Best motivational tips for winter evening riding

Get changed at work if you can or pop clothes in the car footwell when you're driving to the yard- nothing worse than trying to put on cold breeches! I also have fleece wraparound exercise sheets for the very cold rides, can get them for £20 on eBay.
I find music makes the time go faster so I loose track of how long I've been riding, you can also then try to match the best of the music with your gaits.
Can you ride with a friend? My two horses are very different so we work on riding side by side lengthening and shortening strides to match one another.
Book in for lessons or clinics and make the most of the weekends- do your longer rides then.
Book a session at an indoor arena, many hire out in the evenings, perfect for those wet winter nights.
 
I know this situation well, my last job was in London and saw me arriving at the yard around 6.30pm just in time to see everyone else leaving! Morning riding wasn't an option for me, either, as I had to leave at 7am to get the train. Dark, cold, lonely evenings. Not good for motivation!

I would try not to pressure myself too much, so I would tell myself I only had to ride 3 days during the week. I had (still have) a lesson each Wednesday so I would commit to another 2 days and then pay the yard to hack him. For the weekend, I would try to make plans to get out competing, clinics/lessons or just arena hire. B is on full livery which makes things easier.

My yard has heavily restricted turnout in the winter, so the biggest motivation for me is to make sure B gets out of his stable. When the weather is really bad, they won't go out at all so this is really important. Would be nicer to have all-round turnout, but we cope.

Another tip, don't stop to talk to anyone until after you've ridden. Headphones will help with this. Get out the car, straight to tack room, don't stop until you're on and riding :) good luck! Once you have your routine it'll be easier.

I'm really lucky that my new job is fully WFH and flexi-time; I'm yet to go and ride in the morning/during the day as I like a set routine... but now the clocks have changed, I can see myself opting for morning riding in the near future!
 
I can only ride before work so I keep going until I run out of enough daylight to squeeze a ride in before work and then give up and only ride at weekends when the weather is good enough. This tactic only works though because ponies are not stabled and have a big enough field so do not need the exercise. Downside is that every spring I am faced with getting them both riding fit again.
 
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