how do you cope with....

harrihjc

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Really bad weather when it comes to exercising your horses? We've had really heavy rain and strong winds for days now, and so Flash has had a few days off, but I've been ill too so had double excuses
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Do you usually grit your teeth and get on with it, or give them a few days off to save both of you from drowning /pneumonia!?
 
Just leave them for a few days, if weather is yuck or i'm ill. Not gonna worry them, they are out 24/7 at th emoment and when they come in will be out at least 12 hours a day.
 
haha, I guess I am to some extent, I don't mind either the cold, or the wind, or the rain, but any combination of the 3 tends to put a stop to it! If I wouldn't want to run around in it I assume Flash doesn't either!
 
If I have a lesson and it's windy and raining I still ride but if it's just hacking I don't!! My horses get 8 hours turnout a day even in bad weather so at least they can get out and stretch their legs when not ridden.
 
Depends on the circumstances. If the horse doesn't get any turnout then I think you owe it to the horse to make sure it gets exercised. If you are keeping it fit for serious competition, then you need to go out in all sorts of weather.

But otherwise I don't really see the point!
 
Flash gets at least 10 hours turnout a day and spends it running round his huge field like a lunatic! He's been off work for 2 months and is slowly coming back into it, so I think in some ways it stops us from over-doing it
 
I'll ride in strong winds as neither horse is fussed by winds.
I don't mind getting soaked if I'm already out on a hack, but won't go out if it's pouring down, unless they've been in all day, in which case I pull on the waterproofs and get back as fast as I can
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if its bad then i dont ride......Frankie is an idiot anyway when it comes to bad weather - i had a lesson on him in the 'summer' in the wind and rain and he was just doing everything sideways with his head into his chest! no fun.

we are not competing so i dont see the point in getting wet or even riding him if i know he is not going to cooperate!
 
If it is hacking down then I won't go if I am out in it then fair enough. If it is raining I tend to lunge as I am too lazy to clean all my tack after!
 
At the yard I am at we have an indoor school so I'm lucky in that I can ride no matter what the weather. But then we need to be able to as our turnout closes over the winter. I'll hack out in the wind, but don't like to go out if it is pouring with rain as I'll end up getting ill!
 
Indoor school!
I wont have in strong winds - I can't hear the traffic and as its mostly single track narrow lanes I have to be able to hear it. It just isnt worth the risk. Rain doesnt bother me too much - however since having my new WOW if it is pelting down I don't ride in it
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i would but I havent got any stables so by the time ive tacked him up we'd both be drowned!!!
Im going to buy an exercise sheet just incase we get caught in showers as he'd never dry out!

Sophie x
 
Indoor school !

When its really windy she occasionally gets a bit over-excited when things rattle around outside, but in general, the indoor school is a complete life-saver on freezing cold winter evenings. Horsey is out for most of the day anyway, even though she isn't keen on being outside and is standing by the gate shouting to be let back in by the afternoon !
 
i'd loooooooooooove to have an idoor school where Frankie is! luckily there is one down the road that i could hire........however it opens at funny times and i work full time so it could prove difficult!
 
I'd love to have an indoor school but sadly haven't even got an outdoor suface at my yard! I take the approach that if I was at a competition I'd still be expected to ride a perfect dressage test whatever the weather so best get the practise in at home. At my trainers I have got access to an outdoor surface but it tends to get slippery when went so not for the faint hearted!
 
we are lucky and have an indoor school. I hate riding in the rain as I cannot see out of my glasses. Then they steam up and I cant see out of them
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At the moment I drag myself out no matter what cos he's only being ridden a couple of times per week with the dark nights. He is still on 24/7 turn out though but if I don't ride all weekend it puts me in a bad mood for the following week!!!!!!! Bailey isn't bothered about the wind or rain etc. and we're stabled on a private estate where horses take priority over cars so hardly see any traffic!
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In summer though if the weather is bad one particular day and I don't feel like riding I don't bother - I do try not to ride if I'm not in the right frame of mind as we tend to disagree!!!!!!
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I try not to ride in strong winds but as I live in Tewkesbury riding in rain/water was unavoidable this summer!! We have an outdoor school which we had to abandon using because it was like riding in quick sand so had to resort to roads
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We have an indoor school at the yard I'm at (although it is a very poor school!) Although I'll still hack out or school in the outdoor if its raining, sleeting, hailing etc. I won't however, hack or venture to the outdoor if it's windy. I HATE the wind with a passion...it gives me ear infections, and I always feel like I'm about to get blown off....so i stick to the indoor when its windy!
 
In that case I think I know where you are based Zalacca! Some of my friends in Tewkesbury had horses that were chest deep in water when the floods were at the worst but at least i had a few days holiday due to not being able to make it to my office just off the M5...
 
We leave our lot to it, they really couldn't care less and they are the sort that don't get wound up if not exercised. I'd love an indoor school - actually, I'd be very happy with an outdoor school!
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