Riding in the wind

[Horsekaren]

Do you do it? How windy is to windy for you?
I'm set to have a lesson this morning and I can see on the weather the wind speed is going to be 20mph :O .... for me that is really windy. I only plan on schooling but I know there is going to be some spooking which I hate.. im not the best rider by a very very long way, still trying to shake off my novice title!

WWYD leave today and ride tomorrow or confront your fears and just do it???

 

[be positive]

As you are having a lesson it is the ideal opportunity to ride in the wind with support to advise you on how to cope, if we only rode when the weather suited us there would be rather a lot of days missed, I wouldn't hack in really windy weather but will school in almost anything as it is good for the horses to learn to listen even when there are distractions.

 

[hairycob]

I would school unless it's blowing a gale but I would probably do more TREC obstacles in walk and trot e.g. practise s-bends, small circles, small figure of 8 round cones etc to engage his brain

 

[milliepops]

As you are having a lesson it is the ideal opportunity to ride in the wind with support to advise you on how to cope, if we only rode when the weather suited us there would be rather a lot of days missed,

^^ this

I ride in all weathers, I compete all year round so the horses just have to learn to suck it up. Has to be pretty extreme for me not to ride - if it's a hacking day I pop some ear covers on and that seems to take the edge off their reactivity if the hedges are rustling about etc.

 

[AFB]

I'm lucky to have off road riding so would use that when there's high winds, I'll hack in wind but not blowing a gale as I don't think it's worth the risk with inconsiderate drivers.

However I do draw the line at riding in the rain!

 

[Amye]

I ride in the wind. I'd hack in 20mph wind but I don't if it's really really bad (I normally go to the yard and see how bad it is there and then decide). I would school in wind. My boy is pretty good when it's windy, he wears ear covers and is slightly more alert but nothing unmanageable. I'm always a bit more on the look out of for things that may blow/flap so I can stop them before he does an deal with it.

I think you should go for it, you'll be with an instructor so will have support and I think it's good for them to get used to riding in all weathers!

 

[SEL]

I'd definitely have a lesson in the wind. With someone bellowing at you it will make you concentrate and you'll probably find you relax and then your horse relaxes.

What I wouldn't do though is try and pop a rainsheet on a horse in the field in the wind. Both of us ended up wearing the rug over our heads this morning......

 

[rachk89]

Yeah have the lesson. I probably wouldn't hack in windy weather but will school. Oddly my horse is less spooky in the rattly indoor arena with a lot of noise than he is outside when windy. You'd think all of the metal clanging would make him freak plus the birds flying in to get out of the bad weather, but he's just not bothered. Outside, different story, he's a total wimp.

 

[Annagain]

Our yard is at the top of a hill so it's nearly always windy. There's a big difference between not riding in the wind because the horses might be a bit spooky (which doesn't happen) and there being safety reasons not to. Archie dodged a bullet one day last winter when it was his day to be ridden. The wind was so bad, I was worried the barn roof was coming off and the direction of it would have blown it straight into the arena. For the same reason, I tend to avoid the woods in very strong winds, as we get a lot of trees coming down in those conditions. I like going to the beach if it's a bit windy (as long as it's not too bad to tow). It's always windy there so the horses don't react to a bit more wind like they might at home. 20mph is a gentle breeze where I am so they'd get ridden. Trying something new when your instructor is around is the ideal time.

 

[scats]

I ride the Diva in any wind (unless dangerously windy), she's a bit on her toes but nothing major. I had developed a weird wind phobia on other horses after a few mishaps on sharp and spooky things, but I've ridden new horse in the wind all week with no bother.

 

[Birker2020]

I think everyone should ride in all different kinds of weather conditions, especially if you compete.I have often done dressage whilst its been hammering down with rain or nearly blowing me sideways. I don't jump - its never appealed to me, but if I did that is the only time I'd not ride in strong winds in case fillers or wings came down on the approach.

 

[Horsekaren]

Right so the advise seems to be Suck It Up and get on with it! :O haha I was hoping some of the more nervous riders out there would have said cancel! OK here goes!!! Wind i'm coming for you!!!!
Thanks for the advise regarding ear covers, I didn't realize they were to help with noise I just assumed they were because people wanted there horses to look pretty in hats :'D

I will deffo look into these!

Thanks

 

[Annagain]

I think everyone should ride in all different kinds of weather conditions, especially if you compete.I have often done dressage whilst its been hammering down with rain or nearly blowing me sideways. I don't jump - its never appealed to me, but if I did that is the only time I'd not ride in strong winds in case fillers or wings came down on the approach.

You just weigh them down with sandbags

 

[Antw23uk]

Go and get on it, your horse will be far too busy listening to you than worrying about whats flapping about remember

 

[DabDab]

I don't ride on the road if the wind is so bad I can't hear the cars, but schooling or off road hacking yes absolutely unless I think there is a genuine risk something might fall on me.

