Rain guilt

[Pmf27]

I've recently taken a lovely gelding on part loan and he's a superstar, hacks out alone no problem and is great fun.

Today it's been pissing it down all day but it wasn't torrential when I got to the yard, so I decided I'd crack on with a hack.

He was so snuggly and warm in his stable though that I felt guilty! He had his ears pricked all the way around our route, so I assume he wasn't too bothered but I still felt a little bad because he got absolutely drenched.

Does anyone else feel guilty about riding in the rain or am I being soft? ?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Yes! I do sometimes but exercise is good for yours and your horses mental health ? so once you were finished, I presume you gave him a treat and tucked him up again? Lol ?

 

[greenbean10]

I do too! ?

I am more than happy to cover myself head to toe in waterproofs, but my biggest problem with the rain is that I know my horses don't like it. If the horses didn't mind the rain then I would just crack on!

 

[Pmf27]

Yes! I do sometimes but exercise is good for yours and your horses mental health ? so once you were finished, I presume you gave him a treat and tucked him up again? Lol ?

I certainly did! He got wrapped up in his fleece while I mucked out around him, giving him lots of fuss and treats. He was warm and dry again by the time I went to leave, with a big fluffy bed waiting for him ?

Perhaps I shouldn't feel too guilty...haha

 

[Pmf27]

I do too! ?

I am more than happy to cover myself head to toe in waterproofs, but my biggest problem with the rain is that I know my horses don't like it. If the horses didn't mind the rain then I would just crack on!

I'm glad it's not just me! I am thinking of buying waterproof horse gear for this very purpose, so I don't feel like the witch that's dry in her own waterproof while poor horse has to trudge about all wet ?

 

[Barton Bounty]

I certainly did! He got wrapped up in his fleece while I mucked out around him, giving him lots of fuss and treats. He was warm and dry again by the time I went to leave, with a big fluffy bed waiting for him ?

Perhaps I shouldn't feel too guilty...haha

Well there you go! BB used to hate the rain but now if hes got his rain sheet on we just go out! It is scotland after all and it rains 80% of the time lol

 

[Pmf27]

Well there you go! BB used to hate the rain but now if hes got his rain sheet on we just go out! It is scotland after all and it rains 80% of the time lol

That's the thing, it rains so often I tell myself "if I didn't ride in the rain I'd not ride at all".

I'd like to get him a waterproof exercise sheet so that I can assuage the guilt somewhat!

 

[Barton Bounty]

That's the thing, it rains so often I tell myself "if I didn't ride in the rain I'd not ride at all".

I'd like to get him a waterproof exercise sheet so that I can assuage the guilt somewhat!

Ive got one, its like a regular rug with the saddle cutout, its great

 

[Fieldlife]

I do too! ?

I am more than happy to cover myself head to toe in waterproofs, but my biggest problem with the rain is that I know my horses don't like it. If the horses didn't mind the rain then I would just crack on!

Not sure about this. My horse is quite happy out in the field in the rain.

 

[greenbean10]

Not sure about this. My horse is quite happy out in the field in the rain.

Thinking about it, so is mine ? Maybe they’ve just got me figured out.

 

[Starzaan]

Maybe I’m mean but I haven’t yet met a horse that has melted in the rain.
They are out all day in all weathers, they can work in it too.

 

[Fieldlife]

Thinking about it, so is mine ? Maybe they’ve just got me figured out.

LOL I’m aware of horses that dislike the rain at all times. One in my horse’s herd group run into shelter when it rains. My horse is unphased and quite happy to stand out in the rain.

I find the rain miserable. But half of that is all the wet stuff generated afterwards!

 

[Barton Bounty]

Maybe I’m mean but I haven’t yet met a horse that has melted in the rain.
They are out all day in all weathers, they can work in it too.

???

 

[Lady Jane]

I feel guilty when I wimp out because of the rain not because my horse may get wet. If its bad I ride in a rain sheet especially if the going is such I can't keep him moving enough to stay warm

 

[SEL]

I've got one who hates rain (in the field too) but the other doesn't seem to really notice so he hacks out in anything.

