Anyone given up for the Winter

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canteron

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Oh, I am so tempted. The wind, the rain, the mud, the frost, the frozen arena - everyday there is something that makes it questionable whether to ride - though generally once on board I am happy, but the horror of leaving the fire, saying no to so many other things so I can get wet, cold and dirty. I have ridden for the past 17 Winters, maybe its time to take one off?

Anyone here sensible and throwing in the towel until Spring?
 
Yep, as of two weeks ago pony will be a fat fluffy mud monster until Spring! He enjoys, I enjoy it, everyone's a winner! Plus he's a bit of a plank if not in consistent work so for the sake of about 15 rides I'd rather not have the battle with him!
 
I don't think it's worth the risk of injury trying to ride on unsuitable ground conditions. Frozen rutted tracks, black ice along roadsides, getting soaked to the skin etc aren't my cup of tea. My lot do the odd hack when the weather is good, but we mostly treat winter months as well deserved downtime.
 
Yep, mine get ridden every other week on a hack if they're lucky.. I have no arena yet people with arenas that aren't frosted over take them for granted and complain that it's outside and whatever.. how much I would DIE for an arena.. any arena! They are moving to a place with a bridle path on 21st so one of them will be ridden up the fields so she is fit for next season.
 
I've not totally given up, but it's just too much like hard work to bother. Yesterday morning the intention was to hack out, but then it started snowing and the roads would have been slippy. This morning the roads were icy. School is frozen. Its now started to snow here as well. I just can't be bothered!
 
Every winter I think 'thats it - I'll pack it in 'til spring', and every winter I keep going. It's the thought of doing it thats hard, but when you're actually on board and riding, it's fine.....
 
Not exactly given up, but not doing much tbh. And it's not that I have excuses because I'm lucky to have access to a very nice indoor school, but a lot of mud, plus a very hairy highland equals a bit too much effort to be bothered some times. My boy is on maintenance work over the winter and we'll get back in the groove in the spring. Luckily, he's fine with that!
 
I ride if I feel the urge during the winter, but don't feel any guilt if I don't. Alf is 18 next year, and semi-retired due to chronic issues, so we have the odd bounce round the block if I'm feeling inspired, but he doesn't need to be worked. He's very consistent - just as naughty when ridden every day as he is if I don't ride him for a month!
 
I do short rides at weekends weather permitting (10 min school or half hour hack but he is only a baby) first time I haven't felt bad if I don't ride :)
 
I had planned to stop riding from next January until March/April as I am having surgery in the new year. However, I've had croup, a bad chest infection and now I've developed pleurisy. So they've been roughed off for a couple of months already. I don't think I'll be riding any time soon as I'm not getting any better. Somewhat jealous of the people I see hacking out on sunny days like today, but don't miss it when the weather turns bad!
 
I wasn't going to because I've only just got my boy and was planning to spend the winter getting to know him, and I can ride in daylight because I'm self-employed, but I am now as I've broken my hand! Best laid plans and all that... My friend at the yard sat on him for me today in prep for his saddle check on Monday, and she might walk him out for me a few times when she has time and he's dry enough to tack up, but apart from that he's in a field fluffily stuffing his face until Feb, when my rehab will be over!
 
Yep, every year around this time we have a little break. I still tick over with a lunge a few times a week or he gets above himself, and maybe a hack out if I feel like it, but generally there is no pressure.

This year I have even taken his shoes off!
 
I try and keep them vaguely ticking over so they don't lose too much tone but mostly ground work, lunging etc, maybe a few rides, and let them be muddy horses. If the ground isn't suitable I agree that not worth risk. Just moved my boys and no longer have the floodlit arena so suspect this winter will be even more of a break than usual
 
I think it also has a lot to do with what your turnout is like. If you have acres and acres of roaming and there is a herd environment then winter off is a doddle. The horses can keep a certain level of fitness when they can roam around doing what horses do.

However, it's so much harder if you keep horses on livery where turnout is strict and constrained to very few acres then its much harder as the horse doesn't get much natural exercise. Then, you kind of have to keep up a certain level of work to keep them fit over winter, otherwise come the spring you have a tough job getting back to fitness.
 
one has just come back into work and im worried about braking him again so he is on twice a week walk/trot work for about 30 minutes with a few lateral movements to help him loosen up. the other has broken himself again so is off till his next scan date (for a totally different injury) in jan. the tb is my sisters and my other one is retired and with the unbacked baby with winter is going to be a mild one when it comes to riding.....though I never feel guilty not riding as much in winter. its supposed to be enjoyable.
 
