Who else is giving up riding for winter?

[Wimbles]

Of course there is the smug factor as well when it comes to riding in winter .. nothing beats that superior than everyone else feeling, hahahaaa

Not smug at all, for the last umpteen years I have struggled to ride in winter due to some of the reasons I mentioned but it was a real eye opener not being able to get on a horse at all last year so I'm just saying that even when it feels wretched and hard work, it can still end up being positive. I now pay more, travel further and for that have better facilities so am taking advantage of it.

 

[ihatework]

As for winter riding myself, I’m generally an all or nothing kind of gal.
If I’m not riding then they are turned away.
If I am riding they are in, clipped, worked regularly with aims in mind, and that is irrespective of whether it’s winter/summer.
I try to tell myself to just ride as and when I feel like it, but I’m just not hardwired that way.

 

[horsefeed]

I generally ride more in winter than I do in summer. My horses live out 24/7 so summer and winter horse jobs are about the same The summers get filled up with fencing projects though, plus my other hobby, I am a Tae Kwon Do instructor and my student compete quite a lot the last TKD competition is in November and they normal start again end of Jan so I get 2 full months of riding as much as I want! Dark evening as a pain but I get to the yard at 6/6.30 we have some amazing off road hacking so I can then be tacked up and out the gate at 1st light and get a good 60/90 mins in before work at 9

 

[FestiveFuzz]

No chance! I haven't ridden since last Monday thanks to M timing an abscess with me catching a particularly nasty cold and am already counting down the days until I can get back in the saddle. I actually really enjoy heading down after work and schooling in relative peace and quiet, and as someone who naturally runs quite hot it's nice when it's a little colder.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Same here FestiveFuzz! I hate not riding. I used to be a triathlete and winter was always long slow distance work so in my head winter is really key for fitness training. Also I had all last winter off as the yard had strangles and was shut down. No movement of horses at all from Jan - April. Could not even leave their fields. So this year I am loving having them in work. I wouldn't if I didn't love it though. I don;t feel obliged to ride. I just like riding all year round and sulk if anything gets in the way of it!

 

[MotherOfChickens]

No chance! I haven't ridden since last Monday thanks to M timing an abscess with me catching a particularly nasty cold and am already counting down the days until I can get back in the saddle. I actually really enjoy heading down after work and schooling in relative peace and quiet, and as someone who naturally runs quite hot it's nice when it's a little colder.

I would ride if I had the facilities.probably

 

[AmieeT]

Mines pretty much had the year off- with studying and courses I've had no time, and although I've ridden a couple of times in the last few weeks but have lost my mojo and he seems happy enough munching away on the grass.

No school ATM and fields too boggy, so limited to road work and I can't seem to drag my sorry arse out of bed early enough to avoid traffic (I HATE riding after about 9am on a weekend, after 7am in the week- which limits me to weekends in the winter anyway as it's too dark).

 

[claireandnadia]

Molly is extremely spooky in our school in the dark even with floodlights on to be ridden but 'ok' to be lunged so we lunge twice a week weekdays and then ridden Saturday and Sunday.

 

[Beth206]

I would definitely ride more in winter if I had the facilities (I think!!) We are restricted to hacking on a weekend during the winter and my mare is a lot more spooky in the winter too so I don't necessarily look forward to our ride either. Already counting down the days to spring or drier and lighter weather at least!!!

 

[Laika]

I do ride in winter but my horse is quite frisky shall we say haha! I was leading him out the the arena and he spooked and as he ran off he bucked. I took one hoof to the chin and one to the chest. FUN TIMES!

I'm still forcing myself to ride though as it definitely helps me through the slog of winter I do get where you're coming from though... some days when I finish work I just want to get in my PJS haha!

 

[Antw23uk]

Not smug at all, for the last umpteen years I have struggled to ride in winter due to some of the reasons I mentioned but it was a real eye opener not being able to get on a horse at all last year so I'm just saying that even when it feels wretched and hard work, it can still end up being positive. I now pay more, travel further and for that have better facilities so am taking advantage of it.

Was just teasing I rode in the rain the other day .. I was ooooozing smugness and superiority for hours, lol

 

[Auslander]

OP - my only concern about dropping him off over winter is the KS. It's so important to keep up with the work, so that the back muscles stay as strong as possible. I would worry that you find he goes downhill as his fitness drops off.
Re turning away - it's absolutely possible to turn even the biggest pansy away without them losing condition. It just has to be done right - ad lib hay/haylage, decent hard feed, somewhere to rest, and careful attention to the horses temperature. I've got 3 here that are inclined to turn into walking skeletons if they aren't fed and rugged correctly - they're currently all pleasantly plump, and coping fine with -temps. If you aren't going to work him, I think you need to seriously consider it as an alternative

 

[ester]

I was thinking the same as Aus, do you not risk undoing all that good work you have done with him to get his back better?

 

[laura_nash]

I'm another who has mine at home living out and doesn't really ride much in winter - mostly due to working during daylight and no facilities. When I had mine on livery (individual turnout on fairly small paddock for 6-7 hours) I wouldn't have been comfortable not working him.

when you give them time off in winter do you not find they turn into beasts when you saddle up again.

Mine's had up to 9 months off (when I was pregnant) without turning into a beast or forgetting anything. I guess it depends a bit on the horse, mine is generally the opposite problem as he turns into a plod after a longish break due to lack of fitness.

I think there is a big difference between roughed off out for winter and time off whilst in a stable / turnout routine which is more suitable for a working horse though. When mine was on livery he would be more fresh if I didn't work him for 2-3 days.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

Same here FestiveFuzz! I hate not riding. I used to be a triathlete and winter was always long slow distance work so in my head winter is really key for fitness training. Also I had all last winter off as the yard had strangles and was shut down. No movement of horses at all from Jan - April. Could not even leave their fields. So this year I am loving having them in work. I wouldn't if I didn't love it though. I don;t feel obliged to ride. I just like riding all year round and sulk if anything gets in the way of it!

