Do you ride in windy conditions?

Last time we had really strong storm force winds a few years ago it blew the roof off our stables, there was also debris flying around everywhere, including corrugated sheeting from a barn that was threatening to decapitate anyone who was trying to catch it - it came from about five fields away!
So no, I tend to stay safely at home as my hacking tends to be mostly woodland or roadwork anyway.
 
If I didn't ride in the wind I'd rarely ride at all. I live on the coast of Anglesey and it's blowy blowy blowy here 90% of the time. We did a XC comp yesterday on the cliff tops over Trearddur Bay so if we can do that in those winds we can go for a little hack round the fields at home. ;) Luckily it doesn't bother my lad in the slightest, the only thing I don't like about it is if we ride on the roads you can't hear cars properly but other than that it's not a problem even in the highest winds.
 
Its very windy here today and just cancelled our hack this afternoon to go riding with friends, i hate the fact you cannot hear the cars coming plus risk of trees etc coming down and stray branches. My mare is still a baby so not prepared to take risks in the wind!! although it is very sunny and warm just blowing a gale :rolleyes:
 
Windy yes, back end of a hurricane (which is what we're experiencing now), no. Too scared of tree limbs and the like falling on me and flying up at me.
 
I'm happy with a strong breeze but when it is verging on galeforce conditions I bow out. My mare is spooky enough as it is and I worry about what could happen if something was blown down a drive towards us on the road.
 
Yes i have been out today and its gale force, its funny even my really spooky horse is not any worse in these gale force conditions.

It was quite fun being blown around by it my mum and dad rode with me as well today. :)
 
Just went down to the yard - had to go the long way round as a tree was down on the lane up, and phone lines are down on the lane between field and yard. School is covered in branches and the bins have fallen over so litter blowing everywhere (picked as much up as I could, comedy cartoon style!)

Went to the field with friend to check on the neds and we could barely stand. Branches down along one side and the horses taking shelter in the little valley. Knobberts was a pain in the backside to catch - I haven't had trouble catching him for MONTHS so that didn't bode well. Plus the ******** horse has thrown ANOTHER shoe so couldn't ride him even if the conditions were with us!

It's serious here at the moment. After seeing the state of the sea and the harbour in virtual lock down, I'm now really worried for a friend who stupidly went out on his trawler yesterday despite the warnings. Fingers crossed he and crew make it back in one piece. :(
 
I do in our indoor but last night ventured into the outdoor without even thinking about it. It bordered by trees which were waving about and has turnout paddocks behind the trees in which horses were turned out and messing around. She didn't put a foot wrong and I was pleasantly surprised as she is usually sharp as glass :-)
 
I wouldn't be riding out on a day like today no, just had a gust of 50mph here so anything hitting me at that speed would not be fun! I have no school though and no off road hacking. Only their field which is far too exciting on a calm day :rolleyes:

That said my horse is on restricted turnout in a small electric fence pen atm (due to lameness) one side is next to a big hedge, but I just hope the fencing has stood up to it, otherwise he will have got out, and thats not good for anyone :( (fingers crossed my mum will be checking him/bringing him in v soon anyway).
 
I nipped out last night and didn't realise how blustery it had got....took my breath away in one open place....

....and then we got overtaken by a balloon going accross the stubble field on the way back:eek:

Will not be taking him out tonight.......tail was up high enough last night but he was good all things considered.
 
It's not windy here....yet...but the rain is lashing down. It tends to be windy a rather large percentage of the time here (Highlands) so we tend to get on with it as much as we can. If we feel it is too bad to hack then we school as the outdoor is pretty sheltered by the buildings and most of the horses are great in the wind.
You have to be sensible, if the wind is so strong you have to almost cling to your saddle to stay on then hacking should best be left for another day.
 
I've just been thinking about this!! Should I ride tonight or not?? Hmm..
I think I will se how windy it is on the yard and how giddy the horse is and then make a decision :)

I hacked on Saturday in slight wind and he was brilliant! (We went into the woods) but on Thursday last week he was a PAIN! (Ex-racer, lots of open fields, bit of wind...:rolleyes:)

I don't think I would hack out in really windy winds (like today) - due to the dangers to myself, my horse and passing drivers but I might consider schooling depending on what it's like at the yard and what mood the horse is in :D
 
Absolutely. Won't be riding today as I usually have Mondays off anyway but last Tuesday winds here were about 40mph & my boy felt amazing! Loved every second of it.
He's not always been totally happy in the wind but with a bit of perseverance he'll go out without batting an eyelid now.
 
Neither my horses or I like the wind - makes my eyes water but tonight saddle fitter is finally bringing back my saddle for the old boy and so have to ride in it to check all is well. Should be fun. I work on an industrial estate and just saw the big outside bin next door go sliding down their driveway!
 
My horse is on a rehab program and has to be ridden for 20 minutes every day so had to ride in the wind this morning, neither of us enjoyed it, he was seeing monsters everywhere and when we met the farmer in his JCB he was already so worried that I could feel his legs trembling underneath me, bless! I wouldn't do it unless I had to!
 
Not today or tomorrow if the weather forecast is right! We're in a village and today is bin day and there have been low-flying wheelie bins all over the place! There have been branches down everywhere so it's madness to try and hack out plus a local farmers ducks (around 500 of them) are now also flexing their wings and joining in with the low-flying at around head height!
 
Trish C said:
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.
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Are you getting the hurricane as well? It was wild here last night... there's no way I'd be going riding today! Nearly got blown away when I went out to the car

:eek:
 
Fabio is normally ok in moderate wind but i wouldn't take him out in this! I nearly got knocked over by it just getting out my car so wouldn't attempt to go hack in it!
 
I rarely ride in wind - when I had to as I was a groom, yes. Now, no. The only one I would have trusted was my girl. New pony, no way! But probably would have refrained in this much wind anyway.

I'm a pretty fair-weather rider these days. I do it for pleasure!
 
I have stupidly been to try a 6 year old this morning i was looking to buy needless to say it was a complete disaster and I’m feeling very disheartened as really had all my hopes and future dreams pinned on this horse! (Did not fall off and horse did not doing anything mean or particularly worrying for a green six year old but just would not go anywhere forwards but just backwards and sideways as was spooking at everything, I would try and get her forward and she would canter three strides then break as she was looking at something or other.) I’m very silly for having gone i should have cancelled and had a more positive experience another time! :eek: :confused:
 
Yes and did so this afternoon.

My girl is quite obliging and we even had a couple of nice canters across the fields. I however, do not like riding under the trees so the hack was a short one.;)
 
Not if I have too :) especially in the 70mph winds currently gusting past my window :p

If I was competing at the weekend, I would exercise my horse, but I wouldn't dream of schooling or jumping :)
 
Annielusian said:
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
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Well, I'm home from the jumping!
We did XC and Ned aced it! Sure, we went a little fast, but the horse who never went infront, WENT INFRONT! Over several jumps and even a jump into a ditch!

I feel rather exhilarated now!
 
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