Time of day for training or riding

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humblepie

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Just a musing I have often thought about and thought of again when riding yesterday morning. Racehorses are exercised in the morning, often early but generally compete afternoon or evening when they would be on their down time or snooze time. I generally ride in the morning but will sometimes ride afternoons if have a lesson or after work. Our competitions have varied from 7.30 am start through to his first test of the day at the RoR champs a few years back being 8.30 pm at night and at others the showing championship will be well into the evening. I can recall jumping at 11pm years ago. Not sure where I am going with this but just something I have mused upon as to performance and time of day.
 
I tend to ride before work as too knackered later in the day, except if having a lesson. If I'm not competing at the weekend I also ride early morning as I like my time at home over the weekend. I like times in the morning for comps purely because I've to get it over and done with!! I havnt noticed any issues with performance at any time of day with my ex racer.
 
I ride at all different times of the day, usually more dependent on when the arena will be free than anything else, as I'm on a pro/training yard and there are often lessons going on . i can share the arena but I prefer not to if it's at all avoidable, i always think it's nicer having the space to yourself for a lesson.

Unless the weather is crazily hot or the horses get stuffed with grass I don't generally notice much of a difference. it affects me more, i'm better in the morning than after a hard day at work.
 
I rode at different times of the day and during the winter compete in the evening dressage series at a local competition centre. I do prefer to ride first thing though as I get less motivated as the day goes on.
 
I ride first thing. Just what works for me time wise and personally too. I like to relax in the eve, if I’ve had a stressful day the last thing I want to do is ride tbh. Took me years to figure that one out!
 
I’m not a morning person and the yard tends to be quite a journey, so I’m an evening rider in the week and late morning/lunchtime at weekends. As the horses tend to come in around 3/4pm I try to avoid day time so they get max turn out. For comps I prefer later times to allow for travel and prep time (everything seems to be 1hr plus away and I’m so slow!), otherwise I am up at the crack of dawn which I’d rather avoid.

ETA only time I’ve noticed a change in horse energy was when they were out overnight and competed straight out in the morning when they would normally snooze.
 
For me, I prefer to ride 1st thing, like others I lose momentum during the day.

However, if I'm getting very fit or going to a camp where I'll be riding at least twice a day, then I'll add an afternoon or early evening session too at least 2 weeks prior, tho this is more likely to be a schooling hack out as I'll work harder in the morning then.
 
Usually morning , as I am up early and gives me the day free. On a Saturday Ill often ride later, so I can finish work early and spend more time down the yard of an afternoon/evening.
 
Getting up and riding before work is better for me, as I don't take any work stress to the yard. But my young horse became more difficult to ride at other times; she'd got set in her routine. So we've spent the summer mixing it up, and I've mainly ridden in the evenings. If/when we get the indoor school back, I'm looking forwards to going back to morning rides. The outdoor is too challenging in the mornings as all the other horses are lead past it to be turned out. She's only 5, so that's a bit more of an ask than I'm prepared to do at the moment. Since I started mixing riding times up, she adjusted well and works nicely at whatever time of day now. Which, as you point out, is handy for shows!
 
Yes on the mixing it for shows - my horse had a first round final on Saturday at 8.00 am, another class at 2 pm and was back in the evening performance at 9.00 pm at night. Lots of snoozing in between.
 
Always prefer mornings to ride, don't like late times for competing. My NF mare was quite spooky if ridden in the evening, i think it was the fact her shadow was in a different place!
 
I’m not a morning person. I often ride at 9 or 10pm. I try to keep him on a cycle of in at night as otherwise he expects a morning nap at 9am which is commonly competing time!
 
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