Anyone struggling for motiviation and any tips??

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dominobrown

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Is anyone else struggling to get going this time of year? I have just come in from the yard and still have loads to do... my hands are so cold that my touch screen on my phone doesn't recognise them!
I am struggling to get going in the mornings and get motivated... I have 7 to do, all in work but end up leaving my 3 most days though I really need to get going with them. I have struggled with the weather as we had heavy snow on Tuesday and more on Wednesday making riding pretty difficult. I rode 4 on Wednesday then the snow, which was a lovely powder snow changed and started balling up in hooves then flicking my horse's clipped tummy... first time she has ever bronced!
Think I am sick of been cold, sick of short days, though they are lot better... January was an utter slog....
Anyone feel the same and any tips to get motivated...
(to get off here and back out on the yard!)
 
I know the feeling, I am absolutely exhausted at the moment. I’ve noticed that I seem to be getting slower now doing my morning jobs before work, I started the winter being able to get everything done in a half hour window for my two before work (thats feeding, rugging, turning out and then fully mucking out beds, waters, hay and feed buckets washed) but now it’s dragging out to 40, even 45 minutes. After work I am forcing myself to work at least one a night but I do allow myself one evening where I finish off handy and go home, usually Monday.

Nothing to really suggest/add to make life easier for you, other than a nod of solidarity! Spring is coming... I promise!
 
Yes, I'm really struggling at the minute. One of mine needs slowly brought back into work after injury so I'm loathe to take her into the school, but whenever I have time to hack her out it snows or something keeps me late at work so it's too dark...so I just don't ride at all and then get annoyed when people who don't understand the concept of building horses up slowly ask why I'm not taking her into the indoor, floodlit school.
I'm managing slightly better on my other horse, exercising her about 2-5 times a week, but the weather and sporadic work makes her very spooky and sometimes it's so bloomin disheartening.
I feel so guilty for both spending all the money I do on them and not riding, and also for not giving them the exercise that I believe they need. Thankfully they are turned out every day, but still.
I find once I've started and kept going for a few days, it gets easier. And the days are getting longer now, I should technically be able to fit in a hack after work now....except work has gotten crazy and I end up staying late most nights now.
 
I've just taken the pressure off, but I'm able to, I understand not everybody can to the same extent. I only have one and he can cope with a week off without loosing his marbles, and I've just been working him when I actually want to.

Granted the mucking out is making me miserable as sin, and I'm counting down the days until spring 24/7 turnout, but I don't feel guilty about 'just' doing the jobs at the moment.
 
Yep, me too, although I do have the excuse of advancing age (retirement is there for a reason, you slow down lol). All I can say is do a time & motion study on yourself, never go anywhere empty handed and eliminate unnecessary (as in for appearances rather then practical purposes) chores. I stopped removing poo from the swamp many weeks ago and my three's beds are semi deep litter now
 
When I moved the horse home to our new house I promised myself I wouldnt bother riding in the winter if i didnt feel like it. Totally took the pressure off myself and its been an absolute revelation. This is the 2nd winter and I have two. Not longer after the clocks changed the shoes came off and that was it. I hit the gym and did maintenance work as and when i felt like it. A few weeks ago I moved them off land at home to land at work and to be honest I think I will bring them back into work from this field (so everything in the boot of my car) as fields still poached so dont want to take them home yet. Im looking forward to it, I plan to be consistent but if im not .. so what .. its early in the year, I've said no sponsored rides or competition until May so as not to rush them back into work and fitness. Luxury.

As equestrians we put way too much pressure on ourselves and if you dont need to ride them and the weather is pants or your too cold then dont ride them. For me thats the biggest motivator. I cant wait to get back on board :)
 
My two are hacked out twice a week in the winter and that's it. I am retired and they are out most of the time but the mud and wet have been awful. One is in boots so his feet have to be clean and dry before they go on and the other is heavy on shoes so it has been a chance to get him to every 5 weeks before shoeing which has really helped his feet.

Once the weather improves they will get much more work with clinics planned every month but I'm not worrying about it for now.
 
Yup... We have 9 in only on a few hours out each day. Until 3 weeks ago they were out 24/7 but we’re not allowed out now. I have 4 hours of help on weekdays and 3 on weekends but as I leave for work at 7.10 and often get in at 8pm that’s still a chunk to do. I’m not getting in until 11 the days I work until 7pm and have to be out again by 6am. Drowned under with chores let alone working them and no obvious end in sight.
 
well i started to eat a very good breakfast, weetabix, porridge oats 2 spoons, 3 dried apricots, handful of raisins, dried pineapple, sunflower and someother seeds, spirulina, linseed, wheatgrass, sugar and loads of milk, keeps me going all morning.

warm hat, waterproof working gloves,, wellies when necessary, under trousers, imake sure i never get cold, in fact half the time i am too hot.

i make sure every job however small is done in the most efficient or easy manner possible, all short cuts i can, all stables are cleaned out out every day and all horses ridden or lunged, i ride myself a least one sometimes two, but i give myself the weekend off from riding.

i think you should not underestimate what horses take out of you in the winter, and i try not to stress if can`t ride.
 