Actually, winter is the only time I have to train and ride for myself - the horses work all summer doing displays so must be kept ticking over and happy rather than learn new stuff or push the envelope. I rather like the frost (arena is rubber so doesn't freeze, luckily), and there are NO FLIES!
 
Mines going out on 30 acres with 14 others as of next Sunday. He will be picked back up end of Feb time probably. Hes a rising 5yr old and a break will do him good. It will do me good as well, and is something I might well do every year from now onwards. I wont miss mucking out in minus temperatures and driving rain thats for sure :lol:
 
Shoes off on Monday! So busy at work, I haven't sat on my five year old for three weeks, did take the old boy out for half an hour bareback this afternoon though. If the weather permits I will occasionally hack out for 30 mins but it won't be more often than fortnightly until March really. I hate winter, it sucks.
 
Nope! If anything I'm doing more now than I was in the summer. Have been relentlessly pushing on with Millie's rehab for check ligament which is daily hacking 1-2 hours (in the morning before it gets light) and keeping project pony progressing so she is ready to go to shows in the spring.

I'm feeling incredibly determined and motivated - new waterproof breeches and warm riding boots has helped enormously ;)
 
Not by choice but numpty horse had op on 25th November and is on yard rest till 12th Jan, 4 weeks to go, then it will be gradual return to work so fingers crossed fit and ready for spring fun although gutted to miss out on hunting. Went out with lovely friend on her mare today, was nice to be riding again but think going to feel it tomorrow. .
 
I'm going to try to keep my 5 year old ticking over until the beginning of jan, not doing much, just bits and pieces but it turns out that I'm nearly 4 months pregnant so once he's off that's it until prob about July! I would stop riding now but kind of feel I need to make the most of it now while I still can, and although 6 months off isn't ideal he has done a lot this year and I don't think it will harm him. My older horse has had about a month off and me and my mum will start him off over the Christmas period and then try to keep him ticking over between us until I don't want to ride anymore..... Winter sucks! I hate the dark, the wet and the mud, I have mine at home which is lush but means I have no facilities and a water logged clay field. So doing anything productive requires a trailer ride which cba to do after work. Bring on the sun!
 
Yep! I am home now for uni holidays, 300 miles from my horse! Luckily he is being looked after by the fab yard staff, and the break really does him good - he comes back rested and working well. He'll come back into work in January and I'm aiming for our first event in late April.
 
I give up riding my own from October - March every year. They are show horses. There are no shows in winter thus they have no need to be in work. That's my excuse and I am sticking to it! Plus I have no where to ride, it's dark when I go to work, dark when I get home and I get soaked riding out all day so the last thing I want to do is tack up in my lovely leather tack and get another drenching! Praise the lord for synthetic tack for work!
 
Give me a day like today over any fly filled summer one, so no not me! Still intending to have her under saddle at least 4 times per week, I LOVE these dry sunny days. Of course if it's raining horizontally then I'll wait for it to stop but generally I think it's possible to get out there most weeks, keeps ,e and her sane!
 
I've definitely lost my 'mojo' when it comes to riding at the moment. I'm averaging one hack every 7 to 10 days, I normally ride 4 times a week.
 
So glad to hear this, on a yard full of super keen winter riders & I can't find my motivation . I have cheated and someone else is riding her a couple of times a week. I will be back on board come January
 
canteron said:
Oh, I am so tempted. The wind, the rain, the mud, the frost, the frozen arena - everyday there is something that makes it questionable whether to ride - though generally once on board I am happy, but the horror of leaving the fire, saying no to so many other things so I can get wet, cold and dirty. I have ridden for the past 17 Winters, maybe its time to take one off?

Anyone here sensible and throwing in the towel until Spring?
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Nope to me when you own a horse(s) you comit to them full time through wind-rain-sleet-hail. I ride-care for them in what ever nature throws this way.
If too hard i go into indoor school - if raining I have water proofs the horses have water proofs. Hubby said you riding???? I say yes why? he says well its raining - I say AND!!!!!!
 
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