Riding EARLY early?

[spotty_pony]

Anybody do it? I've never done it before except for autumn hunting but planning to tomorrow morning so I can get out before it gets too hot. I have work at 9 and need to leave home by 8.30 so aiming to be out riding by 7am latest!

I am not a morning person and don't find getting up easy but I have set my alarm for 5.30am ? let's do this!

 

[milliepops]

Frequently!
I love how it sets me up for the day. Plus knowing there's just evening stables to do after work and getting finished early.

 

[skint1]

I used to regularly when I rode. It’s worth it, especially this time of year. Go for it and enjoy!

 

[Roxylola]

I've done it a lot this winter. Setting out for 7 means I'm mostly hacking in daylight and even if it were dark when I set off its getting lighter. I find I meet the same few dog walkers most mornings rather than hordes of folk out for a stroll as well

 

[sjdress]

I ride regularly at 6:30am. I need to to be able to make it to work on time!

 

[spotty_pony]

I am hoping I get to like it and can make it a regular thing, at least over the summer! Means I will have a lot more hours in the day. I do like riding in the evening but often find that as the day goes on my motivation goes too and I tend to think 'I will wait until tomorrow to ride now'! ?

Roxylola - Is it even light at 7 in the winter?! I am guessing you can get straight offroad?

 

[DabDab]

Yes, every day in winter pretty much. Generally I'm on board for 6am having got on the yard for 5:45.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Yes! When the cob who’s not a cob was in work we loved the early pre sun ride in summer

 

[Orangehorse]

It is lovely riding in the very early morning. You need to be back before the morning rush hour though

 

[Wheels]

Every winter for pretty much my entire working life - on board by 6am at the latest and it feels great!!

 

[MuddyMonster]

All the time. So much so, that I naturally wake up early even if not riding ?

If I ride first thing, I can't talk myself out of riding in the evening because I'm too tired, had a stressful day at work, got held up in traffic or any other reason.

 

[racebuddy]

Me all the time ?? to get ridden before work , especially when its hot too i was
Up
And on board for 6am this am ???

 

[ester]

Oh I thought you were at least going to be on horse by 5am lol.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I loved riding early before work I still do it in the summer to avoid the heat and horse flies.

 

[paddi22]

I hack at 6 every morning, love it. roads are quiet and it's so relaxing

 

[Winters100]

Always up early and love riding before anyone else arrives. To me it is a real bonus to have that time without any interruptions.

 

[Lyle]

When I was teaching, my days started at work at 7.30am, and frequently went until 5.30. I was usually spent at the end of the day, so would ride in the morning. Luckily my horse was yarded quite close to home. I would be up there at 5am, on by roughly 5.15/5.20am, off by 6am, horse packed up and in the field again by 6.20. I cpuld never get the generator to start to power tge lights on the arena, so would just ride in the arena in the dark/semi dark. Home, shower, breakfast, change and off to work by 7. It's really enjoyable and feels great to have that important part done so early. Priorities!

 

[wispagold]

This has reminded me of the times about 15 years ago when, in the summer I would often go on hacks at 4:30/5am (as soon as it was light enough to go) with 2 other liveries on the yard I was at. It was such a lovely feeling to be out in the fresh air when it was just you and the birds.

 

[Bradsmum]

Best time of the day. I have a head shaker and when I rode that was his best time and so more enjoyable for the both of us.

 

[Roxylola]

Roxylola - Is it even light at 7 in the winter?! I am guessing you can get straight offroad?

There's only about 4 weeks mid December to mid Jan where its not even starting to be light by 8, we're actually straight on to a main road, but its a 30mph and well lit. I also have a ton of lights and viz on

 

[foxy1]

Yes me too! Alarm set for 4.45, to be on board and riding by 5.30 (in the summer)

 

[SEL]

When the Appy was in work and it was hot I'd always have her out early - she doesn't sweat ?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Frequently on board at 5 am in summer. Need to be at work between 7 and 7.30. Usually too tired to rude in eves unless its my lesson!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Best time of the day. I have a head shaker and when I rode that was his best time and so more enjoyable for the both of us.

My old boy is a headshaker so I started riding early. Its become a habit now!

 

[Baywonder]

Oh yes, early morning rides were my absolute favourite on my old boy. The best time of the day IMHO.

 

[MissTyc]

Every now and then I try to make it to a low 5am tide in summer = leaving the yard by 4am ... that's EARLY early to me ... "normal early" would be riding at 6.30 and "early" being on horse between 5.30 and 6!

 

[Coblover63]

I shall be doing this once the horse flies emerge. I react badly to their bites so I'll be riding early in the hope that I'm up before them!! ?

 

[I'm Dun]

early EARLY is 4am not 7am

 

[TinseLeneHorse]

I had a wee amble down the road at seven this morning. Very peaceful and I saw a baby deer and a fox, neither of which were at all bothered by us. Just lovely.

 

[Snowfilly]

There is nothing better than a 5.00am hack on a summer morning, unless it was the summer mornings of my misspent youth where it was a 5.00am hack having not gone to bed the night before! Oh to have the stamina to do that again.

I can’t school in the mornings, I’m not conscious enough to be useful but it’s lovely just to ride and ride.

The local riding school has a 7.00am hack a couple of times a week, I often pass them out and about.