Argggh I can't ride. Reassure me it does not matter that much!!

Ambers Echo

Ambers Echo

Still wittering on
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13 October 2017
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Weather is terrible so arena is unrideable and lorry is undriveable as we are at end of long snowy lane.
Last year I had an indoor and never needed to stop work but now I can't ride. 5 days and counting since I last rode Amber. How quickly does a horse lose form and fitness when they can't get out? She has daily turn out on a hill if that helps at all.

I know there is nothing I can do about it so no point stressing but I'd feel better if I knew I was worrying about nothing and a sshort break won't set us back much if at all. Any thoughts?
 
I find this in the winter. I have a useable arena but I hate going in there more than once or twice a week so I tend to ride in the big back field or hack. Weather today is horrendous so I won’t be riding. I don’t do rain, cold and sleet. I used to stress myself out if I had an interruption in our training, but now I just accept its winter and I do what I can until the weather improves. If they end up having a few days off or even a week, it’s a pain, but I just remind myself that I can’t control the weather.
 
i have no arena or lights so I can only ride at weekends, end of. I have a lorry but it;s kept at an unlit yard and though I could get it onto the road to load up, realistically I am up at 5.45 every day, work till 16:30 & I'm too knackered to go through all the rigmarole when I finish work. So I don't (plus my horse is young and not ready for 5 days a week work anyway)
 
I think we take ourselves a bit seriously sometimes, unless you are a pro rider doing it for a living for the average pleasure competition owner it really doesn't matter if our horses have the odd week or two here and there, so long as they are happy enough.

FWIW Boggle had two weeks off, two weeks light hacking, then back hunting and seemed absolutely the same fitness wise....
 
Haha yes you are right I am sure!! Amber is only being prepared for BE90 events not Badminton!! To be honest it's as much me fearing MY loss of confidence if I don't keep riding almost every day. But this is the Year Of Being Positive so it will all be absolutely fine......
 
One you get them fit it takes a lot less than you think to maintain it. My vague plans with mine are to get her fit over the summer then once its too dark to drive after work she will only be exercised 3 times a week, as thats all I can fit in. I fully expect her to maintain a reasonable level of fitness and be competing twice a month on that regime. Probably not quite as strenuous as proper eventing, but the equivalent of a sjing round, jumpcross round x 2 and a dressage test, all pulling a carriage with 2 people in, so not far off!

And dont underestimate that hilly field turnout. Mines out on the only hill in about a 20mile radius and it has made a dramatic and enormous difference!
 
I wouldn't worry, I can never ride every single day any time of year and mine remain fit enough for eventing etc. My mare is currently quite unfit but I take her show jumping once a month and you know what, she's actually FAR more rideable this way! Some horses can just be too fit ;)
 
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