Horses at home - How do you motivate yourself to ride?

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niagaraduval

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I have always had horses on livery but having had a few problems and the distinct lack of livery yards around here I have my horse at home. He needed a friend so got him one, that didn't go to plan so got a livery in, which I posted about for those that remember.

Anyway to cut a long story short, I seem to spend all my time looking after the horses, doing general stable chores and less and less time riding my boy. He doesn't seem to bothered about it (couldn't care less actually) but I find that I am enjoying it less and less and look after them as a chore. I'm up early and back late, spend all week end doing stuff for them (buying hay, straw, emptying stables etc.). I would never slump when it comes to their welfare but I seem to be just looking after them and not actually enjoying my boy like I always used to.

I'm really hoping this is just a phase and the horrible cold weather and lack of school are the cause of my lack of motivation. I also find when finally tacked up and on board I go for a short ride then head back as can't feel my hands/feet etc. and it's really no fun. I am still shoeing him, grooming him.. looking after him as if I was still riding him the same as always...

For people that keep their horses at home and have no school - How do you motivate yourself to ride in the winter ? Will my motivation ever come back ? :(

I have taken the decision to find him a sharer as he has potential and I'm not working him like I should be at the moment, although I'm sure he loves his holidays.
 
I keep my ex racer at home and we have one other livery an her QH up with us.

Firstly they are kept 24/7 so no stable chores!

We always try to arrange to ride together so it is more fun.

I wear about 10 layers when I ride and ski gloves to stay nice and toasty!

We ask local people including farmers if they have any land or school that we can use or hire.. We ride regularly on a piece of farmers land that is left as grass so the horses still get schooled :)
 
It will pass but the i enjoy hunting so thats my motivation for winter months. This season has not been good to me tho.

Vet your sharers carefully. I've been let down badly twice. Was not wanting them for the money, but just for the time and company (2 horses and a pony). Not sure what to do with my little tb at the mo....
 
I'm in the same boat as you.....I love having them at home...but I have no school either and sometimes I just cannot be bothered. I have two that really need bringing on more rather than just hacking about on but in winter when time is limited and weather is crap I'm just avoiding it, TBH. I was more motivated when I was on livery....I certainly rode more. It was easier with facilities but the horses weren't as happy....

I'm looking forward to the nicer weather coming, I've sent main horses saddle away for re-flocking and some adjustments.....I'm hoping when spring kicks in I'll get my mojo back.....:(
 
Hi, I'm in the same boat as you - I keep my girl at home and have no school. combine that with a full time job and I'm literally only ride at weekends at the moment.
However, I have managed to focus on the positives:
a. most people would love to have their horses at home -just remind yourself when you do get cold, you just have to nip inside to get warm again!
b. We've now got past the worst of the weather (hopefully), Spring will soon be with us and with that, nicer weather
c. Only a month til the clocks change - more daylight, more riding time
d. Plan some days out to look forward to - show/hack/pleasure ride whatever you like doing - it's nice to have something to look forward to
e. Don't feel guilty for not riding so much (it took me a while to get over this one) - it's fair to say your horse probably doesnt give a rats ass!
f. Arrange to meet up with local riders for a hack - you're more likely to go if meeting up with someone else.

I can only say what works for me. Hang in there, daylight and heat are not too far away and you'll start riding again and wonder why you ever queried your motivation..... Good Luck :-D
 
I don't have mine at home, but am on my own at a yard with no school. I find that getting into a routine works well. The horses get ridden every morning (atm, will switch to one morning one pm when the clocks go back).

