has anyone else lost their enthusiasm to ride in this cold?

I haven't riddenf or about 5 weeks so have regained a bit of enthusiasm now! And now I can't ride due to weather. One of mine is 29 so has the occasional hack out to keep him happy, and the other is a complete idiot and I had been having trouble hacking out alone (no school....) so I have made the decision to give up til xmas (I get 10 days off) and hire the school over the road to restart.

However, i am going for a lesson this afternoon on someone elses horse. Yey!
 
I've just posting in another thread about this! I've given up, decided yesterday that enough is enough and I'm not enjoying the boys so today the farrier is coming up to take off shoes and they are going out for 2 months!! I feel so much pressure off me now, okay I'll miss some of the hunts but we've been out a few times and I was struggling to afford it anyway so no big deal...plus my youngster is only 5 so plenty of years left for that. I'll start them back in time for a Trek thing in Feb but otherwise I'll admit I've given up and will enjoy the winter evenings inside with the dogs and wood burner instead of forcing a relutant me and horses around a cold dirty indoor school.
 
I too have bowed down to the weather, Shoes came off my eventer last shoeing, hardfeed severely cut, just a handfull of nuts in a ball for his dinner and hay.

They are both out during the day and in at night, even the welshy wants to come in!

I feel much better not having the pressure of a super fit horse needing work, I made this decision at the end of this season so had time to bring his work down, thank god!, and now he seems to like the break, I must admit it is hard to see them so hairy and old looking! but with everything frozen and the roads like an ice rink I will pick them back up after the new year when the weather breaks and I return from my ski holiday.

If I don't get him out untill late spring to event then so be it.
As my hubby says to me! "You have them for pleasure" which I keep reminding myself when I'm frozen and breaking ice in the drinkers and fishing out the ice burges!
 
Looks like we may all be ok for a few days over the weekend as we are losing the northerly / asterly wind to a westerly. The sunshine will help us get the roads back if nothing else for a few good long rides!! Me and my mate were almost dancing when we saw the forecast!! I cannot wait, keep your fingers crossed, I have a lesson tomorrow night so hoping that the school will no longer resemble an ice rink!!!
 
I rode today for the first time since last Monday - so 9 days.

The roads are still really icy but from our farm I can ride on fields and stony farm tracks where vehicles haven't been. The driveway of the farm was the worst bit, but I stayed to the edge by the grass verge and after that it was grass and we had some lovely trots and a couple of canters - the sun was out and it was really pleasant.

He was hunting fit but I'm not so sure now - how long does it take to lose their fitness?
 
DubSeason to be Jolly said:
Another 4 weeks and it'll be noticably lighter a little later, another 4 after that and the weather will have perked up some days...won't be long till summer!
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Oh, I like you....... cup half full and all that.....

I have only just started riding again after a 7 month gap to raise foal so am still reasonably keen - however weekends for me only at the mo and only in the indoor school...
 
Would love to ride but thr roads sre like sheet ice and the school is totally frozen and still under snow. Its still to dangerous to box up in the yard due to ice!!
 
I've not ridden since I did a dressage comp on 15th November and I'm in another one on 15th December......roads are too snowy and frozen, school also the same, so no choice really. If it thaws, I'll try this weekend, if not, then it'll be at the comp next Wednesday....could be interesting....
 
I love riding in the cold! Luckily our roads aren't too icy so have been able to get out a few times already this week. Obviously as soon as it gets too icy i wont be risking my horse getting injured so he'll have to be a field bum!
 
Haven't been able to ride for nearly 3 weeks, cob had pus in foot, also roads around us were terrible (so he timed it well!) went out today for 1st time, but can honestly say didn't miss riding in those 3 weeks in this weather!!!
 
Denzil Penwerthy said:
YAY for some one else feeling my pain, I was just going to start a "lets rant about the weather" post.
Me too, so fed up of the ice, am at the point where i'm thinking of training my horses to open the stable door, make up their own feeds, put in their hay, and fill up their water, slip quietly back in and close the door. If only.... I normally love looking after them, and feel great knowing that they are tucked up, fed and looked after. This weather has me so fed up, I havnt even thought about riding, cant anyway with the ice. Please please let this weather go away really soon, so I can get my spirit back.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Yup its way too cold for me too!!! The problem I have is that even if the rest of me is warm, my hands are always cold to the extent that I just can't feel them and its really painful.

