Do you ride in windy conditions?

Trish C

Trish C

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As title. I mean proper wind, not just a breeze. I'll happily ride in rain and blustery conditions, but this wind is brutal :( We've just had a recorded gust of 45.6 mph in our fairly sheltered spot and friend that lives beside the yard said she's recorded well up into strong gale territory.

Haven't ridden Knobberts for a week owing to him throwing shoes then me going away. So I'm feeling really guilty for wimping out today, but the school is very exposed and it's hard to even stand up outside, never mind try to do anything productive with a fresh horse. Hate not being able to ride!

When it's raining horizontally and the seagulls are flying backwards, it's time to bring the washing in ;)
 
Yes, I do. Its blowing a gale here but mine are pretty obliging horses so we carry on as normal. If I'm riding out in weather like we have today,I just tend to avoid riding by trees that may drop branches on us.
 
I think today possibly no. It is really VERY windy and we are in an extremely exposed location. I'm an old lady, the horses aren't being got or kept fit for any special reason and discretion is the better part of valour.
 
I'd rather not but yes I do take him, really depends how bad it is though obviously and where I go, out in the open around the farm land is better than round the village because you tend to get more things blowing about (rubbish, bins, road signs, gates, trees etc) so it's safer to go out of the village, took him out yesterday and he didn't batter an eye lid, but Saturday just round the village he was quite jumpy, although if it was that bad I couldn't even stand up then I wouldn't even think about it, but now we have less light and winter is drawing in plus the fact that he needs routine I try to do what I can now on evenings.
 
I used to, but not any more. Not when the wind is as strong as it is today. I will ride in the wind in the school depending on the horse, as some are just plain stupid in the wind and will pay no attention to you, so what's the point? Also, I am a lot more cautious about preserving my safety nowadays due to running the livery yard and caring for eight horses by myself (my own and part liveries). If I were to break a bone I'd be in deep s**t.
 
Depends.

Hacking? Nope. In a small school outdoor bordered by scary, wavey hedges? No. In our large field with good visibility? Yup (did it yesterday). In our huge, solid timber-sided arena? Yup. In our small indoor school? Yes. It comes down to where Kali and I feel safe and secure. When he's not happy, he's a flipping nightmare . . . running backwards, spinning, rearing, major napping. We are working through it and he's better than he was but there's a limit to what I can expect him to handle while we ARE working through it - wouldn't want to set him (and by association me - I don't handle rearing well) back.

P

Edited to add: actually Kal is far worse in the rain than he is when it's windy - he absolutely HATES the rain in his face and will completely switch off - at least when it's windy he continues to listen to me and is aware I'm even there - when it's raining it's like his brain is on Mars
 
Yes I've ridden in all weathers. Pick a nice sheltered ride and it's fine. Just have to keep ears peeled as you can't hear the cars coming and eyes peeled for stray carrier bags blowing about ;).
 
Yes, I have even brought the horses in at night and moved the ones out of the paddocks with the trees. Must say that I'm dreading bringing them all in in this though. Most of them are complete loons in the wind.
 
Yip I do, only because I know my horse will be fine with it, I'll even ride tonight. The only thing I hate is when its this windy and pouring with rain at the same time, its not fun! But generally I think if I was to go to a comp and it was to be a bit rainy or windy then you still need to get on with it so might as well expose them to it a bit at home.
 
Do I? Yes sometimes but we do have a large wavy hedge next to the school so I expect the mad spooks everytime something moves (i.e. in this wind constantly!). I'd rather ride in the school than hack though when its this bad.
That said I will probably lunge the beast instead.
 
A good mix! :)

No chance of any shelter to ride in here - the hacks are all coastal so VERY exposed to the worst of all weather (and downright dangerous if the wind is this strong and the tide is in, as the waves break onto the roads) and, as I said, our outdoor is very exposed... and bordered by trees come to think of it. You can kind of see in my sig. It's on the top of a hill overlooking the coast, so again gets the worst of the weather. Their field is lovely and sheltered though at the bottom of a hill.

He gets giddy even in perfect conditions when he's had time off, so I just don't think it's worth risking a hit to our confidence/progress... after all, he might have to have another day or two off in this wind, but any damage to my confidence will last much longer than that! If it dies down any I'll do some groundwork, but as it is at the moment it'll just be a nice apple and a pat in the field. Sigh, hello winter!
 
ossy said:
Yip I do, only because I know my horse will be fine with it, I'll even ride tonight.
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My reasons for not riding in strong wind has nothing to do with the horse - it's down to being sensible about the conditions you ride in.

Winds that are strong enough to bring branches down, and debris generally are not winds any of us should be riding in.

To my mind it's simply irresponsible.
 
ameeyal said:
I certanly do, just got back off a very windy ride this morning.
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Ditto! But my horse is old enough to not be a silly billy in the wind, on my previous horse who was more lively, I'd stick to schooling in the paddock on a day like today, which makes me feel rather wimpy TBH. I bet racehorses all get ridden in the wind!
 