Saying that, with the cold snap I have lost momentum and stopped riding - I seem to find that everything takes 10x longer in the cold! :(
 
It's really hard, when you keep horses away from home you HAVE to go to see to them, at home you can look out the window and see they are ok. I really struggle in winter and really miss having company to hack with, I don't ride nearly as much as I did when I actually had to go to my horses.
I find I have to get up and go first thing in the morning before I get distracted by other stuff to do. Once I'm out I always enjoy it - it's just that making myself go that's difficult.
Roll on summer we'll all get a skip in our stride again - hopefully
 
I have two at home. One I've hardly ridden over the winter, she likes to just ride in the field to increase her confidence (is not suitable to hack out at the moment), as it has been so wet I've only ridden her a handful of times in the yard. The other I hack out. To be honest I don't go out when the weather is raining or very cold as I find I don't enjoy it. Ponies don't mind and I know I will ride a lot more as the weather improves. This last week has been great as we seem to have had a few rain free days and some nice little hacks.
 
I've been like this this winter, this is my fifteenth year of having horses at home.

I agree with the out 24/7 if you can, it makes life much easier.

I also tend to turn away over winter having a pootle out when I feel like it.
Once the warmer weather gets here I usually find I'm raring to go, after having to ride whatever the weather for hours on end in the past it is a welcome relief to stay in front of the fire some days. :)

Wait until the sun gets going and I'm sure you'll feel differently.
 
There's no guarantee you'd be any more motivated to ride on a yard in the winter. I'm friendly with some liveries on a local yard and after my ride today I called in for a cuppa (I can smell a kettle at 500 yards, tee hee!). When I got down the drive I spotted a girl sat in a car. Turned out she'd sat there for nearly an hour, trying to drum up motivation!! There's another guy on the same yard who apparently hasn't ridden since he moved in about September last year.

Sometimes winter just drains the life out. I think I'm only finding motivation as I have a new saddle I'm trying out and so am doing a few short rides adjusting stirrup position and so on. My other pony who was backed in the Autumn has barely gone out since Christmas. Not even ride and lead. I would try meeting with other local riders as someone else has suggested, although I appreciate it's easier said than done. I've been at my place for 13 years on and off and yet it's only in the last 6 months that I've made horsey friends in the area!!
 
Keep mine at home, go through loads of phases! Sometimes I go through periods where I can't get enough and literally love doing everything for them and will do extra things simply because I find it so enjoyable and rewarding i.e. completely cleaning out my stable, washing the walls (outter and inner) trying to get rid of any manky stains or going through all my horse junk sorting it and washing it. Other times, I really think why am I still doing this? i'll find it a chore and will get fed up of the routine of it all - including having to smell of horse p*ss all the time.

On a riding font.. that fluctuates massivly too! At the moment i'm loving it but at other times i'll go through phases of thinking i'm not really even enjoing it and can't be bothered.. It gives me greasy hair and tbh i think i'd much rather be doing stuff with mates.

So yes i wouldn't worry :) Lifes all about phases, you'll get back into it. If we constantly felt the same about something that would be boring in itself! Weather has not helped at all.

Going through the 'finding it a chore' phase is so worth it imo, I always get back into it and wonder why I ever doubted it.
 
I turn away over winter partly cos I dont like being frozen but mostly cos our tracks (we arent on a road) turn to sheet ice and its too dangerous to hack out and we dont have a school and Madame hated schooling even at old place where there was one :-)))

I then bring her back into work about now if theres good weather like we have atm, and unfortunately mostly that means hacking alone, tho I ride with a neighbour once a week. So it tends to be shortish hacks as I dont enjoy roadwork alone, prefer to do that in company just in case.

Initially I build up the hacking, started last week with twice, this week three times. I rarely get to six or seven day a week riding, usually only get up to five times a week.

Part of it is not feeling guilty about not riding as much, Also I am guilty of making the stables perfect when mucking out as though I was still on a livery yard. So I have to fight against this.

But you have to balance against that the closer relationship you have with your horse and that everything is being done your way; you forget how much things like that grate when you are on a livery yard.

