Fair weather rider - I've turned into one

asmp

asmp

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I'm really struggling to make myself ride at the moment as it's so cold. I've no excuse as I'm not working at the moment and I'm feeling guilty as I know there are loads of people who would love to be able to ride when they want. Trouble is I feed, turn out, muck out 2 horses and then go home. I say to myself I'll go back later and ride but once I'm in a nice warm house, i don't want to go back out! Before anyone says ride first thing, it's a real pain as we're on quite a busy road so first thing it's a constant stream of cars going to work.

Is it just me?
 
I find the less I have to do, the less I want to do. Not just riding, everything

Maybe just force yourself. Plan to hack with someone else, no getting out of it then

Why aren't you working? Do you think if you were working it would help?
 
Nope, not just you - I've ridden once (maybe twice) this year. I just cannot be arsed as my hacking route is so busy with cars now it's just dangerous. Hoping to move somewhere with a school and much better hacking soon or I'll be selling up!
 
Not just you, I work fulltime and could ride after work but it's too ruddy cold with a biting wind or snow/rain. I'm going out tomorrow morning and Sunday, weather permitting.
 
Kezzabell2 said:
I find the less I have to do, the less I want to do. Not just riding, everything
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Yep, this.

MyDogIsAnIdiot said:
Nope, not just you - I've ridden once (maybe twice) this year. I just cannot be arsed...
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And this!

I've got a sharer, so he does get ridden twice per week. I'm 100% going to go on Sunday, even if I just lunge. I'm determined!

If I could leave work and ride in the afternoon, then I'm sure I'd ride everyday. But after a long day in the office, I get home and all I want to do is get into my PJ's, have a nice hot dinner and sit on the sofa all evening!

I walk to and from work, which makes it worse. Would be different if I drove, then could just go straight to the yard. But getting home, then going out again... not a chance!

You're not alone, OP. See my thread from last week!!
 
I always get a bit like that this time of year being the end of winter it just seems there is no end to the winter, but I often just make myself ride and make plans to ride with others and once out I enjoy it, today I decided I would have a day off riding and clean all my tack as its covered in mud and filth, I dont think there is anything wrong with the odd day I often just ride one of mine every other day rather than do both when its winter at the end of the day its supposed to be fun and not feel like a chore, This weekend wrap up warm ring a friend and arrange to hack you will be fine once you start again sounds like you have just got out of the habit of riding.
 
I can't be bothered at the moment. I'm down to 2 now, so would have to tow one, and my attempt last week ended up with one loose horse and another bucking bronco - so I shelved that plan. They are both perfectly happy mooching round the field, so I'm letting them have the rest of the winter off and I'l go back to it when it's warmer and they're less wild and woolly!
 
You are not on your own...and its allowed. A couple of friends and I arranged to hack this morning if...it wasn't too icy or cold or windy...you get the picture. Its a lovely day and we went out and felt good..we needed to get back into the habit too..your time will come!
 
Nope your not alone - I work full time and have my youngster who is coming along lovely she's 5 in June, after leaving work and driving directly to the yard, its the most i can do to force myself out of my nice warm car, my onesie and sofa are calling me. I do have a lesson once a week, so I have to ride, what i have been doing, is riding at weekends weather permitting, to practice what we have done in our lesson and then once or twice a week but its been a hard slog, im sure if had left my girl she wouldn't have been bothered.

Once the nights get lighter and the temperature starts to warm up im sure you will feel a lot better.
 
9tails said:
Not just you, I work fulltime and could ride after work but it's too ruddy cold with a biting wind or snow/rain. I'm going out tomorrow morning and Sunday, weather permitting.
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I ride before work when it is typically even colder, and our arena is fairly exposed.

I ride in rain, snow falling (not thick snow in school), when school is semi frozen (not when it is solid – but that is rare unless heavy rain, then freeze).

I think if you have the right wind and rain proof clothes and thermals it doesn’t have to be cold.

I have waterproof fleece line jodhpurs, and base layers (two layesr), 2 windproof coats (I have a softshell, and then a blouson). Ariat winter gloves, thermal riding socks. And a musto neck tube.

Two 750ml flasks of coffee. I put all my clothes on the radiator the night before, so are warm to put on.

I have yet to really notice the cold, compared to last year.

My tip for keeping riding all winter (if you want to) is book lessons / clinics / competitions in late winter – and you have to ride to be in shape for them.

And in winter, you have to ride when you can, in case the weather makes riding the next day impossible.
 
wingedhorse99 said:
I ride before work when it is typically even colder, and our arena is fairly exposed.

I ride in rain, snow falling (not thick snow in school), when school is semi frozen (not when it is solid – but that is rare unless heavy rain, then freeze).

I think if you have the right wind and rain proof clothes and thermals it doesn’t have to be cold.