I think it's the same for me. After having nearly the whole of last year without a rideable horse of my own I have a new found appreciation for just how lucky I am. I kick myself when I think of the times I made excuses not to ride Pops not realising how few opportunities I'd have to ride her or how little time she'd be with me for, not repeating those mistakes is as much motivation as I need to pull on my boots even on the days when it's miserable out.

 

[Abi90]

I normally end up riding more in winter as by the time I get up to the yard after work they are already in and it ends up being quicker. However, I ended up hurting my recently fixed collar bone/shoulder in the gym yesterday and it's so sore I can't even put a headcollar on, and the weather has been terrible so I'm giving pony at least a week off. She's 4 and had a few big new experiences lately so she can have some time off to process it whilst I rest my shoulder! Weirdly, I still feel a bit guilty

 

[Theocat]

I'd be doing long reining and ground work a couple of times a week. Practising over Trec type obstacles (walking over tarpaulin etc) can only help the hacking, and long reining should help maintain a bit of muscle tone.

 

[AdorableAlice]

when you give them time off in winter do you not find they turn into beasts when you saddle up again. I worry if i go 5 days without riding that he is going to turn into a pent up beast and forget how to do anything plus bomb about trying to kill me .... he has never done this but this is what i imagine :'D and i make myself feel so guilty about not riding

... he is fed hay and fast fiber so not a high energy diet.

This is fallacy, a properly reared and trained horse will forget nothing if given down time. They may find certain exercises more difficult due to lack of fitness or perhaps stiffness in an older horse, but they will not forget their training at any level, be it as simple as manners in hand or half pass in passage.

 

[Dave's Mam]

This is fallacy, a properly reared and trained horse will forget nothing if given down time. They may find certain exercises more difficult due to lack of fitness or perhaps stiffness in an older horse, but they will not forget their training at any level, be it as simple as manners in hand or half pass in passage.

Thank you AA, you have reinforced what my instructor told me when I said I was struggling to ride midweek. "Stop panicking, ride at the weekend, he'll be fine". I have ridden twice with week long gaps. Got on, did some work, boy was great.

 

[ecb89]

I was diagnosed with depression in February, spent most of last winter not wanting to ride, struggled this summer as well.
I am now feeing so much better, going to work my bum off bringing on my green 6 year old this winter

 

[GTRJazz]

I started on a livery yard that closed the fields around October and did not open them again until April so I rode every night right through this period or he would have been stuck in a stable 24/7
I did not want to lunge at the time so just had to get on with it.

Then we were at another yard with a big indoor school same thing with the fields but again rode every night which turned to twice when I got a second horse.
With 40 liveries this was the worst place trying to ride could be two people lunging plus two riding, heavy dust, everyone wanting to ride in a small time window.

Solution did not ride until 9.00 pm sometimes later getting home at 11.00 pm

Now on a small private yard can get in the arena 24/7 so sometimes ride in my lunch hour or later 4.00pm with the lights on, My trainer is riding one horse 3 times a week and I hack both on the weekend.
I also book a lot of time off for Christmas 14th Dec until Jan 3rd which allows me to ride in the day light hacking out at the local park every other day.

Last year I had most of January off just riding at the weekend horses were out during the day in well drained fields with round bale hay to stop them dropping weight or standing in mud around the gate bliss.

 

[tristar]

out there riding at every opportunity, sod the weather.

 

[Antw23uk]

out there riding at every opportunity, sod the weather.

I love this attitude ... wont be the same but love it anyway, lol

 

[Merrymoles]

Molly is extremely spooky in our school in the dark even with floodlights on to be ridden but 'ok' to be lunged so we lunge twice a week weekdays and then ridden Saturday and Sunday.

Yes this is generally our winter routine. I haven't had time to clip yet this year (needs sedation) so am keeping the lungeing to a minimum to avoid putting to bed too sweaty. I've been stacked with work so we haven't done much in November but I generally try to vary our lunge work with a bit of polework, the odd jumping session and the odd long-reining session. He's a spooky pain in the school and riding is just not enjoyable so I don't put myself under pressure to do it.

 

[WandaMare]

out there riding at every opportunity, sod the weather.

Me too, I actually prefer riding in winter than in hot summer with all the flies. If I can ride early I do unless its too icy. Keeps me going through all the miserable dark evenings and xmas family stresses.

 

[DD]

I was diagnosed with depression in February, spent most of last winter not wanting to ride, struggled this summer as well.
I am now feeing so much better, going to work my bum off bringing on my green 6 year old this winter

good for you!

 

[ecb89]

good for you!

Thank you
We have an indoor school which does make it easier when the weather is rubbish

 

[Ali27]

I ride 5/6 times a week all year round! My poor pony only gets a holiday if I go away on holiday! I love riding and have to force myself to give her a day off sometimes! Only snow and arena freezing stops me!

 

[vam]

I ride 4/5 times a week, I can only ride in the evenings during the week and I won't go in the school 4/5 days a week, its not fair on her and the school isn't the biggest. I hack at the weekend and I'm lucky that I get every other Friday off so thats an extra day to ride in the daylight.
I am using winter as time for training so box over to my trainers for a lesson twice a month plus I'm going to box out to different places to hack if I can some weekends but to be honest I'm not going to bust a gut to ride. If its cold and wet I don't bother, just cold I don't mind to much plus she is only 6 and a big girl so having time off her and there over winter really isn't going to hurt.

 

[tristar]

ecb89 will be thinking of you, best of luck.