But if you really dont enjoy it theres no harm in returning to livery - both options have pros and cons and horses at home IS a big commitment and sometimes a lonely pain in the bum (but I wouldnt change it - I dont think....:-))
 
I keep my 2 horses on my own land and can understand OPs comments. I find that arranging to meet up with a friend to hack out or getting another friend to ride out with me on my daughter's mare means you have to ride. Think it's a bit like going to the gym for non horsey people, you don't relish the thought but once you've done it you feel much better. My 2 live out 24/7 even though I have stables as I find it easier on my back and they are happier out.
 
If I could 24/7 out in the winter I would so much happier with them being out. They are currently in most of the time and have a few hours out in the day in the 'winter paddock' which is only about an acre. Can't TO anywhere else as have 12 acres from the farmer but that is for hay only so get super cheap rent for 12 acres and then super cheap (excellent quality) hay for the winter.
I also forgot to say I have been living without an outside tap for 2 years now and the stables are about 300m from the back door so it is very hard work lugging water for 2 over there every day. Do have electric though (Thank god!!!). I think that's the draining part as have to wait for the tap to fill up, then take the 2 buckets out, walk all the way back for 2 buckets etc. and do this 3 times a day. I am going to try and invest in a massive container that I can fill every few days that the horses can share from.

Mr.neds hay also has to be soaked so this is super hard work, then the stables need re strawing morning & night then I spend 3 hours average going to get bales (can't store more than 40 at one time) as farmer is never on time (and doesn't help load the trailer!). Then it takes 2 hours to empty the stables (2). I have no life ! This is a constant chore for me. I have no local horsey friends (all have horses too far away) and have no horse box.

I am really considering finding more land to rent for 24/7 turnout to turn away every winter. Would feel very guilty though...
 
niagaraduval said:
If I could 24/7 out in the winter I would so much happier with them being out. They are currently in most of the time and have a few hours out in the day in the 'winter paddock' which is only about an acre. Can't TO anywhere else as have 12 acres from the farmer but that is for hay only so get super cheap rent for 12 acres and then super cheap (excellent quality) hay for the winter.
I also forgot to say I have been living without an outside tap for 2 years now and the stables are about 300m from the back door so it is very hard work lugging water for 2 over there every day. Do have electric though (Thank god!!!). I think that's the draining part as have to wait for the tap to fill up, then take the 2 buckets out, walk all the way back for 2 buckets etc. and do this 3 times a day. I am going to try and invest in a massive container that I can fill every few days that the horses can share from.

Mr.neds hay also has to be soaked so this is super hard work, then the stables need re strawing morning & night then I spend 3 hours average going to get bales (can't store more than 40 at one time) as farmer is never on time (and doesn't help load the trailer!). Then it takes 2 hours to empty the stables (2). I have no life ! This is a constant chore for me. I have no local horsey friends (all have horses too far away) and have no horse box.

I am really considering finding more land to rent for 24/7 turnout to turn away every winter. Would feel very guilty though...
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I wouldn't feel guilty at all, they'd probably enjoy it lots and you wouldn't have to exhaust and martyr yourself all winter, do it !!
 
Might have to see about that for next winter then :)

Thanks for the waterbag idea, I have seen these kind of things before, the thing is I use water from my kitchen sink...and wouldn't know how to fill it as sink is opposite side of kitchen door .. :(
 
Oh I see now, I thought it was just a tap at the stables you didn't have.:o
Collecting rainwater works pretty well though, I've got two water butts that keep me going and it saves lugging water from the trough at the other end of the field. (Plus it's free if you're metered.)
 
I positively enjoy the feeling of not having to ride out in horizontal sleet/driving rain at this phase in my life. I have spent enough of it riding in all weathers, regardless - but now, I just suit myself, no pressure, great! :D
I pretty much turn away for the winter, when there's too much ice here to make it possible in Dec/Jan and some of February.
 
I have my horses at home and definitely ride less than when they were on livery. As you say by the time you have done the chores you can't be botherd! Mine are also out 24/7 and don't really get ridden from dec- feb unless weather is especially mild. Just starting To get riding again now. As someone else said I find riding first thing or later in the day helps. You then feel you have time to do other things. Once the weather gets better you will get into it again.
 
