Bit of advice needed (not sure if this is in the right place)

[sj_xc_hannah_]

the last 4 or 5 months have been a bit wobbly for me, which means i have not been able to compete, due to horse injury, then not being fit, and then we had a lot of trouble moving yards and in the end we had to move twice, and ending up at a yard we used to be at. but the problem is that it doesn't really have a school, but it has a lovely big field which is nice to ride in, though of course now the ground is getting mushy its getting harder to ride on, and the horses are going to be in there during the day soon.

I have not been without a school before, and i'm a bit unsure of how able we will be to compete and school if i only have a field or hacking. I am also only 15, and so am still at school and it is going to be getting darker in the evenings so it is going to be harder to do things before it gets too dark.

The school we do have, although indoors, is only big enough to trot in, so does not do much good to train in.

So i was just wanted to know how other people get on when they don't have lights and the best place to ride on, do you not compete, or what do you do out hacking? etc just any advice please.

Thanks

 

[catembi]

When we were at DIY, I used to ride early as that's the best time for it to be light/semi light. I had direct access to 2 off road circular routes so could hack out in semi dark, fog etc. If the ground was poo, I used to hack out to save the field, & try to keep to a trot & have a canter or 2, ground permitting, for fitness. If the field was okay, I'd school.

Now the horses are at home, I ride after work. Atm I hire a local indoor school & box there once or twice a week if it's wet. I've just bought 2 floodlights on tripods (£16 each from Screwfix) & a massive extension lead so I can school in the dark. Luckily my horse isn't spooky. I hack or compete at weekends & also do weekly lessons alternating between dr & sj so I get to ride on a surface at least once a week.

I can keep my horse fit enough to bsja/bd like that. We are in the final stages of getting approval for a school, so hopefully this will be my last winter of slithering about on grass trying to practise dr!

 

[SpruceRI]

I've never had a school so make the most of dry moonlit evenings to ride for a bit, though these days I can't be bothered!

I lunge twice a week where ever there's a dry patch of ground, and I need girlie fitter, and that along with hacking and competing at the weekends makes her fit enough for hunting. If we're just doing Dressage or Indoor SJ, I find that riding at weekends is enough to keep the fitness.

I have a pony, so she's pretty stable on lumpy, slippy going.

If you've got an indoor ring you can trot in, then you can do some pole work, transitions, or lunge in it I presume?

Also, you probably get home earlier from school, than I do from work, so could catch the half-light for a quick whizz round the field?

Use the weekends to your advantage, to go for long hacks, hire a school, have lessons and compete. And maybe only do the serious comps when you've had half term or school hols to up the schooling a bit so your comps aren't wasted

 

[Gucci_b]

i was in the same boat as you two, at my own yard, great hacking, but not so good to ride in my field, so i thought i would build a mane'ge got permission ect ect, 1/2 way though the build i left it, and shall carry on after winter, so i have moved to a yard (just till next spring) and they have a school, x-country ect ect.. and loving it.. would not want to be without a mane'ge now... and elic and good company....

 

[Baggybreeches]

I am very lucky, I work flexibleish hours and I have a floodlit school at home, but before I had the lights I did the same as catembi with the portable work lights. I wouldnt really worry too much if you can ride most nights with a fair amount of trotting then you should be fine to carry on competing, mine are mostly hacked out in between competitions so they stay fresh.

 

[applestroodle]

why dont u try lunging mayb twice a week in the little school and then ride properly on the weekends, winter will be over soon!! its not ideal but leat keep u ticking over