Any Frosty Second Weekend of Jan Plans?

[SaddlePsych'D]

I suspect this may be a small-ish thread with the ongoing frozen conditions! How is everyone getting on?

The RS arena had a dusting of snow and a bit firm though not frozen solid; so we had a walking only lesson which tbh suits me as I think last week the cold air got to my lungs and since then LC symptoms seemed to kick back up. It's been a weird on-off week with energy levels and 'oop I think I've got a cold, oop no now it's gone again'.

A walk lesson maybe sounds boring but it really wasn't at all - I really enjoyed it and it was sooooo educational!

We did loads (serpentines, figure 8s, 10m circles, teardrop shapes, turn on the forehand, leg yields, transitions) and it gave me a chance to really feel how to use my leg and seat aids properly. Who knew 'do less' would be so effective?! I have heard the concept of less forward horses needing less leg and today I think I got the feel for that.

The very little bits of stretching and strengthening exercises I have managed to do, seem to have made a difference as it just physically felt so much easier to relax my legs down. Then I wasn't in the 'use legs, get tired, grip, block horse, use legs more' vicious cycle and both of us had an easier job. Hurray for things clicking into place!

 

[Alibear]

It's my birthday tomorrow. It is a rubbish time of year for a birthday, but following the theme for this thread, I shall be having a walk lesson in a frozen arena. At least it means I get to ride, so I'm happy about it.
I'll probably do some in-hand/liberty work again in the walk on Sunday.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Happy birthday Alibear!!

Not even riding this weekend, far too cold and frosty!!

Stay safe everyone!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

It's my birthday tomorrow. It is a rubbish time of year for a birthday, but following the theme for this thread, I shall be having a walk lesson in a frozen arena. At least it means I get to ride, so I'm happy about it.
I'll probably do some in-hand/liberty work again in the walk on Sunday.

Ooh happy birthday for tomorrow!

 

[hazel25]

Happy birthday @Alibear !

Not many exciting plans for this weekend - all arenas frozen solid so not very much we can actually do! Will probably just be doing some in-hand things, maybe a bit of riding in walk if I feel up to it. This cold weather and frost is just rubbish!

 

[millitiger]

My arena has been fine and rideable, even in these low temperatures. Not even needing any harrowing! Very thankful.

We were meant to be at dressage Sunday, which has cancelled sadly but expected.
So perhaps a lunge and some poles tomorrow and schooling Sunday.

As it's a quiet one now, I'll catch up on some tack cleaning and trim manes and tails etc.
I'll leave clipping again until it's a bit warmer!

 

[tda]

Waiting for the thaw

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Waiting for the thaw

Hopefully not long now - milder weather coming here on Monday. How is it looking where you are?

 

[tda]

Hopefully not long now - milder weather coming here on Monday. How is it looking where you are?

Still frozen, not as much snow as some but still annoying now. Hoping it will start warming up Sunday

 

[MuddyMonster]

Happy Birthday Alibear

At the start of the week, our forecast was warmer for the weekend and I was hoping to get out for some longer hacks - which all involve hills - sadly, I think it will be too icy. I'm not a fair weather rider but sometimes you just have to accept defeat!

So, looks like we'll be sticking to shorter hacks around the farm, providing the footing is good enough, otherwise now't.

Pony has body worker on Sunday to check in on his progress on returning to work - he was supposed to step up a bit this week, which hasn't happened due to living in Narnia for what feels like forever.

I miss grey skies, drizzle and milder temperatures!

 

[humblepie]

Yard frozen and school frozen. If thaws do some walks, massage pad, grooming etc.

 

[Kunoichi73]

Still on box rest. However, I probably wouldn't have had a lesson this weekend anyway as the RS outdoor school is frozen over.

 

[SEL]

My top field has a spring under it and is so wet it hasn't really frozen solid - so we lunged today. 2 small cobs doing wall of death and 1 "been retired for years" Appy showing the ponies that she still remembers her voice commands and can still canter a circle. They all needed to buck & fart.

I managed to ride for a bit yesterday but in walk. @SaddlePsych'D I think it's the sign of a good instructor to be able to give a good lesson without moving out of walk. I was concentrating on transitions within the walk, turning on haunches and riding squares to really get him listening.

Otherwise my day was spent hauling water and banging my head against a brick wall with the Appy's latest insulin results.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

My top field has a spring under it and is so wet it hasn't really frozen solid - so we lunged today. 2 small cobs doing wall of death and 1 "been retired for years" Appy showing the ponies that she still remembers her voice commands and can still canter a circle. They all needed to buck & fart.