This time of year is tough and on the back of a pretty rubbish summer motivation is low for lots of people, there was one lady on here who said it was the most difficult 10 months of horse keeping in her 30 years of horse ownership!

If you can do anything to cut down on the chores (good suggestions above), even employ someone to poo pick fields or muck out for you a couple of days a week - go for it.

Or/ and - give them a planned couple of months off each winter (which is what I do).

My boy is an eventer and very used to time off at the end of the season, he relaxes, any minor niggle injuries sort themselves out, shoes off so his feet get a break, I don't put any pressure on myself to ride and then in early spring I'd desparate to get back on - even with terrible weather. If I ride up to Christmas holidays then give him 6/8 weeks off - it makes next to no difference to his fitness either (he gets lots of turnout).
 
I'm competing one at weekends - he has a lesson once a week, schooling once and possibly a hack and then the comp on the Sunday. The other one is hacking out as and when - mainly depending on the weather - he certainly isn't complaining! Rode him last Monday and we had a thoroughly good time - it's been too cold since and visibility's not been good enough to venture out onto the roads.

Once we have some light nights again I'll be riding both in the evening and hacking out - right now it's not possible. I rode more when on Livery, but that's only because I schooled in an Indoor school all the time - and I'd rather not be riding than doing that everyday now! I do wish I had a school at home though, so I could Lunge or Loose School as and when I wanted to keep them fit.

ETA: They also live on the yard/ track/paddock 24/7 so aren't stood in doing nothing and do maintain a reasonable fitness.
 
niagaraduval said:
Might have to see about that for next winter then :)

Thanks for the waterbag idea, I have seen these kind of things before, the thing is I use water from my kitchen sink...and wouldn't know how to fill it as sink is opposite side of kitchen door .. :(
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I'm a catering manager, in the past when I've had to hump water around I've used old 20ltr oil containers, they are plastic and come for free, if you know anyone who has a catering business/pub etc I'm sure they'd give you them for free
 
When the weather is horrid and i cant get out I hate not having facilities :( So having them at own place can be annoying yes.

I have four to look after at the minute, two to muck out 2 to hay and feed in the the field (of which the fenceline and gate is midcalf muck!!) and 3 of those to ride and this week with the gorgeous weather its just kick started me to get them going as I have comps in 10 weeks as well as schooling and lessons so need to get them fittened up :)

Once Im going and the weather gets better i find it easy but in the middle of winter I get a bit despondant and feel all im doing is the chores.
 
at home, no arena and work full time
i fit it in where i can, before work, weekends, soon it will be light enough for after work. i don't need motivation (i love it) it's TIME i need:D
 
Endomondo! It's a mobile app that tracks your hacks. Gives u times, speeds and a satellite map showing exactly where you've been. You can enter challenges, most miles etc with other riders all over the world. At first it's just kinda Nice to track your own progress, see your horse getting faster as they get fitter. But then you look at the challenge tables and start wanting to go out for an extra mile or two to get ahead of someone from Sweden or the
usa. it's a bit addictive
 
I've got my own horse plus loan mare both living here at home with me, plus livery with her horses.

Yes agree with OP and others that if you keep them at home its really hellishly difficult to get motivated and get out there riding.

If you're keeping them at home, you end up having to do everything yourself. I'm self employed so can fit things around the way I need, BUT struggle particularly in the darker winter months to get everything done during daylight AND find time to ride too. Especially this winter as its been so cold, miserable and wet, I have to confess I've seriously lacked the motivation to do anything.

I do have a friend who rides out with me at weekends and once during the week when the nights are light enough, and that's a lifesaver basically. I probably wouldn't venture out when the weather's a bit chillsome (am a bit of a wimp:)) but having someone who wants to ride out with me, gives me the kick in the right place which is what I need! If going with someone else, it really is a good motivator to get yourself up in the saddle - and once you're up, the weather really isn't so bad as it seems dismounted.
 
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