I have waterproof fleece line jodhpurs, and base layers (two layesr), 2 windproof coats (I have a softshell, and then a blouson). Ariat winter gloves, thermal riding socks. And a musto neck tube.

Two 750ml flasks of coffee. I put all my clothes on the radiator the night before, so are warm to put on.

I have yet to really notice the cold, compared to last year.

My tip for keeping riding all winter (if you want to) is book lessons / clinics / competitions in late winter – and you have to ride to be in shape for them.

And in winter, you have to ride when you can, in case the weather makes riding the next day impossible.
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You sound very determined - hats off to you. I can't ride before work, as i have to be in the office for 7.30am, so its easier for me to ride after work. I agree with your comment re clinics and lessons, im more motivated if i have my lesson booked, and i have just booked my first clinic in March, so now i know i have to crack on.

OP Maybe this is what you could do? or arrange a hack with friends then you won't want to let them down :)
 
I am in this predicament as we speak. I need to take mine out for a 45 minute walk/trot hack each day (rehab) and I've just returned from the supermarket - I'm thinking "do I really have to go out again in this cold?". It's lovely and sunny - but really?

But I will, because I have to. Do I want to? Hell no!
 
I just can't be bothered at the moment. I work full time, leaving the house at just after 7 am and not finishing work and getting to the yard until about 7 pm, so my two are on full livery Monday to Friday. I'm usually the last one up there and although we have a floodlit school I have no desire to spend another hour up there - I just want to feed them, top up hay and water, brush off the worst of the mud on the bits I can see then go home.

I try to ride my "younger" horse (only 21!) once at the weekend, and occasionally a friend will take her out once in the week. My oldie (26) goes out for a gentle bimble with her long-time sharer once a week. I figure that will do them for now.

I have really struggled with winter over the last two years - I think it's an age thing. I could cope in my 40s, but it is a bit different now I'm nearer to 60 than 50.
 
I have only ridden once since the beginning of December and I won't start back until the weather warms up a bit. I don't feel guilty and I know my horse doesn't mind at all.
 
Why should you feel guilty? If your horse doesn't mind and has plenty of turn out, then it's not a problem. I m struggling to fit riding in through the week with work, two children and two dogs to walk and no help at ll. The only place I DO get help is at the yard where my boy is on part livery. It is very hard to fit everything in during daylight hours, but as he is out in the field all day, he's not missing out. Once we move onto our own place, my priority will be to have everyone fed, watered and clean.
 
I haven't ridden since last Saturday, although I do have the excuse that the lane to my yard is a sheet of ice so I can't get out! Nothing to do with the cold....roll on spring!!
 
WingedHorse sounds like I used to be - determined and it's true, once you're out there, it's fine and it also makes you feel so much happier during the rest of the day. Also true that if you have something to work towards/aim for, then you have that extra incentive/drive.

This winter I have succumbed to FairWeatherItis, mine are ridden one or both days of the weekend only. They live out, they are happy, well fed, rugged when needed.

As the daylight lengthens and this icy spell ends, I'll get back into it. It's no harm to take it easy for a while.
 
I got my boy in November, did a bit with him and in December he got injured, he is ready to bring back into work now but ive just decided to wait until the weather gets a bit better!
 
Crugeran Celt said:
I have only ridden once since the beginning of December and I won't start back until the weather warms up a bit. I don't feel guilty and I know my horse doesn't mind at all.
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This, horses really don't mind having a few months off!

I used to love it, but as I've got older I feel the cold so much more, ok if you're doing jobs outside, but riding, my hands get so so cold, its no fun at all
 
I figure I've spent enough of my lifetime riding in the wind/rain/cold/thunderstorms/dark/hail/sleet when I had to do it, now I deserve to choose to ride when I feel like it - which is generally when the sun is out, it's not too, too freezing and I have enough time to do it properly without being in a rush. This means I ride less, but enjoy it infinitely more and the horses are going as well, if not better, than they ever have so seems to work for us.
 
It's the thought of doing it, but when you're on board, you're glad you did! I find booking training sessions keeps me going, and just ticking over between lessons isn't too bad. Although, not much riding this past week as EVERYTHINGS frozen solid.
 
Cortez said:
I figure I've spent enough of my lifetime riding in the wind/rain/cold/thunderstorms/dark/hail/sleet when I had to do it, now I deserve to choose to ride when I feel like it - which is generally when the sun is out, it's not too, too freezing and I have enough time to do it properly without being in a rush. This means I ride less, but enjoy it infinitely more and the horses are going as well, if not better, than they ever have so seems to work for us.
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Oh yes! Absolutely this!. I enjoy the smug feeling of not feeling in the slightest bit guilty or pressured because I don't have to do it anymore when the weather is horrible. : )
 
Crugeran Celt said:
I have only ridden once since the beginning of December and I won't start back until the weather warms up a bit. I don't feel guilty and I know my horse doesn't mind at all.
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Me too....I do enjoy spending time with the horses, who always make me smile and seem to like the one to one time, grooming etc. However I don't enjoy the constant questions from other liveries 'what are you going to do with your horse today?'They do ride but it just seems like a chore, as they set off grimly in the cold wind (and snow this week). Have I got it wrong, isn't it supposed to be fun? Can't wait for nicer weather.
 
