Weather - at what point do you say "nope, not riding in this"

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teapot

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Just wondering really seeing as the country's being battered by gales etc.

Where I have lessons, their policy is riding is an outdoor sport so ride in all weathers - 2 outdoor arenas. In the 6yrs I've been there I've had 2 lessons cancelled due to weather (snow was one & torrential rain was the other) had sm instead.

I rode out yesterday on the downs, was dry, mild but wind was there, was noticeable, not a gentle breeze. Started rain - sideways across open downs - wasn't too bad. Have ridden in worse.

Am hacking again tomorrow morning, weather forecast reads sunny, windy but not gale force by a long way. But mate & I have both said - it's it stupidly windy or chucking it down we won't ride.

What about you guys?
 
I ride in pretty much any weather, oh except ice and really bad snow, but in snow its awful to get of the yard down the hill, i have seen a few horses go on their bums so wont chance riding out will school instead,
 
I ride whatever the weather. Been out hacking today in the worst of the gales and rain. I wrap up well and don't mind too much - I also think it is really good education for the horses particularly as it was flooding today. You can't always choose your competition days to be still and sunny.

I do hate all the wet tack and things when we get back - that is the worst bit.

I think I have only not gone out once due to weather and that was when the wind was so bad things were taking off and it was dangerous.
 
We have three all in work and have a weekly planner so that only ride two each day and the other one gets lunged or turned out so ride in whatever weather. We do however have the use of an indoor school but in the windy weather the horses get terrified as it sounds as though the roof is coming off. Basically fed up with this weather.
 
My friend and i were discussing this just today whilst out riding in the gales and the torrential rain (complete with flooding)
I'm lucky that mine enjoys hacking whatever the weather so apart from trying to swing his quarters into icy winds once in a while it's not too bad. my friends mare isn't so enthusiastic - she's t/b so plods around ears back (not horribly, just fed up) she's a funny one though because if you don't take her out, she sulks!) you can't win with some horses!
i wont ride in ice or snow, i think that;s just dangerous.
as previously mentioned just wrap up warm and you'll be fine - the only problem being that every thing has it's saturation point! and again, as already said, the worst thing is all the wet, smelly clothing, bandages and tack at the end of it!

happy riding! x
 
i have to admit i,m a fair weather rider, as i,m getting on in years and health not the best..at this time of year my horses get fed, mucked out and turned out if i dont feel like riding i dont as its a hobby and not a need....
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I don't mind anything but Daisy was lucky not to injure herself today because the ground was so incredibly slippy after days of rain. We have clay soils and I can see that if it gets any worse we won't be riding for her safety until it clears up. She's already strained her shoulder on slippy ground in the field once this winter and I don't want it to happen again
 
I don't ride in ice or snow, or if the winds are so strong that bits of tree are flying around! Apart from that go out in just about anything, but am very lucky with a sensible horse. Would just stick to hacking round the lanes with high hedges in this weather though, not pleasant up on the downs and I can't stand schooling in waterproofs!
 
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Weather - at what point do you say "nope, not riding in this"

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The moment I believe it will be detrimental to my saddles. I am purely a fair-weather rider these days.
 
I have to say I dont ride in wind, rain , thunder , lightening, snow , ice or minus degrees..... just sunny.... although not toooo hot of course.. my excuse is my horse doesnt like it.
 
If it's heavy rain or hail, or hugely windy I don't ride. Take the opportunity for extended grooming session instead! Our schools are quite exposed & any wind around really hits you. Having said that I did school Merlin in the wind the other day - rather than being tense & hollow (he normally hates the wind) he really got his back end under him! So maybe not always a bad thing.

Also won't take horsebox out if it's very windy - have had some scary moments on the motorway with the lorry swaying around.
 
whatever the wether, the first time i rode my horse, when he got to me, was in snow 10cm deep, we only walked but instead of being 16hh he was 17hh!! Iv'e ridden in hail, which was hell, but my horse kept ploughing forwards even though he was scared witless, bless him! The worst is when it's raining tractors in harvest time...
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well.... occasionally. I did manage a quick 20 minutes before the rain today but I am in the south of england and we are supposed to be having a drought !!! Me and Thomas are far too old for all this messy business !!!
 
Theres a canal bridge on one of my hacks stupidly we went there my friends 18hh was knee deep so we wimped out and turned round my horse would have been swimming!
 
When I went to try my cob it was gale winds -my face felt like it had the G force across it and my eyes were streaming....but, the little chap did not bat a eyelid......having said that I'd say I was a very much fair weather rider....but my cob would go out in a blizzard...bless him
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I ride in most weather, afterall I can't expect her to go well in a dressage test in hale, if I only ever ride when its still and sunny.

Been caught in many a hale storm out hacking, we both put our heads down and set of at a purposeful trot until it was over!!
 
I don't have a school so weather affects my riding more than most people, as I have to hack out and there is some roadwork involved. Fog is a no-no because it reduces visibility, snow and ice make the lanes treacherous and very high winds are dodgy as I have to ride through some heavily wooded areas where branches tend to blow down in the gales!
 
Fair weather only right now. I don't do wind, or rain, I go rusty if I get wet.

Tia..........LMAO, weather would be detrimental to your tack!
 
i dont ind riding in the rain, or light winds but if they are particulalrly strong i wont as i think not only is it dangerous as the horses can be particulalrly spooky but u cant also hear traffic at all,
 
I'm a fair weather rider. I don't enjoy a ride if I'm soaked through and freezing! Neither does Chex, if its raining and windy, we go everywhere sideways or backwards (he is a huge woose). I'll ride if its just windy, that doesn't bother me. I don't ride if its too hot, but thats never really an issue!
 
I dont ride if the weather is really bad. eg, strong winds, rain or anything worse. Simply because my horse doesnt go well in it and I dont see the point in having a battle, the horse only learns your weaknesses. I would much rather lunge or have a day off than struggle with a naughty horse.
 
I ride in all weather including howling gales and lashing rain. I physically cannot ride when there is snow or ice on the roads though as all my hacking is on roads and it would be leathal! Other than that from a safety viewpoint I will not ride in dense fog even with reflective on...
If I had a school however, I would use that to ride in on the foggy, snowy, icy days...but sadly I don't have one!
 
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