Getting worried about winter

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bex1984

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I know it's only August but the nights are starting to draw in and I am starting to worry about winter.

The problem is I'm only going to be able to ride at weekends once the evenings are dark, and at the moment I'm riding 5 or 6 days a week. The school is across the road from where my pony is stabled so don't think I can safely get there in the dark?

Should I start winding my pony down a bit, and riding him less so he doesn't go from 6 times a week to once or twice?

I'm really going to miss riding him so much, and the surface in the school isn't good when the weather's bad - you can't jump and you can't canter much either.

Is he going to be OK only being ridden once or twice a week? Do other people do this in winter? I'm just worrying about him...I need to be getting a lot of weight off him over winter.
 
I know what you mean about the nights drawing in
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rubbish, isnt it? I must say, I'm a bit worried about the school surface - lets hope it's not too wet a winter.

I wouldn't worry about winding down - it's not like he is worked really really hard. You should be able to work him into early november so you've got a while yet. Can you not ask for a stable near the school if anyone leaves?
 
I would continue riding him as normal, I wouldn't cut down, eventually due to dark nights you'll have to but I see no reason at the moment.

He looks like a good doer so if you want him to lose a little weight, & winter isn't really the time to do this, don't give him loads of hard feed. He won't be doing the work to warrant large feeds. Give him hay & he should be ok. When the spring comes along again consider putting a grazing mask on him to limit his intake & hopefully his weight will be more managable. Horses, if they are living out, need to take a bit of weight with them into winter.
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Don't think I can afford a stable near the school - will have to see how the winter goes. And I don't know how I'm going to get his weight down without all the exercise?
 
Thanks - he will certainly be taking some weight into winter
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Unfortunately he has learnt how to remove grazing muzzles, so at the moment I'm controlling his weight through exercise. He'll be stabled at night in winter.
 
Don't give him any hard feed! He will be fine on just hay and if you ride him at weekends that should help keep his weight down. He won't be eating rich grass in the field all day so he won't pile on the pounds in the winter like he does in summer.
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im in the same situation although i have a girl that rides for me every tuesday so in the dead of winter she will only be ridden 3 times a week (being ridden 6 days a week at mo) i dont normally do a 'wind down'
 
Does he get turnout in the winter? If so, and there isn't much grass on it, then you'll find his weight should remain stable or drop a bit without exercising him. You could not rug him at night if he's stabled so he shivers a bit off as well!
If you want him to get a bit of feed then maybe just give him some chaff. Mine both get a scoop of safe and sound all year round and do very well on it.

Is it a busy road that you have to cross to get to the school?
 
My horse is similar to yours in looks and breed he looses a bit of weight in the winter and I have to exercise a bit less. I would not be too worried about dropping the work as the nights draw in you will be reducing the work as you will have less time and if you are late you wont be able to ride.
 
Alternatively you could get a stirrup light and stay on the path on the way to the school - I'd be inclined to lead him rather than ride, but you could do that a couple of times in the week.
 
He will get T/O during the day unless the weather is really bad, and the grazing will probably be quite poor. Was thinking of just feeding him a bit of Happy Hoof over the winter?
 
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Do you think I'd be safe crossing that road? It can be quite busy, especially at rush hour (just when I need to cross it).

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Well, if you had a reasonable size light that shows red to the back and white to the front and you stayed on the path and only crossed over you should be ok. After all, you'd cross over if you had a dog with you on a lead... I'd do it a few times in the light first though so you know he isn't going to slam the brakes on halfway across and carry a crop.

It's not ideal, but if you were careful it would be ok
 
We used to give ours just happy hoof, the feeds are very similar - S&S just has more grass nuggets so we thought it might be more interesting for them!

Have you got a reflective and flashing tabard which you could wear when crossing the road? You could put a reflective sheet over him as well and leave it by the school gate whilst you're exercising.
 
Make yourself become a walking christmas tree.....

Hi viz vest, hat band, boots, bridle pieces and try to get the ones with the flashing lights. Also make sure the hi viz has the relfective strap that catch the headlights. With all this you should be fine as long as you are careful.

I will be riding in the dark in the mornings, hacking out but luckily there is enough hacking to not leave the farm....still gives me and bert the willies though
 
In the winter I normaly only ride twice at the weekend. I have a sandschool of sorts with poor drainage so may ride or lunge once a week after work weather permitting, but more likely it will just be a little in hand work. This can be very fun and rewarding!

Mine start to come in at night by the end of November until March/April. But will be turned out, usualy for 10 - 12 hours rain wind or shine. My little ponies both have weight issues so only get a token breakfast and tea of plain hay chaff and unmollased sugar beet. The two biggies have a few lucerne nuts too, but mainly its just hay. The littles have no rugs on, the biggies only have a rug on when turned out (more for my convenice if I want to ride) and they only have stable rugs on if it is very cold, I think they need to spend some time with no rugs on for their circulation.

TBH with the weather we have had this summer we never really got over our last winter routine! We didnt ride once last week, it was raining non stop. Made the most of this weekend though! I am sure things will be fine, just play it by ear - you know your pony best.
 
I think I'm just worrying because it's my first winter with him. I know in his previous home he spent most of the winter in his stable, being lazy and munching hay and was apparently happy as larry!
 
Bex, is he in a shires muzzle?

Sew up the velcro, and do the bleeder up tight! No, it's not the BHS way, but if it keeps his weight down i the winter so be it.

You'll find that over the winter you get to monitor and control what he eats much more. You can give him as much or little feed as he needs, and the grass isnt that full of goodness either.
 
Try not to over rug him during winter. If he isn't too warn he will use energy to keep himself warm and start losing weight. I don't mean to have him shivering though!
 
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