Fair weather riders?

I*HM

I*HM

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I thought such a thing didn't exist but it turns out, there are more fair weather riders around than I thought!
Only the other day, when it was spilling rain did one of the regulars on the yard text to say it was too wet so she wouldn't be riding and last week I talked one of the girls into hacking out with me and she declared it "the wettest hack she had ever been on". Yes we did get wet but it wasn't particularly cold and the horses were none worse for wear after out little jaunt. Said friend was utterly put out by the whole ordeal though, had to send an apologetic text afterwards and everything. Similarly, YO insists on head to tow waterproofs and rain sheets on all the horses if we (royal we in this context as it only ever me!) hack out in even a light drizzle. God forbid a horse would get wet!
Now maybe its my tough Irish skin but I thought sucking it up and soldiering on is the done thing when the weather is less than lovely and horses need exercised. I mean nobody loves getting their knickers soggy in the saddle but as we are not all blessed with indoor schools, we can't always be bone dry, surely? It's barely the end of summer, so how do fair weather riders cope once we hit actual winter?
Is anyone here of the fair weather variety? Please tell me I'm not the only one who can cope with getting wet now and then!
 
I dont mind getting wet, or cold for that matter. I dont tend to ride between dec-march though as have no facilities and its too dark. So horses get chucked out. Saying that, have just bought myself a lorry so I can hire nearby indoor and hopefully keep them ticking over etc I live reasonably high up on Scottish moorland-any day that its less than 40mph winds and not horizontal sleet is a gift.
 
each to their own. Wouldn't bother me if someone only fancies riding when theres a gentle breeze from the east.

Some people are tougher than others, some people just don't enjoy it in the rain and if its only a hobby then why bother? I have an issue with my arm and can't ride in frost or snow as it gets too painful, and I'd hate people to be judging me for it. Another friend hates riding in rain as she has a low immune system and gets sick easily.

I agree that horses couldn't care less either way! You can also see the difference in shows. When its lashing down you can usually see the difference between the riders used to all weather and those who have indoors and avoid the rain and wind.
 
I probably am a bit more these days but that's because my horse is a princess, he hates the rain, he was only backed last year and I remember the first time I rode in the rain, he was going side ways to get closer to the woods at the side of the track! then we got to a bit where there was no more protection and he planted! I got off lead him a few feet, got back on, got another few feet forward and he stopped again!

I'm going out this afternoon, rain is due to stop at 3! (although its look okay at the moment) id be happy to ride in the rain if it wasn't such a battle! and if I'd put a rug on him, I have a very soggy horse!

some of my favourite rides on my mare were in the rain! especially the ones where we kicked mud into the faces of the rides behind us, as we set off for a gallop, hehe (hummm no wonder no body offers to ride with me)
 
You are not the only one :)
I go out in the rain, doing so alone this morning as once again Livery mum cried off by text at 7.45 when we had planned to go out at 8.15, however in crying off it also appeared to mean not coming to attend to hers till 10am when they are a, used to be seen around 8 if not before and b, i had to phone as her delicate pony (belonging to her daughter ) as it was shivering :(
 
Having been out in the wet all day yesterday team chasing in Warwickshire, I'm unashamedly having a sofa day today and horses are in stables with piles of haylage!

Ride in all weathers in autumn/winter when horses are in at night and need to be fit so when they're out 24/7 through spring/summer months, I give myself a break!
 
I HATE getting wet. I class myself as a dry weather rider.

I moved 3500 miles from Wales so that I didn't get rained on 90% of the time (amongst other reasons) I reckoned 40 years of getting wet knickers was my limit, I used to hunt, I adored hunting, in Wales it was practically a given that I was going to get wet, or frozen, in the end the weather was actually making me ill, SAD for 9 months of the year is no fun, and my old bones just ached, all the time.

Now, I still hate getting wet, and I won't ride if it is persisting it down, but I am quite happy to ride with 2' of snow on the ground and temperatures hovering around -15C. Riding in a snowsuit, with just eyes and mouth showing from under a headover does not look quite the thing but hey, who cares, most of the population look the same at that time of year.
 
I am not keen on setting out in torrential rain. If it rains whilst out fine will carry on. Hacked in torrential when moved horse. It's more the drying out and tack cleaning when back.
 
I have spent enough of my years riding in rain, sleet, snow, howling winds, riding in the dark holding a torch in my teeth, doing a dressage test with lightning striking all around, etc., because it was my job and I had to do it.

The horses don't want to work when it's pitching down either, (but will do so if asked). When I ride now I wish for it to be a pleasure, so if I don't feel like riding, I don't.
 
I don't think if myself as a fair weather rider but if I can avoid riding in the rain then I will. Yesterday I went eventing and it kindly poured just as I got on for xc, I didn't particularly enjoy being rained on but actually didn't make much difference .

I do find riding in the rain a bit of a faff though... Everything gets wet, tack needs cleaning, clothes need drying... And my poor little pony really does hate the rain in his ears!
 
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I don't mind getting wet as long as I have appropriate clothing, but I wear glasses for riding (can't wear my contacts as I find bits of dust irritates them) and it quickly gets impossible to see out of them! So forced to be a fair weather rider while I wait for YO to win lottery and build me an indoor!
 
