What am I supposed to do during fall/winter?

What about trail riding? Or maybe you could train your horse to pull a sled. But I would wait until there is a bit less snow to do that... If there is an indoor riding arena, then that could solve your problems...

I'm in the far north of Scotland and have the same problem as it's too wet and icy to ride from October thro March. We don't have an arena or stables, my horses live out 24/7 well rugged & with a field shelter to protect them from the worst of the weather.

So I work on other stuff. Last winter I used the time to practise rein back, turn on the haunches, forehand etc. Keep them in walk, you can get a perfect square halt in just a few sessions. That will stand you in good stead come the showing season! Work on a free walk, try a few obstacles like walking over tarpaulins, use the wind by weaving in and out of balloons tied to jump wings or trees, use the weather to your advantage and get riding your horse through big puddles to acclimatize him to water. Any loading issues can be tackled now, you don't need to go anywhere, just get him up and down the ramp! Look to his manners - can you improve on his ground work? Try a few tricks, get him to stand on a box for a carrot, carrot stretches are good for suppleness, can you get him to bow? Have you ever done a handy pony class? Or a fancy dress? Now is the time to work on this! In and out of gates etc? Get mounted & teach him to open & close gates with you on board! Best of all, use the time to work on your bond together, grooming, feeding, just spending time with him, it will pay off big time when the better weather comes.

All of this can be done in the dark too. Here it's dark by 3pm just now - I get home from work around 6pm, get him brushed, hoof picked etc and then get to work with whatever. Just be sure to vary the routine, it's a case of engaging the brain to keep them switched on and mentally stimulated rather than riding, which would be dangerous on slippy ground. However if you are really wanting to ride, what about fitting studs? not much use on icy roads I admit, or in deep snow, but you could use them for grip when it's just wet and muddy?

haha i hear ya!

well i would just work on halter manners and ground training for now. like work on trailering (rent or borrow one) or make a temporary round pen and use that. or on really warm weekends just hop on bareback and walk/slow jog around in the pasture for a while.

i personally am not really gonna do any major training this winter. i ride when i can and do what i can but during the winter we really aren't riding enough to actually be able to make sense to the horse. like they learn by repeating things and they would need several lessons to learn some things and so it really isn't worth it to start teaching them new stuff now.

when or if you do any showing this winter. hop on the horses like the day before the show to work out any kinks in them and then just go to the show purely for fun! :) if you don't place, fine, just have fun

I wouldn't bother. To travel on the road in the dark and with ice/sludge/snow covered roads. It could be dangerous with traffic. I suggest Shovelling/plowing a pasture where you keep your horses just to keep them in shape. If it is your own property then you can put them on a diet and workout program that will benefit them or you can talk to the people who own the property.