The only thing I will add to the joining in of solidarity, is please do have a think whether the lack of get up and go is purely cold/mud/winter gloom or if there could be anything else in it.

I've been under investigation for other symptoms, but along the way they discovered I was also deficient in B12 and vitamin D, once I'd had my B12 booster injections I felt so much better, I'm not sure how I was functioning before with what my energy levels were! Just something to bare in mind :).

I'm trying to make myself accept that it's ok to do a bit less and as long as all needs are met it's ok. Both are ok being worked only 3/4 times a week and working myself into the floor will help nothing :o.
 
Today has just been chaos....
Didn't get on the yard mega early but had fed, hayed and watered by 8.30 so thought I would pop to town to do bank and post office and get some important admin done first thing. Stuck behind a tractor all the way to town... might as well of walked there. Went to bank to pay cheques (after faffing for somewhere to park), my card was locked... sorted that.
Next.... post office... closed... must drive to next Village.... great. Stuck in road works getting out of town. Found post office in some obscure Lakeland village. Posted letters..... stuck behind another bleeding tractor all the way home....
Arrived back at yard at 11.30... about an hour and half later than planned. OH needed some help with fencing repairs... took 2 hours, grabbed some lunch....
Back out on yard... going well, getting stuff done....
Man arrives on yard with delivery... well actually no delivery... 18 tonne wagon stuck down lane... carrying very breakable tiles. Follow long drawn conversations that eventually lead to me taking the trailer off the land rover, finding lorry, unloading 650kg worth of tiles into back of landrover (not looking too clever now...) driving very carefully down lane, then unloading 650 kg of very breakable tiles....
Get back to yard work.... now rushing a I have a lesson at 4.30.... leave early to pop to feed merchants...
All going well until stuck in mega roadworks and traffic... late for lesson....
5.45pm- arrive back at yard and finish yard chores by 6.30pm.
Been a long day for getting nothing but the essentials done!!!!!
 
Antw23uk said:
As equestrians we put way too much pressure on ourselves and if you dont need to ride them and the weather is pants or your too cold then dont ride them. For me thats the biggest motivator. I cant wait to get back on board :)
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Absolutely this. Last year I put too much pressure on myself and nearly ended up selling - this year my mindset is different. If I can't ride I do something else: take her for an in hand graze, do some ground work in the yard and that's ok.
My mare is just for pleasure and that's why I'm on a £20 a week basic yard which is also something I have to remind myself often.
Each day is another day closer to spring and my field drying out. Bring it on!
 
This winter is something else.....absolute pits: hate it, hate it, hate it. I am very lucky to have an all weather turnout, but even so we are all fed up with this wet, mucky, grey, miserable ordeal. I have three in, two of them in work, and am lucky if I get a proper session more than twice a week on each. Because it's so wet we have more than normal maintenance work to do on the fencing, can't get any machinery out on the land and the mud is catastrophic. At least it's getting lighter; roll on spring.
 
I keep mine in because I know if I had to walk across the field then wash them off riding just would not happen. I Ride six days a week sometimes its windy most times very cold. I wear two coats a fluorescent workman type and under it I can fit my hacking jacket I feel too hot most of the time.

Ride first muck out later and don't hang around this time of year talking
 
AlexHyde said:
The only thing I will add to the joining in of solidarity, is please do have a think whether the lack of get up and go is purely cold/mud/winter gloom or if there could be anything else in it.

I've been under investigation for other symptoms, but along the way they discovered I was also deficient in B12 and vitamin D, once I'd had my B12 booster injections I felt so much better, I'm not sure how I was functioning before with what my energy levels were! Just something to bare in mind :).

I'm trying to make myself accept that it's ok to do a bit less and as long as all needs are met it's ok. Both are ok being worked only 3/4 times a week and working myself into the floor will help nothing :o.
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I was just about to say this. Since addressing my Vitamin B & D levels, I'm up ths first time my alarm goes off, I'm much more positive thinking, I've the energy to ride 3-5 times a week as well as rowing & a Pilates class and the general un-horsey stuff at thexweekends.

Before, I was just about making it to the yard, doing my jobs and going home after work.
 
I currently keep mine at livery and ride after I've mucked out, but recently been losing the motivation due to being absolutely frozen and fed up with the bad weather, but today was a nice sunny day (for once), yard was quiet and after schooling went for a little hack up the road and back in the sun. Reminded me of how nice it actually is in the summer and how much I love riding (and the pony was in a good mood for once which helped), so don't give up and keep remembering it'll be summer soon!
 
Ride first, jobs second. Else you do your jobs then run out of steam and leave riding until another day. Admittedly possibly not so easy if you have a yard full to do.
 