I managed to ride for a bit yesterday but in walk. @SaddlePsych'D I think it's the sign of a good instructor to be able to give a good lesson without moving out of walk. I was concentrating on transitions within the walk, turning on haunches and riding squares to really get him listening.

Otherwise my day was spent hauling water and banging my head against a brick wall with the Appy's latest insulin results.

When I was a teen I had an RI give me such a hard time when I just wanted to walk, saying I was wasting my time I'd paid for. Now I really know she was talking nonsense. Today was honestly one of the most valuable lessons I have ever had. It also just really fun toodling about doing the different shapes and getting in better tune with the horse.

 

[Caol Ila]

I've had this respiratory cold/flu thing of death, everything is an ice rink, and Fin has been off work with some foot stuff. I've been plodding around the arena with Hermosa as much as I can, between bouts of thinking I was going to just pass out and fall off.

Feeling a bit better, and after much faff, we've (me and Mr. Caol Ila) made horse crampons, a project which should hopefully completed by tomorrow so we can go on an easy hack. Then, next week, it will be like 10 degrees and wet, but at least we will have our crampons ready for the next frozen spell.

 

[AthenesOwl]

It’s still going to be freezing here tomorrow, and then thawed on Sunday, so like everyone else, weather will dictate when we’re able to do.

I had planned to hack tomorrow, but I’d really rather get in the arena, so I think I’ll steal the idea of a session just staying in walk. On Sunday, it’ll really depend if I can get into the arena between the riding school lessons. If not, we’ll hack, and at least there should be more options for routes with better weather.

 

[Red-1]

Earlier this week, it was snowman time!

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7456434452042943777

Yesterday, I did a swim in a VERY cold lake.

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7458429026659519777

And today, we did a SJ clinic...

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7458339038232055072

I was really pleased with him as he'd not been ridden since Tuesday, where we just did a little hack. That was good though, as I found a new rider for Rigs!

 

[humblepie]

I've had this respiratory cold/flu thing of death, everything is an ice rink, and Fin has been off work with some foot stuff. I've been plodding around the arena with Hermosa as much as I can, between bouts of thinking I was going to just pass out and fall off.

Feeling a bit better, and after much faff, we've (me and Mr. Caol Ila) made horse crampons, a project which should hopefully completed by tomorrow so we can go on an easy hack. Then, next week, it will be like 10 degrees and wet, but at least we will have our crampons ready for the next frozen spell.

Glad you feeling better, some horrible things doing the round.

 

[SEL]

When I was a teen I had an RI give me such a hard time when I just wanted to walk, saying I was wasting my time I'd paid for. Now I really know she was talking nonsense. Today was honestly one of the most valuable lessons I have ever had. It also just really fun toodling about doing the different shapes and getting in better tune with the horse.

When my pssm Appy was still in work I tried to organise lessons with the proviso that if she was feeling stiff they'd need to be in walk. Even instructors with a lot of letters / experience struggled whereas one trainee BHS lady just shrugged and said let's spend 45 mins on suppling exercises in walk and see how she does. Quite well actually and a very good lesson!

 

[Cloball]

I do quite a lot of work in walk at the moment and when my confidence wasnt great. Doesn't seem far to drag out of the field 1-2 times a week and expect 45 mins of walk trot and canter.

I've had this respiratory cold/flu thing of death, everything is an ice rink, and Fin has been off work with some foot stuff. I've been plodding around the arena with Hermosa as much as I can, between bouts of thinking I was going to just pass out and fall off.

Feeling a bit better, and after much faff, we've (me and Mr. Caol Ila) made horse crampons, a project which should hopefully completed by tomorrow so we can go on an easy hack. Then, next week, it will be like 10 degrees and wet, but at least we will have our crampons ready for the next frozen spell.

I'm on week 3 and only just stopped coughing up gunk and am able to titrate my inhaler back down. I managed 15 mins on Monday before the hail peed is both off, this weekend will be a right off I think I had a hack planned Thursday (snow) and a lesson today (ice) might manage something tomorrow who knows

 

[Accidental Eventer]

I schooled the old fellow today. He doesn’t get much arena work at all, it’s not his favourite, but the dog had decided she was a farm dog and was having a good sniff/eating poo/rolling in poo/swimming in the dam and I couldn’t bring myself to ruin her fun. So we rode at home and he was super. Really motivated and felt great considering he’s 22 next week. I only did 20 minutes, but it’s put my mind at ease a bit and now I’m all excited to do more endurance this year with him!