I hate this time of the year: OK so January always feel such a long mingey month, and February is a short month, but I'm with others on here who're really struggling with the cold and motivation.

I really don't have what it takes to shift my @rse up into the saddle and ride out in the cold and the wind and the horridness of it all at the moment. Both my horses are really mega-sharp at the moment, simply because they're cold too, and I just can't wait till it gets that wee bit warmer and they get back into their ploddy selves again.

I rode last weekend with a friend: the wind was enough to blow us out of the saddle, it was awful, but there was two of us so it was bearable and we both gave each other the motivation to get out, and once we'd got out it was actually quite exhilerating!

But to ride solo at the moment, nope, I don't have what it takes, and there it is.

Bring on some warmer weather before I stir! I'm just sick of being cold :(
 
I was thinking this earlier this week. I thought if I had entered Badminton (ha, ha) I would have to get the horse out and ride. If you haven't "got to" - i.e. no competitions to get fit for, or lessons, etc. it is all too easy to decide not to. I haven't ridden regularly for weeks and weeks, due to to minor injury to horse, then me, then a bit of an abcess, and then who wants to go for a ride when the roads are icy?

I did notice that it is quite light until after 5.00 p.m. now, so we have a proper afternoon rather than having to think about fetching in before dark at 4.00 p.m. If the weather makes a turn for the slightly warmer I hope to be sorting out my tack and get started again properly.
 
Me too. I went to see him last night intending to ride, but the yard was deserted, blowing very cold wind, just really unappealing. So gave him a bit of a groom, didn't even take him out of the stable, and went home to the warmth. Feel a bit guilty that I'm not riding much at the moment, but then I don't need to. He won't care in the slightest! All I can say is thank goodness for full livery, and I'm really grateful to the staff who care for him in the cold, wet and mud.
 
this year is the first year I've been a fair weather rider :o I used to ride every day throughout the winter and my horses were really fit. However, this winter I tend to get to the yard, run to heater immediately and sit there for half an hour warming myself up. I then brave outside and fetch horses in, followed by running back to the heater, I then find nothing to do for a while (by the heater) . Get a few essential jobs done, return to heater... find excuses not to ride , feed and turn out :D it's just not fun, and my school is totally frozen, and I can't see the point in hacking in the cold as I just spend the whole time wishing I hadn't decided to hack as my toes are so cold I might cry !

But I'm sure my horse needs some time off, he's got a busy schedule planned for when its warmer :)
 
wingedhorse99 said:
I ride before work when it is typically even colder, and our arena is fairly exposed.

I ride in rain, snow falling (not thick snow in school), when school is semi frozen (not when it is solid – but that is rare unless heavy rain, then freeze).

I think if you have the right wind and rain proof clothes and thermals it doesn’t have to be cold.

I have waterproof fleece line jodhpurs, and base layers (two layesr), 2 windproof coats (I have a softshell, and then a blouson). Ariat winter gloves, thermal riding socks. And a musto neck tube.

Two 750ml flasks of coffee. I put all my clothes on the radiator the night before, so are warm to put on.

I have yet to really notice the cold, compared to last year.

My tip for keeping riding all winter (if you want to) is book lessons / clinics / competitions in late winter – and you have to ride to be in shape for them.

And in winter, you have to ride when you can, in case the weather makes riding the next day impossible.
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I'm with you :) My good horse is not long back in work from injury, so it's even more important to keep her fitness up. The little cob needs work to stop her going feral again. Waterproof & windproof clothing really helps with the motivation, so much of the discomfort is removed ;)

I also like to ride before work, because then it is done and I don't have to worry about whether it will be too dark in the evening etc (no school on site at the mo).

Only a few more weeks and then it will all start to get easier. Even if the weather is still rubbish, at least there will be more daylight :lol:
 
I've been a bit this way myself. I think it's because my horse has had a rough time, lot of time off last Spring/Summer with foot issues, then just as we are getting back on track she was struck down with a mystery respiratory type illness and ended up in horspital in November so had time off and a long recovery time from that. So now I worry about every little thing with my mare. Not much fun for those who ride with me I suspect.

We used to ride out with friends most of the time and that used to help a lot with motivation, you could laugh at the weather and man up about it together. Nowadays my horse and I ride alone most of the time , but I am still building up my courage in this direction so we never go far, and without someone else to consider it is too easy to cry off on a day you would normally push yourself to ride, though I do get to ride most mornings before work, albeit a short one.
 
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