Dangerous or am I the wimp?

[elsielouise]

following on from fair weather riders and me not riding today as the weather is so awful.

I was coming back from doing mine and saw two riders two abreast on a narrow blind bend but part of a very fast road. No hats just western style things.

The one on the inside didn't even look behind us as she beckoned us on into the path of an oncoming car (we ignored it).

Both were prancing about a bit and my OH said they were completely iresponsible to be on the roads today (we have great bridlepath access).

I suppose their horses oucld be completely stabled and that's all the excercise they get - I'd have ridden mine if that was the case but they are out 24/7.

Should we all just get out despite the weather conditions or hibernate?

 

[carthorse]

My daughter is very ill in bed so it was all down to me today ,as it has been the past couple of days.
Yesterday I lunged them and took boots home to wash, they are still wet.
Sorry but today it was just put oil in their heels ,warm rugs on and turnout.Muck out do feeds and hay and go home to get warm and dry. It is just too bad and to ride on the road when visability is this bad and unfair on our people.
When is it going to stop, has anyone started building an ark yet?

 

[mattilda]

I was all set to ride but weather turned very windy and rain got quite heavy. Poor light also. Although we are in a rural place some road work is unavoidable and people drive like idiots round our country lanes. Also most cars are fitted with a Christmas tree to their roof these days. Decided against riding on balance!!

 

[helenandshadow]

I hacked out this morning but the weather wasn't as bad then as it is now. I don't really like riding in the rain but she needs exercising and the fields are too wet to ride in. I wouldn't hack if visibility was very poor or she was likely to behave dangerously though especially as we have to go along a busy main road to get to the lanes.

 

[popp]

its snowing in cumbria so no riding for me

 

[metalmare]

It is going to depend on loads of different factors for the individual horse and rider. If it is a pony, used for happy hacking in the summer and very little in the winter other than a gentle plod around on nice days to remind it what riding is, then what is the problem? So long as it is healthy it needn't always be fit! It is the rider's problem if they have to do some re-education in spring. If, however, you do indoor showjumping then you will probably want to stick to your exercise programme and if you don't have access to an arena then roadwork could be your only option in which case dress up and brightly as possible, as always and choose the safest route. how individuals choose to exercise their horses is not for other people to judge without knowing the full situation. So long as your horse is healthy, you take all reasonable precautions if you do hack and you enjoy your riding, be it for pleasure or competition, so what?

 

[JACQSZOO]

I wont hack in strong winds - not because Georgie is silly but because I cannot hear the traffic. On single file windy lanes it is essential to be able to hear the traffic.

 

[splatty]

Havent braved the weather to ride yet, havent been able to ride my new horsey yet due to the weather conditions, so hoping for tomorrow but just seen forecast so not sure now, think theres a conspiracy against me to stop me riding.

 

[Calli]

I am one of the wimps. The roads in Ireland are very fast, for a nation of supposed horse lovers!

So with gales raging and sleet driving, I am sadly not hacking out.

 

[rara007]

We hacked out this morning, with a pair, with lots of hi-vis.

 

[Irishcobs]

I hacked both mine today, in full hi viz gear, with lights. Most of the cars that passed me didn't have any lights on at all.
I don't think I was been irresponsible as mine are good in traffic and with most things that can be thrown at them.
Mine live out 24/7 but need the exercise.

 

[molehill]

My hunter is stabled 24/7,so needs to exersised every day.Not my idea of fun!!!My friend has a horse walker and im so jealous of her!!!!

 

[Pedantic]

I will ride any weather wet windy icey snowy dont care, but only if it's what I want to do and feel up to it, I wouldn't ride on the road if I thought it was dangerous from any perspective, I do ride on the road but only where I have to and consider as safe as riding on any road can be.
His lordship is out 24/7 so I dont have to ride everyday just to exercise him.

 

[molehill]

I would consider riding in icy conditions dangerous

 

[Pedantic]

At the old yard we had a lane which went up and down a bit, it was the only way out to any rides, after snow ect it was like an ice rink, his lordship is very sure footed though and coped with no real problems, yes we slithered about a bit, I used to hate the downhill part comeing back, but as my farrier said "he's got four legs ant he" my pony is rather intelligent and will alter his canter speed himself to suit how slippy it is when out hacking on a wet field.