 

[j1ffy]

I got back from two weeks in Costa Rica on Friday, 30 degrees to -3 on landing was a shock to the system! We had an amazing time, mixing up rain / cloud forest walks with zip lining, canyoning, climbing...and some beach / pool time at the end.

Sammy went back to his owner for two weeks, they had a lovely time together. I negotiated the fog and ice yesterday to drive him back but everything is still frozen solid, so I think we'll be doing a gentle session in the smaller school today as that tends to thaw fastest. Hopefully we can get back in the decent arena in the next couple of days, it's forecast to go up to 10 degrees this week!

 

[millitiger]

I had a lesson today with a new trainer, which was a bit of a last minute decision.

It was brilliant!
Working on the basics, using transitions to test the correct responses and expecting him to hold his own frame.
Where I've tried to be 'nice' and 'pretty' in my riding, I've actually got a bit niggly with hands and heels and he's got a bit ignorant to me.
Having the confidence to be a teeny bit stricter about getting the right response, magically created a lovely through, supple, contact.
Which in turn meant he was way more in front of the leg as wasn't blocked in the neck, which made the lateral work easier without actually working on it.

Very happy I've braved changing it up with some new eyes.

 

[AthenesOwl]

I ended up doing a combination of groundwork and then work in walk on Saturday in a frozen arena, and then a gentle hack in walk on frozen ground on Sunday. The thaw had theoretically arrived, but the ground was like permafrost.

It was actually helpful having a no pressure session in the arena. Curly had be a bit spooky, and hadn’t been in that particular outdoor school before, so it helped to desensitise him to it before we use it for a lesson. Plus he got to see the yard donkeys, who he’s very wary of, in a different context.

All in all, a decent weekend despite the freezing temperatures.

 

[Boulty]

I've had this respiratory cold/flu thing of death, everything is an ice rink, and Fin has been off work with some foot stuff. I've been plodding around the arena with Hermosa as much as I can, between bouts of thinking I was going to just pass out and fall off.

Feeling a bit better, and after much faff, we've (me and Mr. Caol Ila) made horse crampons, a project which should hopefully completed by tomorrow so we can go on an easy hack. Then, next week, it will be like 10 degrees and wet, but at least we will have our crampons ready for the next frozen spell.

Heya do you have any pics of what you concocted & is it possibly turnout safe? I’m trying to think of options to give mine a bit more grip when it next freezes that he also hopefully can’t use as another way to injure himself!

 

[Caol Ila]

The crampons worked for hacking. I really can't be a*rsed wrestling with posting a video on HHO, but if you stalk me on FB, I put a video there.

Mr. Caol Ila drilled studs (Scoot boot and Floating boot studs, but they're basically the same thing) into four Evo boots, 'cause that's the brand that fits the horse.

Because the roads leading to the park were ice-free, I rode barefoot to the park, then attached boots in the carpark. Before taking the road home, we removed boots. This is a faffy way to hack, but you don't want the studs on the roads since it's very bad for their legs (you try walking in crampons on non-icy ground) and wears down the studs. My horse is used to ground tying for mega-faff, so it's not a problem (hah...a week or two ago, I had her ground tied in front of the stable, our SOP when untacking, and another livery approached to ask me something, then she commented, "It's amazing she just stands there! Mine would be off in seconds." I said, "Well, I did train her to do that...")

I would not turn out in them; most riding hoof boots aren't really meant for turnout anyway, and I'd worry about the horse doing something stupid, especially if turned out in company.

 

[SEL]

I saw a Swedish video on Insta where the horse was turned out in studded Scoots. Fascinating but I did wonder about injuries.

Mud is more my issue now. Even mud straps didn't hold them on.

 

[Caol Ila]

I saw a Swedish video on Insta where the horse was turned out in studded Scoots. Fascinating but I did wonder about injuries.

Mud is more my issue now. Even mud straps didn't hold them on.

I think a friend sent me the same video. Like a drafty looking horse on a frozen lake?

I did wonder. Most riding boot manufacturers specify that they aren't for turnout. I guess if you really trust your horse to make good decisions... but does anyone trust any horse that much? Especially when they are in a herd, and all you need is someone else to do something stupid.

 

[SEL]

I think a friend sent me the same video. Like a drafty looking horse on a frozen lake?

I did wonder. Most riding boot manufacturers specify that they aren't for turnout. I guess if you really trust your horse to make good decisions... but does anyone trust any horse that much? Especially when they are in a herd, and all you need is someone else to do something stupid.

Yup same video. I think the frozen lake was their arena!

Given my younger cob was on his knees with one leg through the fence to try and reach grass earlier I can categorically say I don't trust them to make good decisions.