 

[dogatemysalad]

I'm in the middle here. I don't school in heavy rain, because, a) I don't need to and b) because its not fun for the horse to ask the horse to soften and bend when battling against a monsoon.
Hacking in heavy rain depends on how much turnout they have. If they're stuck in a stable because YO has closed the fields, I'll whack an exercise sheet on and get them out. If we're already out and get caught in a storm, they're always brilliant and stoic, but it isn't something I'd usually choose for them. Light rain is OK.
My motto is, if its not fun for both of us or necessary for exercise and well being, it's not happening.

 

[spotty_pony]

I’m the opposite - I feel guilt because mine have had a duvet day, not that they look bothered in the slightest. The spotty one hates the rain and I’ve hardly seen him look over his door all day he is so disgusted with the weather. And the Friesian is like scooby-doo in the rain and after a fairly recent slip and sprain I’m playing it safe. It really hasn’t stopped here all day so they’ve been tucked up nice and warm with plenty of hay to munch on.

 

[Peglo]

I don’t hack in the rain in winter. I have no interest in getting soaked and cold and pony doesn’t like it either. If neither is having fun I don’t see the point. But we’re up north and rain is usually accompanied by wind and no sheltered routes. (No trees up here) we also don’t have anything to train for through the winter so happy to leave her rugged up in the field. If I need a mood boost I will go a run instead. I’m pretty soft though.

 

[saddlesore]

I live in Scotland, if I don’t ride in the rain I don’t ride ?

 

[blitznbobs]

Rain guilt happens with horses— i felt guilty yesterday cos i put them all out in the horrendous onslaught of rain and feel guilty today because I havent… i hate winter

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I tend not to ride in heavy rain Arabi absolutely hates the rain he has on occasion tried to turn and run home, he will also whip round in the school when his had enough of it so I don't bother riding him.

My other one doesn't mind the rain but it's more the fact that I don't like getting soaked so I am a bit of a fair weather rider ?

 

[MuddyMonster]

I'm beginning to feel guilty reading this thread that I'll turn out and ride mine regardless of the rain (and the dark, wind and most other weathers) ?

 

[Annagain]

No, because I'm a bit of a fair weather rider! I don't mind if it rains once I'm on but there's something about getting ready in the rain that I hate. This is because I hate it though, not because I feel guilty about the horses.

Since retiring, Arch is out naked. I used to feel guilty about him getting wet in the rain until the Christmas before last. We had 2 months' worth of rain in 4 hours and my village made national news for flooding. When I went to get the horses in (a few hours early) all the rugged ones were soaked through and shivering. I had to change their rugs. Arch was wet on the surface but dry as a bone on his skin and toasty warm. I don't worry about him any more.

 

[exracehorse]

There’s rain. And then there’s rain. I’ll ride out as long as the wind is not driving the rain into her face as she hates that and puts her head to one side.

 

[catkin]

I'm beginning to feel guilty reading this thread that I'll turn out and ride mine regardless of the rain (and the dark, wind and most other weathers) ?

Don't feel guilty, I don't (though I do have native ponies so they are built for bad weather). I don't hack out if it is icy, very foggy or very high winds as that's just dangerous but most other stuff out we go.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I live in Scotland, if I don’t ride in the rain I don’t ride ?

You and me both! ?

 

[humblepie]

I quite like riding in the rain provided not sideways howling gale rain and he seems to quite like splashing his way through puddles.

 

[Carrottom]

I hate getting on in the rain but will be happy to continue if it starts once I'm on.
My current horse is fine in field if its raining because he can turn his bum to it, but if I try to school in anything more than drizzle it's a nono.

 

[Pmf27]

I'm feeling a lot less guilty after reading some of these replies, knowing I'm not the only one dragging a snuggly pony out of his stable ?

He's usually out during the day, but owner keeps him in when it's non-stop rain. I, on the other hand, am well prepared for rain and have many a decent waterproof so certainly don't mind it.

Am now on the hunt for a waterproof exercise sheet...

 

[Barton Bounty]

I'm feeling a lot less guilty after reading some of these replies, knowing I'm not the only one dragging a snuggly pony out of his stable ?

He's usually out during the day, but owner keeps him in when it's non-stop rain. I, on the other hand, am well prepared for rain and have many a decent waterproof so certainly don't mind it.

Am now on the hunt for a waterproof exercise sheet...

The way I see it is, if you pop a wee sheet on them they will be more than happy going out. BB hates the wind going up his bum tail area ?