An Equestrian’s Autumn Bucket List

Put on your sweater and grab your pumpkin latte, cause fall is officially here! Fall is one of my favorite seasons, I love the colors, the favors, and the weather that invites me to saddle up and go for a ride. Something else I love are lists! Lists create clear goals and concrete them in writing, so you can keep track of your information and aspirations. So in celebration of lists and these few wonderful months of the year, I thought it would be fun to create a little Bucket List of fun fall themed activities to do this season with your horse! Join me as I make it my mission to check all my Autumn Bucket List boxes!

• Fall Photoshoot

Not only is fall weather an incentive to send your time outside, but the colors of fall provide a beautiful back drop for pictures! Capture the beauty of your horse (or YOU and your horse!) among the oranges and browns of fall or the soft glow of the autumn sunset. Invite a fellow equestrian or a non-horsey friend to take the pics and have a great time experimenting with the backdrop provided by the outdoors.

• Make Pumpkin Horse Treats

I love the smell of pumpkin, its taste, and the fun my family has picking the round orange vegetable from our pumpkin patch. And this year I am determined to bake as many pumpkin deserts as possible, including ones for my horses!

I had not really thought about horses eating pumpkin before, but I think homemade pumpkin flavored horse treats is a super fun idea and I can’t wait to give em a go! You can check out a recipe idea I found here. If your still wondering if your horse really should be eating pumpkin, check out this post by Pro Equine Grooms titled: Can horses eat pumpkin?

• Go on a Trail Ride

As I am sure you know by now, I LOVE the autumn weather. The warm sun, yet crisp breeze makes a trail ride through the woods or pastures so enjoyable! Trail riding has many benefits for your horse, and it gives you a chance to relax and enjoy the scenery! Whether you plan a trip with a friend or hit the trail by yourself, I sincerely hope you enjoy the fall colors and weather.

More horsey posts: The Benefits of Trail Riding!

• Prepare for the Cold Weather

While this might not measure up to the FUN aspect of this list, getting ready for the cooler weather is an important part of horse maintenance and ownership. In preparation of the weather getting colder, there are some things you can do this fall before the weather really cools off.

-Get rugs/ blankets ready: clean, repair, or purchase new ones if needed.

-Maintenance your paddock: fix fence now and prepare waterers or troughs for the cold weather so that when its zero degrees you can be drinking coco not repairing that fence post you procrastinated on fixing.

-Make sure you stock up on bedding and hay: winter storms can happen unexpectedly make sure you have plenty of hay and bedding to keep your horse happy and healthy through the winter months.

Fall is an enjoyable season for anyone, but I think equestrians can take special advantage of the nice weather and colorful backdrop. I hope this bucket list fills your head with inspiration on how you can spend time with your horse this autumn. *Have fun checking off the boxes, and when you do let me know in the comments or by email!*

Tails & trails,

Reese