All the 9 - 5 ers out there...

katie_southwest

katie_southwest

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Do you just ride at the weekend in the winter?
Im looking to go 9 - 5 instead of shift work so horsey can have a routine properly in the winter but am worried that il only be able to ride at weekends as we havent got a school...I suppose realistically if its bad weather Id only ride a couple times a week anyway (being a fair weather rider and all)
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I couldn't have a horse if I didn't have a school in the winter - I've also got a TB who's quite fit now so couldn't leave him 5 days without being ridden!

If your horsey is ok without being ridden in the week go for it, otherwise you'll need a school......
 
She hasnt got to be kept fit for anything and she doesnt really get silly if shes not ridden all the time so i guess it should be fine..only thing would be to box somewhere an evening a week maybe to an indoor school or something..
 
I am not a 9-5 er but i sacrificed my lovely livery facilities to have our horses at home with no facilities just lovery stables and grazing. Horses get exercised approx twice a week in winter. But get all round turnout. I think it can be done quite easily. My gelding hadnt been ridden properly for four months and went out and won his hunter class and then championship the other week
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I work 8.30 -5pm so in the winter i have to rough it in the school through the week.. yes in the freezing cold and sometimes snow/rain.. we hack on the weekend..
 
I'm a 9-5 er (well half 6 most nights!) and have a silly Arab that I only ride at the weekends, you just need to pray the weather isn't hellish both days
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Not sure id be able to do it without facilities, but I work full time and I get my horse fit for eventing through riding in the week and weekends. However, we have a floodlit school which is a godsend!!!
 
I only ride at the weekends in winter unless I go to riding club in the evening. I have no school but they live out 99% of the time and I don't find they lose that much fitness tbh if they are fit going into winter. I sometimes ride around the surrounding fields in the dark for half an hour or so.
 
I only really ride at the weekends in the winter - but I do find that I will keep a handful of days off to take afternoons off in the depths of winter to get a few extra rides in! I can't imagine how I manage to end up with no holiday days to actually go on holiday with!
 
Luckily, we have a floodlit school so in the winter I am very lucky and can keep schooling my horse during the week.

However, it IS light enough to squeeze in a ride in the morning before work so sometimes I can get a quick hack in (30-45mins) or go in the school.

And if it's raining.... what's a bit of water?! You can get dry again!
 
Now I've got an arena at home, in winter I ride every day (except if it's sleeting etc) using a floodlight on a long extension. I have to tie it to the fence with baler twine if it's windy or it falls over & the bulbs go. I try to schedule indoor lessons for midweek so I know I'll def be able to ride whatever the weather.

Before I got my school, I slithered around on grass using a floodlight. I used to hire an indoor school once or twice a week. When I was on DIY, I used to ride early before work to make the most of the light & arranged to start work later.

Where there's a will & all that... But sometimes I feel as if I'm the only mental person riding in the dark & the rain by the light of a floodlight that's swaying about...
 
Just to add, riding in the mornings works!! I hack out at about 6am, with lots of reflective stuff on for the short amount of roadwork I have to do
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I work longer hours than 9-5 (including some weekends), so at least once a week I try to box over to an arena with lights in the winter. If I can't get to ride at least once a week I pay someone to ride him in the day. So far that's only been 3 times, but it keeps him ticking over.
 
Yeah I suppose i could squeeze a half hour in before work actually..didnt think of that! I suppose you just do whatever you can really..its worth it to finally get evenings off though!
 
I only ride at weekends, but if pone needs to get fit, for say, hunting, I lunge her twice a week...usually in the mud!

Can only do that if the grounds' relatively dry though.

It's really frustrating.

I does mean that at the weekends, whatever the weather - I ride in it!
 
Yep, generally just weekends although fortunately my mum can hack mine out so keeps him ticking over during the week. Can use a nearby livery yard's school but involves mum/dad/someone following in car for the few hundred yards there. With any luck one day will get a school put in that'd be a godsend!
 
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