riding in the snow?

[BroadfordQueen]

simple question really- do you/would you do it?

 

[jcberry]

not after 'Horse Whisperer'

kinda put me off

 

[vicijp]

If we know the ground is ok underneath then we roll a track with the quad bike.
Dont think that will be happening tomorrow - ground has been frozen solid all day.
Cant even use the AW in the snow - cant do a thing with it when theres snow on top.

 

[buddly]

depends where and how bad. the horses tend to get snow balls in feet so not very good for their legs!

 

[RunToEarth]

Yes we are like you vici. When its this cold I dont, and I never hack out on roads in snow, tend to just stick to fields and such, Asbo horse Eric doesnt go out in it at all ridden- he has the urge to roll in white stuff, regardless of who is on board.

 

[monica987]

i would - depending on ground underneath, but it is mainly grass in ciren park so i think it wud be ok

 

[madgirl]

probably not. Not after a horse of my dads friends got snow balls in his shoes and slid on the other snow and ice and fell over.

 

[Malibu]

i used to go out in deep snow with Malibu and Impy, but this was in stuble fields and dirt gallop, was great, fun just walked and played about really!

 

[piaffe]

[ QUOTE ]
probably not. Not after a horse of my dads friends got snow balls in his shoes and slid on the other snow and ice and fell over.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ive seen that happen so, no, I wouldn't ride in the snow.

 

[BroadfordQueen]

snowballs in horses feet was my concern too, which is why i have never ridden in snow before, but my friend said to me today, "if it snows tomorrow, want to go out for a ride with me?"..i said no, she said why, then we had a "debate" about riding in the snow

 

[druid]

Yes but only on all rubber school with vaseline inside hooves to prevent snow balls

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

Not after watching the horse whisperer!!

 

[madgirl]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
probably not. Not after a horse of my dads friends got snow balls in his shoes and slid on the other snow and ice and fell over.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ive seen that happen so, no, I wouldn't ride in the snow.

[/ QUOTE ]

think it would be terifying and not worth the risk TBH! i know in places with loves of snow you get different shoes!

 

[Tia]

If I didn't ride in the snow then it would mean that I would have to stop riding for about 4 or 5 months of every year, so yes of course I ride in the snow

.

 

[RunToEarth]

Do you ride them out in snow shoes tia?

 

[Tierra]

I like riding in the snow, but I stick to our outdoor school and it does depend on how hard the surface is underneath. If its frozen solid with snow on, then no, I dont bother because i wont ride on a hard rutty surface. If the surface is soft and then it snows, i love it! Always put vaseline in his hooves to stop the snow balling up and then Im off.

Its great for seeing where your horse's feet are through lateral work too

 

[Tia]

LOL!!

2 of them are shod and they are ridden 3 to 4 times a week. The others are all barefoot.

 

[Tia]

Actually you weren't so far off the mark with your snowshoes comment - over here they shoe with corks in the shoes. Perhaps ask your farrier if they have corks over in England yet?

 

[Irishcobs]

Only if its not icy or hard, rutted ground under the snow. And with Vaseline in the hooves like Druid said. Haven't as yet ridden in snow as the ground is usually rubbish under it.

 

[Clodagh]

Your snow is frozen though, so dry and powdery I assume?

I have ridden in it like that over here, but sadly usually squishy stuff (better for snowmen and snowball fights, though!).
I have tried filling horses feet up with tractor grease, it helped but not enough that I'd want to be on them! Means I can turn them out, though.

 

[faerie666]

I grew up in Germany, so lots of snow in the winter, and we used to ride in it everyday. Most of the horses weren't shod though, and the ones that were either had lots of hoof oil on the soles before riding, or they got special rubber tubes put inside the shoes on the soles to stop the snow balling up.

 

[bellgave]

Druid i right, I put lots of Vaseline on the sole and it seems to help prevent snow balls!!!!!!!

 

[vivhewe]

Not at home I wouldn't. Our fields are both on hills and if the neddies slip they'll probably get up by themselves. I just know I'll get squashed

Having said that mine are barefoot and so probably with vaseline they'd be okay. Not chancing it though.

 

[helenandshadow]

Yes, depending on the ground underneath.

 

[alfirules]

i they salt all of the roads which they often do, i go for a hack around the lanes. but if they havent then i wouldnt!

 

[MillionDollar]

Yes definitely!!! If we have snow tomorrow im going out in it first thing! I only go in the fields and will only walk. And to prevent snowballs i'll put hoof oil on the sole.

 

[Sal_E]

No - definitely not.

 

[Chex]

I generally don't ride in the snow, Chex has the sort of feet that gather snowballs - and it doesn't fall out again when the other horses do, doesn't matter what I put in them either

Have nothing against riding in the snow though, especially in fields, if his feet didn't ball.

 

[pottamus]

No way, I am straight out onto un-gritted roads & steep hills here...not possible in ice, never mind snow.

 

[filly190]

No, because of the snow compacking in the hoofs, even with greese it doesnt stop it.

I think you would need studs in the shoes for extra grip, but I personally would,nt chance it. The horse will naturally balance itself, but with a rider onboard affecting the balance and giving aids, the horse will follow the rider, rather than using its own judgement - hence a possible fall or slip