In summer I am a fair weather rider.
If it's nasty or too sunny I don't ride if I don't feel like it ,the horses are out most of the time it does them no harm .
However in mid September or so I change and work them whatever the weather is like .
 
Cortez said:
I have spent enough of my years riding in rain, sleet, snow, howling winds, riding in the dark holding a torch in my teeth, doing a dressage test with lightning striking all around, etc., because it was my job and I had to do it.

The horses don't want to work when it's pitching down either, (but will do so if asked). When I ride now I wish for it to be a pleasure, so if I don't feel like riding, I don't.
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This, except I worked with hunters and NH horses, they had to be exercised, staff were expendable.

Now, like you, I ride purely for fun and not because I HAVE to. When I first came here I tacked horses up in the pouring rain, thought "Why am I doing this? I don't have to" and untacked again :)
 
I view the forecast in advance & when possible plan around the rain.
But if I get wet I get wet, or cold. I'm not too fussed, especially when schooling.
I won't hack out in heavy rain though as my horse had a scare on the roads when they were wet with the noise & the speed & since then he hasn't been the same on the roads wet or dry. I can't risk him causing an accident! He even freaks out when a car catches the gravel on the side of the road never mind water spinning up from the tyres.
 
Enfys said:
This, except I worked with hunters and NH horses, they had to be exercised, staff were expendable.

Now, like you, I ride purely for fun and not because I HAVE to. When I first came here I tacked horses up in the pouring rain, thought "Why am I doing this? I don't have to" and untacked again :)
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Here here. I love these two comments!
 
Hand up.......I'm a fair weather rider, don't really care what others think. I ride for fun, not to get soaked to my knickers! Yuk! I don't think I will melt. Don't think the horses will either, I just choose to stay indoors when it's pissing down! Don't mind a bit of drizzle, or even high winds( I know lots of people who won't ride when it's windy) could not care less about the cold, just HATE being soaked. I think it's a personal thing, doesn't harm my lads if they stay in the field, so I see nothing wrong with it. I also won't ride if it's frosty or Icy , slipping over on ice on the road is a no no as far as I am concerned!
 
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I used to ride in all weathes except thunderstorms but now I'm a fair weather rider. I don't like being cold, stiff and achy, wearing soggy clothes or dealing with mud splattered horses and dirty soggy tack.
 
I am a fair weather rider. I don't enjoy getting wet through and neither does the horse. I have in my younger days ridden in all weather.
 
i most definatly a fair weather rider, i dont ride if its raining, too hot, icy or windy so pretty much never ride lol however i did manage to lunge my sec A and do some inhand work with my filly in the rain this morning so its not like i dont like being out in all weathers ( i wouldnt work my babies in extreme heat regardless though) i just find that the novelty of riding wore off years ago so i use any excuse not too
 
Until recently I worked full time away from home and could only ride at weekends - so if I'd been a fair weather rider I would never have ridden! I actually don't mind the rain, but I have hung up my jods on a few days this summer (hollow laugh!) when it was too hot. Cant do too hot!
 
I ride in all weathers, but horse gets decked out in a rainsheet for the wet and exercise sheet if it's cold or more than a drizzle. I also like my thermals and sealskinz gloves for myself. I don't think there's a thing as bad weather, just a bad choice of clothing! So I'm a wussy not fair weather rider!
 
I will ride whatever the weather however my mother won't so it means I can't. As I can't leave on of the horses on their own.

As long as I don't get wet legs I don't mind - I get really itchy and sore legs if they get wet (jeans or jods) so if I go out riding knowing i'm going to get wet then I have to wear waterproofs on my legs - could care less about upper body, I get really hot really easily!
 
I don't like getting cold, wet thighs. :(
I used to have a huge, very lightweight riding mac, made by Puffa. It had leg straps and would cover me and the saddle without making me hot and sweaty, even in warm weather. It got nicked. :(
I do like riding out in the rain when I'm dry though.
 
Digger 66 I had that mac as well and it went walk abouts! It used to cover a bit of the pony's back end as well. I wonder if anyone makes them anymore. Off to check the internet...
 
Its not the weather that bothers me, its the problems it brings, ie very wet roads. My lad is very good but if it is pouring it down, I stay off the roads, because of a few numpty drivers who come too close causing spray and I worry about stopping distances. I also respect the farmers land, by not riding if the tracks are very wet.
 
budley95 said:
Digger 66 I had that mac as well and it went walk abouts! It used to cover a bit of the pony's back end as well. I wonder if anyone makes them anymore. Off to check the internet...
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You and me too! did you find it or something similar? If HH wants to do a feature on riding macs I'd be v happy. :)
 
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I don't mind hacking out in light rain. In fact I quite like it as their are less dog walkers etc. around. I don't go out if it's torrential just because my girls are old ladies now and get a bit stiff and fed up if they get a soaking.

That said, I'm planning on purchasing some wrap around waterproof exercise sheets for this Winter so that we can keep working while (hopefully!) staying dry and toasty!
 
I used to hack out in all weathers even in a few thunder storms but now it has to be just right. Haven't ridden since Christmas just because I haven't felt like it.
 
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