when stabled, so it’s important to keep them busy:

  • Split their hay between two or three small piles or nets around the stable. This encourages them to walk a little rather than stand still.
  • Use treat balls or forage toys to make feeding more fun and encourage natural foraging behaviour.
  • Try scent games by hiding carrot pieces or treats in their hay or toys. Ponies have amazing noses and love searching for snacks!

Turnout Time

Even in winter, most ponies are happier having time outside with their friends. Turnout helps them stretch, move, play and keep their digestion working well.

Just make sure fields are managed carefully to avoid too much mud, and keep a consistent routine where you can as sudden changes can upset their tummy or behaviour.

Daily Health Checks

Don’t forget the basics!
Run your hands over your pony every day, check under rugs, look at their droppings and pick out their feet. These small checks help you spot problems early.

For more information on caring for your horse or pony, visit NAF’s website.