Dave's Mam said:
Do these vitamin levels need to be checked by a GP, or can you just try some supplements & see if that works? I'd love to not feel knackered all the time!
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There is a very good group on Facebook "Vitamin D deficiency" who will tell you that GPS are hopelessly under informed when it comes to vitamin D levels (and probably B12 as well). The minimum level you need is 125nmol/l but most GPs will say you are okay at 50. Worth joining the group if you are on FB, otherwise The Vitamin D Council from USA
 
Dave's Mam said:
Do these vitamin levels need to be checked by a GP, or can you just try some supplements & see if that works? I'd love to not feel knackered all the time!
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Blood test is needed to see if you’re deficient, in my case I don’t absorb things properly so supplementation wouldn’t work for me. Talk to your GP about your energy levels, it’s silly what we just put up with!
 
Dave's Mam said:
Do these vitamin levels need to be checked by a GP, or can you just try some supplements & see if that works? I'd love to not feel knackered all the time!
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I mentioned at a recent appointment that I felt worn out when I woke up! Aching weak muscles, joint pain. Doctor tested and found me very deficient in vitamin d. I have some prescribed tablets, but Facebook groups and even government advice is that most people will probably be low and need supplementation.

I do feel quite a lot better already
 
Hmmm I have been making an effort to eat more steak...
I had a vegan Christmas and due to circumstance haven't had much red meat etc so I think I might be a bit defiencient in vit B. Also soya makes me feel like death.

Right going to get the riding dine first....
Except today... bale force winds and heavy rain..... kill me now....
 
chaps89 said:
Ride first, jobs second. Else you do your jobs then run out of steam and leave riding until another day. Admittedly possibly not so easy if you have a yard full to do.
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I find it's the other way round! Absolutely hate getting off knackered and then thinking Eurgh, still need to muck out and do hay! So much nicer to get off, stick them back in the stable and ****** off home to the warm.

Never been so fed up of winter before.
 
My OH’s birthday is the eighth of January and I reckon the six weeks after that are the worse time to have a horse when I was competing I had to get my head down and work because the horse would be competing by the second week in March .
But now I do still do stuff but I just know if I am finding it a struggle it’s because of the time of year and I just look forward to March when I know it gets easier .
 
Another one who’s Vit D deficient, also been prescribed supplement by GP. I’ve not found it’s made any difference but it’s more likely my aches etc are fibromyalgia.

I’ve found this winter really hard but at least we are near spring now. Can’t wait to stop feeding hay etc.
 
Supertrooper said:
Another one who’s Vit D deficient, also been prescribed supplement by GP. I’ve not found it’s made any difference but it’s more likely my aches etc are fibromyalgia. .
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Chances are you are still too low and what you have been prescribed is nowhere near enough. Most people need 10,000iu per day to improve levels, 5,000 to maintain them - along with vitamin k and magnesium to enable it to be properly absorbed.

There is a link between fibromyalgia and Vit D deficiency
 
Goldenstar said:
My OH’s birthday is the eighth of January and I reckon the six weeks after that are the worse time to have a horse when I was competing I had to get my head down and work because the horse would be competing by the second week in March .
But now I do still do stuff but I just know if I am finding it a struggle it’s because of the time of year and I just look forward to March when I know it gets easier .
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This made me chuckle slightly, my birthday is also the 8th of January and you are absolutely right, its the start of the worst bit of the year and I always feel horribly tired and depressed just in time for my birthday then feel worse cos I should be all yay happy birthday etc and I'm always just meh.

Also when I used to get presents they would always be unwanted Christmas presents, often wrapped on left over Christmas paper. :lol: Better than a birthday actually on Christmas day I suppose but by the 8th no-one wants to go out anymore and everyone is skint too. :lol:

I'm taking some vitamin D and a multivitamin at the moment and I do think it has helped. But this winter just feels like it has lasted forever despite the weirdly warm start to it we had.
 
It’s the weather that’s really getting me down at the moment. I’m still managing to ride about 4 times a week but it’s seriously challenging right now. I just hate the rain and the cold and I have to drag my sorry old a** out and force myself to do it. I feel like this every winter or at least I have for last 10 or so years, but this winter the rain has been relentless and I’m sick and tired of getting p*** wet through frankly! OP you’re definitely not alone looking at the other replies on here! Roll on spring!😃
 
I was prescribed metformin as I am diabetic it destroyed my ability to absorb Vit B12 so now I have injections every 12 weeks I am also deficient in D but supplements take care of that. Was diagnosed with fibromyalgea 25 years ago still in pain a lot but it is the tiredness I hate as It also means I cant sleep. Motivation for doing things isnt easy but I am looking forward to Spring I say every year I cannot remember it being so wet but I guess I just forget as we have less mud this year than last as we did something about it recently put in a new picket gate which means we can use the road rather than the walkways to push barrows and walk the horses
 
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