Riding in the snow

R

retired eventer

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Does anyone have any views on riding in the snow ? We only have about 4 inches and don't need to go near any roads, but what about balling in the feet and icing up so it doesn't want to drop out ? Or will it eventually ? My mare has heel wedges in front. Shod recently so fresh nails for extra grip ??
 
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I put vaseline in on the base of hooves, stops them balling up as much. I've ridden out in the snow, but wouldn't entertain the idea of going out on the roads today.
 
Sadly my hacking is all on roads where the snow has compacted and is more like ice than snow now. If we had fields to ride over I might have considered it today.
 
If the roads were clearer and horse not on box rest I would hack out with Hi Viz and knee boots
but as I cannot and the roads are not clear we have an indoor school to use.
 
RunToEarth said:
I put vaseline in on the base of hooves, stops them balling up as much. I've ridden out in the snow, but wouldn't entertain the idea of going out on the roads today.
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^ This. I also put vasaline on to turn out in snow to stop it balling up so much!

Ive ridden in the snow before, but not on roads - fields or school! The 'The Horse Whisperer' always came to mind and prevented me riding on snowy roads!
 
I rode this morning - used vaseline and his hooves were ok. I had watched them all playing in the fields in the snow, and it was quite powdery and fine, and didn't ball up in the feet. They didn't slip either, so I thought I'd chance it. I think in a day or two it probably will ball up and be icier.

I only went in the big field and did big circles on an area I know is flat and no rabbit holes. He worked really well and found it quite hard as it was quite deep.
 
muckypony said:
'The Horse Whisperer' always came to mind and prevented me riding on snowy roads!
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Yuk, don't say that. Last time I hacked a couple of days ago, there is a uphill lane that was covered in ice, had a flashback to that film, which is horrific! Luckily I went on the grass verge.
Not going to risk riding until there is no ice, the lanes around here are all compacted snow now.
Goose fat is excellent to stop snow balling in feet (helpful only if you happened to have goose for xmas!)
 
I hacked out in the snow this morning. Was fab, had some lovely canters. I have an Icelandic so he was in his element. Love riding in the snow!
 
We've had only about an inch of snow but its ontop of ice. The arena is frozen & the off road hacking is frozen ruts so we donned loads of hi viz & went for a plod into the town today, well the daughter riding & me on my bike :) The main roads were perfect & the pony was a dobbin despite being kept in for 5 days due to the yard being an ice rink! The only problem was the daughter moaning her toes were freezing!!
 
Our snow is not too bad, the roads are clear so we went for a little potter down the village, I would go on the bridleways as well but probably keep it to a relaxed amble :-)
 
muckypony said:
Ive ridden in the snow before, but not on roads - fields or school! The 'The Horse Whisperer' always came to mind and prevented me riding on snowy roads!
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This is what puts me off!! I would have to ride on untreated road/lanes to get anywhere. It's not the horses slipping which worries me (although untreated surface which has had traffic on it and snow compacted pretty lethal) it's the car coming round the bend, automatically braking upon seeing horses ..... I've been in my car and braked on snow/ice and the way the car sped up when going into a skid was scary :eek: I wouldn't take mine anywhere traffic likely to be - unless of course treated roads where snow has been cleared

Can't even get round lanes to mine in trusty Shogun Warrior last 2 days - 1st time in 5 years. Parked just off main road and walked the final mile with the dogs - quite pleasant, if a little chilly, and dogs definitely had fun! Horses also had fun out in school in the deep snow having a roll, play and run about together :)
 
Two years ago when we had bad snow I was only one going out. Stick to the bridlepaths though, not go near the roads. At mo horse has no shoes on so no problems with balling. Only went down small bridlepath and back today. Is a short lane to get on next bridlepath, didnt try it today. Want to walk it and see how icy first as just comeo ff box rest and don't want to risk her!
 
The shoeless ones definatly have the edge in this weather .
We will walk round and around a flat area in the field when the snow still soft I think there's too much snow in my school now for me to be able to keep it level
It was my non riding day today I will have to decide tomorrow though what to do .
Could not even consider the roads ATM .
 
I rode today (not on roads, just over the fields and in the school), mare was a little fresh to say the least round the fields, so did 20mins in the school (snow covered) when we got back. I took her shoes off a couple of months ago in readiness. ;)
 
So tempted to ride today, but my lad is so fresh with his self imposed staying in, I decided it might be safer to walk them out up the drive, he decided to have a roll, then took off squealing and bucking, good thing he was on the flat, did 2 circuits, then his lead rope dropped and he ground tethered himself.
He's getting long reined tomorrow, little beggar
 
I rode yesterday for over an hour on Cannock chase! It was amazing! Cantering along the snowy paths was awesome! We have a few hundred yards of road but it had been gritted so no worries with cars. The snow on the chase was really deepin places my horse didn't slip or falter once... But we are barefoot of course :D going again today! Woo!
 
Yes we did ride in the snow........ Because we had snow in the indoor school ;)
One of them was clear the orher one was snowed in :eek:

Wasn't very keen to go out. Eventhough both are barefeet, still a bit to scary with slippy hills.
 
Hoping to have a little bare back play in the fields today on the pony and my daughter will ride Titchy. My mare is injured, sob sob. None are shod so no problems with snow balling which is nice :)
 
Rode today in the school, which is of the magical variety that doesn't freeze, thank god! A few people had lunged so stuck to where there was less snow but it really wasn't that bad. No way I would risk the roads though, and it's still too muddy under the snow for fields.
 
Armed with full snow gear including my snowboard trousers! I took my big ex racer boy riding in the back fields today. It was really lovely and he went really well. He's barefoot and a very sensible well balanced lad so no problems whatsoever!

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We had an amazing ride galloping on virgin snow in the fields. None of them had any probs as was fluffy snow and our ex racer is shod fronts only anyway. She had a fab time having been cooped up for the past few days and it was probably the fastest she's ever galloped with us as she felt comfy on the soft snow!
 
The snow we have round our way is not the normal sticky-turn very quickly into ice-snow and seems to not compact so much in the hooves. I'm lucky that as nugz is shoeless I don't have this issue :D

I gave up on vaseline and oil based products - silicone spray worked for me (or canter mane & tail :D)
 
I dream of riding across the big field near me, with nice snow, maybe a foot or so deep, in a calm, relaxed canter. It's never going to happen because I have to negotiate a long slippery driveway and a bit of road first.
I rode in Switzerland once, was supposed to be out on the ski slopes, but boooring! Went out with one groom, on a super fit sports horse. it was a bit disconcerting as they slithered on the road, but they had studs and were used to it. As we rode higher the snow came up to their chests. We cantered across an untouched area of snow, through some trees and pulled up to see the village below us like something on a Christmas card. That was one of the best rides ever.
 
That sounds lovely Tinypony! We did venture onto a track round a field today which was lovely, had to seize the opportunity to go out in company and very picturesque it was too.*Funny because its a random wheat field behind the park and ride car park and a very main road here but everything seems so peaceful in the snow. I am loving it as its less busy, drivers are more cautious and all the roads are gritted so no ice.

We've had a load of that gorgeous powdery snow today so now its properly ankle deep, I reckon its a bit like a school surface as long as you know its fairly flat underneath (i.e.) the less trodden areas of my field!

Also I think it stays lighter a lot longer in the snow, I often go to hay at about 9 or 10 and don't even need my head torch :-)
 
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