Actually I generally find that I'm more bothered by the wind than the horses

ETA: if the wind is at the point of blowing the jumps over then I won't jump in the wind either

 

[Annagain]

Right so the advise seems to be Suck It Up and get on with it! :O haha I was hoping some of the more nervous riders out there would have said cancel! OK here goes!!! Wind i'm coming for you!!!!
Thanks for the advise regarding ear covers, I didn't realize they were to help with noise I just assumed they were because people wanted there horses to look pretty in hats :'D

I will deffo look into these!

Thanks

The difference in this post and your previous ones is lovely. A few months ago you were too nervous to ride for more than 5 minutes. The positivity in this is palpable. Well done!

 

[Amye]

Right so the advise seems to be Suck It Up and get on with it! :O haha I was hoping some of the more nervous riders out there would have said cancel! OK here goes!!! Wind i'm coming for you!!!!
Thanks for the advise regarding ear covers, I didn't realize they were to help with noise I just assumed they were because people wanted there horses to look pretty in hats :'D

I will deffo look into these!

Thanks

haha alot of people do wear them as fashion accessories but they do have a bit of a purpose My boy has a hi-viz one for hacking (as i read if he puts his head up he can cover your hi-viz jacket from the front) and he has a blue one for if it's windy schooling or lots of flies to keep them out his ears (He does also look pretty ).

I also agree with annagain! Lovely to see you progressing with your boy! Face the wind and go for it! You're in the school with an instructor so a nice environment for you and your horse and you don't have to do too much if you're a bit nervous - I'm sure your instructor will have lots of ideas to get him listening to you

 

[Pinkvboots]

I don't think 20 mile an hour wind is windy I would still ride like normal 60 mile an hour wind that's what I call windy.

 

[Horsekaren]

Thanks I really have turned a corner! Yipppiii!!!!

I'm currently having 3 lessons with different instructors each week, I try and hack him out 2 times a week (just at walk and trot for now as i'm still working on my canter)
my loaner left so no excuses now! its all on me! and do you know what.... its working!!! head over heels for my horse at the moment he is a trooper!
My nerves are settling and he is sooooo much calmer for it

I think the post you were referring to was my low point

The difference in this post and your previous ones is lovely. A few months ago you were too nervous to ride for more than 5 minutes. The positivity in this is palpable. Well done!

 

[Annagain]

Thanks

I think the post you were referring to was my low point

We've all been there

 

[melbournesunrise]

Normally I'd school in the wind, instead of hack, as my horse is overly spooky! I hate it, but can generally ride him through it. Even so, hacking in this wind does run the risk of branches falling, which isn't too good.

Unfortunately, my horse is on light hacking until Saturday after a visit from the back lady, which means no schooling Had to put my big girl pants on this morning and hack him out, which we survived (after an almost-spin because of a flappy leaf...)

 

[Beth206]

I am with the majority too - I would school in the wind but not hack out. We have lots of roads to navigate before we get off road and I just don't think it's worth the risk. I have never thought about using ear covers before as suggested my millie - my mare can be a bit looky asif she is looking and listening for something to spook at so they could be a good shout!

 

[MuddyMonster]

It has to be pretty extreme (e.g. dangerous) for me to not ride. I had to be careful as my horse was so reactive to wind (and rain ... ) but over the years we've had many a training sesion/lesson over the years so he doesn't care anymore!

We have off road hacking, so can either school or hack

 

[CrazyMare]

Providing I'm not going to be blown off, I will ride!!

 

[Meredith]

I don't ride across the hilltop in bad winds since doing rising trot one windy day and coming down and finding no horse under me. I had been blown sideways.
The trees in the woods crash together over our heads and my horse really hates it so I don't ride then either.
Today I have ridden on the lanes but that was quite bad. I don't remember strong winds years ago. Perhaps it is just age getting to me.

 

[meesha]

Rode this morning, hacking buddy was very brave as she really hates the wind and it was blowing a gail at top of hill although most of roadwork not windy at all as high hedging. My chap is very calm in countryside in wind but jumpy through village not helped by car starting as I was alongside (he was parked up) he must have done something odd as car squealed and horse jumped out of skin to other side of road! Driver didn't even notice, although how u can miss us is a mystery haha.

 

[Kat]

I ride in all weather. The more you do it the less bothered you and your horse will be, treat it as a learning experience!

I only don't ride if there is a serious chence of being hit by flying debris or if it is too icy to get off the yard. I did once cut a schooling session short as I was worried about the roof coming off one of the out buildings but generally if I want to ride or have booked a lesson I ride.

I won't tow in high winds or ice though.

 

[coss]

I'm more likely to ride in wind than rain and hate riding if there is both! My judge of "is it too windy?" is "can i walk/run without feeling like i'm fighting to stay on my feet?" - if I can walk/run then i can ride... if i can't, the liklihood is that i will be blown off balance when riding. That doesn't mean I haven't ridden in gales (60mph+) but stick to slower speeds as even rising trot can be problematic if it's gusty!

 

[Ceriann]

I would ride - probably school not hack as I'm only just getting my confidence back hacking (though I hacked Monday and it was pretty windy with us). We don't have the weather in the Uk not too - I've been drenched riding each of the last 3 days (including a lesson).

 

[melbournesunrise]

Just bought a beautiful cornflower blue set of ear covers to try out on my horse following the earlier suggestion. Fingers crossed!