The other day I did go for a hack, but Himself was in cob-trying-to-be-a-racehorse mode and my hands were just perished, it was awful, so I decided that until things improve I won't be riding.

The roads here are OK'ish, but there is some black ice as I found out to my cost when walking the dogs up the road. Coming back, unbelievably, I met two horses from the showing yard down the road: one being ridden, the other led. Sheer folly IMO, but their problem if they fall and get blemished knees, or worse, plus it would be interesting as to whether the insurance people would pay up if something did happen.

So Himself is on "field rest", as miserable as sin - but I'm not gonna freeze my butt off so he'll just have to stay there and chill.
 
I haven't been able to ride mine properly since last monday as well. Its been snowy then icy, and the roads are still too icy now. The school is frozen solid so not worth risking any other injury.

I have to say, it has been so bitter, i am not sure that i would enjoy riding.

I did ride a pony at work one day last week in the school at work, but i was so cold afterwards it made me ill, and i physically can't wear any more layers, i have been wearing jods, then jogging bottoms and then fleece lined waterproof trousers, about 5 thick jumpers, coat, sealskinz gloves and 2 thick thermal socks every day and i still get cold!
 
Another one here, desperate to ride. Didn't ride for 3 weeks due to a back injury, then the cold came.
ATM, the roads are not so icy, but they are much narrower because of the frozen snow and the traffic is no slower so it's not worth the risk. It's not like she has to be fit for hunting etc.
We have no school at all and the fields are frozen solid/unrideable......

I'm hoping the thaw we are due at the weekend will clear or soften the compacted frozen snow in the yard so we can shift it before the temperatures drop again.
 
I know how you feel Firehorse I also suffer with raynauds but my Dr not keen on giving me tablets so I suffer in cold weather and it dosen't have to be that cold. Are your tablets prescription or can you buy them from chemist?

As much as I want to ride, if only the ground wasn't frozen or the roads resembling ice rinks, no feeling in my fingers is not condusive to spending too much time outside. Still having seen weekend weather forcast & fingers crossed we may get a repreive this weekend and get to ride after 3 weeks of no riding due to fog, snow & ice!!!
 
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I "normally" ride rain or shine light or dark if I want to ride, and never class myself as a fair weather rider, but yes, with being soooo bloody cold and sooo blasted slippy and work being so busy, I have not ridden as much as usual or had the desire to get freezing cold through to my bones, problem is you cant trot or canter to get warm on slippy icy surfaces :(

Oh yea, I don't like wearing gloves to ride, and normally my hands stay reasonably warm, but not in these temperatures.
 
Denzil Penwerthy said:
YAY for some one else feeling my pain, I was just going to start a "lets rant about the weather" post on here!!!

I am so far from a fair weather rider and the same as you..... we cannot get out on the roads because they are too icey and we live in a hilly area so you cannot even attempt to risk it. The ground is ice - everywhere. I bought my horse in from the field last night which was fine and then when I went to take him back he was almost on his bum, I was so scared that I was yelling to my friend for help as I just didnt know what to do. Denzil is really sure footed and to see him like that really scared me. The poor buggers have frost on their mane and tails and feathers and I just want to bring him home and give him a hot bath and a hug!!!

We are lucky enough to have a school, but guess what? That is frozen solid too as the sunshine came at the weekend and melted the snow / ice that we had and boom, ice rink.

Maybe there is a new thing there, Horses on Ice.....

Please tell me this will end soon before I get so sad from not riding and before my horse takes up ice skating rather than endurance!!!
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Same here. No riding from 14th december til feb/march last year (then 6 weeks of a bruised sole from the frozen field), and it started 2 weeks early this year :( I'm gutted. Would love to ride, despite the cold, but everywhere is ice :(
 
Well I haven't ridden for 3 weeks now and I can't be bothered really at the moment, I work from 7am until 4pm but it is dark when I get to the yard so I can't ride until the weekends but as I also work weekends (yes I have a horsey job) and hence after working the morning it can be a rush to get to ride before I have to go back. It does not do Tarquin any harm and I've decided to now to take his shoes off behind and give him a proper break. I start sitting up from January 1st so will be able to ride every day then during the light.
 
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