22 Fun ‘Non-Riding’ Activities to Do With Your Pony

It’s easy to get caught up in the routine of just riding your horse, but there’s so much more to horse ownership than just that. Building a strong bond with your horse is essential, not only for their well-being but also for yours. Interacting with your horse in different ways, beyond just riding, can help to strengthen your bond and develop a deeper connection with your equine friend. As not everyone gets to ride (family members included), I wanted to explore 22 fun ‘non-riding’ activities that you can enjoy with your horse to help deepen your relationship and add some variety to your horse care routine.

Grooming: Spend some quality time bonding with your pony while grooming them.
Bathing: Give your pony a refreshing bath on a warm day.
Groundwork: Teach your pony some new ground skills like lunging or leading.
Trick training: Teach your pony some fun tricks like bowing or giving kisses.
Agility training: Set up an obstacle course and train your pony to navigate it.
Trail walking: Take your pony for a relaxing walk on a nearby trail.
Tack cleaning: Clean and condition your tack to keep it in top condition.
Horse yoga: Try some horse yoga poses with your pony for a fun and relaxing workout.
Horse massage: Learn some basic massage techniques and give your pony a relaxing massage.
Hand grazing: Let your pony graze while you relax and enjoy the scenery.
Picnic: Pack a picnic and enjoy some quality time with your pony in a beautiful location.
Bathing in the lake: Take your pony for a refreshing swim in a nearby lake or river.
Play with toys: Provide your pony with some toys to play with like a ball or a hanging treat dispenser.
Horse painting: Get creative and paint some fun designs on your pony with horse-safe paint.
Horse photography: Take some fun and creative photos of your pony to share with your friends.
Horse grooming competitions: Organize a grooming competition with your friends and their ponies.
Horse-themed baking: Bake some fun horse-shaped treats to share with your pony and friends.
Horse-themed arts and crafts: Create some fun horse-themed crafts like bracelets or keychains.
Horse movie night: Watch some horse-themed movies with your pony and friends.
Horse-themed games: Play some fun horse-themed games like horseshoes or pin the tail on the pony.
Horse-themed karaoke: Sing some of your favorite horse-themed songs with your pony and friends.
Horse-themed storytime: Read some fun horse-themed stories to your pony and friends.

There are many fun and engaging activities that you can enjoy with your pony outside of riding. These activities not only help to strengthen your bond with your pony but also provide opportunities for exercise, relaxation, and creativity. So, try out some of these activities with your pony and enjoy some quality time together.