Generally yes, but the wind today is something else so no! We ride in a fairly wooded area so it isn't worth the risk imho of branches being brought down (which happens whenever it is v windy). I don't bother with the school either on extremely windy days like this as there are barrels/jump wings/fillers etc at the edge of the school and not in a sep area so every now and then something rolls over or makes a break for it across the school! Makes for rather a more lit up schooling session and I would feel just terrible if my mare got bumped by flying jump parts. A day or two off does no harm so it is a chill out day today!
 
Did this morning, although cancelled lesson (wouldn't have been able to hear) and stuck to schooling in back field (kept away from roads, trees etc), big hairy took it all in his stride and worked well so kept session short. Secured down as much stuff as poss at yard and then came home to veg on sofa!!
 
In conditions like today, no it is not sensible to hack out on the roads in these conditions. You're putting yourself, your horse and other people in danger.

If you're riding in an arena/off roaf hacking etc I wouldn't see it as such a problem.
 
Hadn't even thought of danger of stuff blowing around in arena - we have jump wings/barrels/poles etc. They're fairly heavy but if the winds are going to hit storm force as predicted, it only takes one hard gust.

I've got a lesson on wednesday evening so hopefully it'll have blown itself out by then :)
 
No..not in these conditions. Gusts reaching 50 mph. Have just seen my jumps get blown from the middle of the field across to the end, stopped only by the fence. One mass of jumbled coloured poles and wings!!
 
amymay said:
My reasons for not riding in strong wind has nothing to do with the horse - it's down to being sensible about the conditions you ride in.

Winds that are strong enough to bring branches down, and debris generally are not winds any of us should be riding in.

To my mind it's simply irresponsible.
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TBH there is nothing in and around my arena that could come down on me, no trees, jumps are stored away ect, would I go out hacking in this weather no but will I stay inside all day in fear of being hit my branches if I go out... eh no. It's about making a judgement for you and your horse on your surroundings and knowing your own horse rather than just broad brushing the fact no one should be riding in high wind. So yes my horse is fine with high winds and the noise of winds there is nothing in my arena that could come down on us, do i think I am being irresponsible exercising my horse tonight if I still think everything is safe... eh no
 
amymay said:
My reasons for not riding in strong wind has nothing to do with the horse - it's down to being sensible about the conditions you ride in.

Winds that are strong enough to bring branches down, and debris generally are not winds any of us should be riding in.

To my mind it's simply irresponsible.
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This ^^^ for hacking out or near any trees even on your own land.

I had just come back from the yard this morning and saw a neighbour of mine who looked quite shocked: on the school run she'd seen a full-sized tree crash to the ground right next to a pedestrian with absolutely no warning - a few feet the other way and the woman would have been instantly killed.
 
Generally it takes quite a lot to make me not ride due to the weather. I hacked out yesterday, alone, on our very high hacking routes and it was fine (despite a garden gazebo thingy trying to take off next to the lane). If it is bad I can go in the indoor, it will be rattly and noisy but the horse is pretty good. Although she is about due a day off so I might let her have today off and ride tomorrow when it is more pleasent.

OH on the otherhand will start muttering about safety the minute the wind starts rustling the trees!
 
Doesn't bother me!
I rode Ned out on a hack in the last strong wind we had, I was really nervous and thought he would act up. To my surprise, he was an angel to tack up and plodded along like a donkey for the whole ride!

I'm jumping this evening, am I mad? Probably :P
 
So yes my horse is fine with high winds and the noise of winds there is nothing in my arena that could come down on us, do i think I am being irresponsible exercising my horse tonight if I still think everything is safe... eh no
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And that's perfectly fair enough.

If you feel you are safe, can remain safe, and do not endanger anyone by riding in strong winds, then it's your perrogative (sp) to do so.

Most of us live surrounded by something, be it trees, buildings, etc, and usually have to navigate some sort of road as well - hence my (allbeit sweeping) response :rolleyes:

And it's quite interesting listening to Jeremy Vine at the moment regarding how windy it is around the country at the moment - certainly from Mid/North Wales upwards.

Happy riding :D
 
amymay said:
And that's perfectly fair enough.

If you feel you are safe, can remain safe, and do not endanger anyone by riding in strong winds, then it's your perrogative (sp) to do so.

Most of us live surrounded by something, be it trees, buildings, etc, and usually have to navigate some sort of road as well - hence my (allbeit sweeping) response :rolleyes:

And it's quite interesting listening to Jeremy Vine at the moment regarding how windy it is around the country at the moment - certainly from Mid/North Wales upwards.

Happy riding :D
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Lol I'm scottish so I think we generally have a different perspective about weather conditions as we're so used to extremes.
 
Not any more. My horse is very good in high winds and I would usually hack out on safe rides like a short bridlepath route around the edge of a field where there are no trees and away from traffic. However this morning a friend and I decided to go on this very ride just to blow the cobwebs away and stretch the horse's legs. My friend led her horse up the drive and opened the gate. She was holding the gate as I rode my horse through but the wind took the gate and it closed on me and my horse. My leg got trapped, George started to panic and as I tried to free us he started backward unseated me and I fell off. He then spun round and stood on my arm! Vey painfully making my mind up that I will probably never take the chance again. :-(
 
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