Winter motivation

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rhi.torrens

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Apologies if this has already been discussed.

Does anyone else feel like as soon as it turns winter their motivation to ride just drops?
I love my horses and once I’m at the stables it’s fine but the thought of getting up and getting ready and travelling to them is exhausting, especially in the cold and wet. It’s not like I’m lacking in time as I have plenty of time through the day to ride but I have no motivation to.
Then I get the guilt that my horses aren’t getting ridden enough or that I’m not good enough for them.
(Not true as they’re loving not being ridden).

Is this just me? I do have previous mental health issues so it could be that.
TIA!
 
It is a beautiful morning and yet I cancelled my ride. Due partly to my age over 80 and partly to recent dentistry crisis leaving me tired. Told OH that I was too tired to go up to London too.

Our revered RI was herself injured in a fall when she rode while feeling under the weather and her advice to me was not to ride unless one felt up to it.
I dont have mental health issues and riding in my case always staved off winter depression. So it is a toss up.
I agree though it is a commitment to put on one's riding clothes. For me it is a comittment simply to get dressed at all. But I will set you an examle. I am going to put my clothes on and plant some tulips before we eat lunch.
 
rhi.torrens said:
Apologies if this has already been discussed.

Does anyone else feel like as soon as it turns winter their motivation to ride just drops?
I love my horses and once I’m at the stables it’s fine but the thought of getting up and getting ready and travelling to them is exhausting, especially in the cold and wet. It’s not like I’m lacking in time as I have plenty of time through the day to ride but I have no motivation to.
Then I get the guilt that my horses aren’t getting ridden enough or that I’m not good enough for them.
(Not true as they’re loving not being ridden).

Is this just me? I do have previous mental health issues so it could be that.
TIA!
Click to expand...
Rough them off, get the shoes removed & turn them away until the end of Feb.
Used to be what everyone did & the horses wont mind, in fact they'll thank you for it.
 
Yes! Although the vet said I could ride after our recently illness, I've only ridden twice in the past few weeks, last week she still felt a bit off but this morning I bought her in and she felt good, the sun was shining so I made myself ride, she felt really good and now I'm glad I did! It's the busiest time for work so it's easy to just sit and work all day but getting out really helps me. It's just hard when the weather is awful!
 
Goldie's mum said:
Rough them off, get the shoes removed & turn them away until the end of Feb.
Used to be what everyone did & the horses wont mind, in fact they'll thank you for it.
Click to expand...
I’m so tempted to do this! One is barefoot and retired but my other is an eventer and her feet are practically held together with shoes.
Just worry about the eventing season when it comes though if I don’t practice now.
 
Midlifecrisis said:
I and a lot of people I’ve met over the years will recognise the feeling and to be honest unless competing on a regular basis I think it’s perfectly OK to put riding on the back burner over winter if you really don’t want to and be relaxed about it.
Click to expand...
I’m glad I’m not the only one.
I only started to event this year and I’m hoping do get out an do a proper season next year so I just worry that if I give them too much time off I’m going to regret it later 😭
 
Skib said:
It is a beautiful morning and yet I cancelled my ride. Due partly to my age over 80 and partly to recent dentistry crisis leaving me tired. Told OH that I was too tired to go up to London too.

Our revered RI was herself injured in a fall when she rode while feeling under the weather and her advice to me was not to ride unless one felt up to it.
I dont have mental health issues and riding in my case always staved off winter depression. So it is a toss up.
I agree though it is a commitment to put on one's riding clothes. For me it is a comittment simply to get dressed at all. But I will set you an examle. I am going to put my clothes on and plant some tulips before we eat lunch.
Click to expand...
I’m 17 and I’m struggling so well done you!
 
My horse is having a minimum of 2 months off from the start of November to at least the start of January, maybe longer, depending on weather/motivation.

I've promised her physio I'll do one walking in hand poles session a week so she doesn't lose the core muscle she has built this year (it was her first proper year of competition) but I won't sit on her until next year to give her back and her brain a proper break. She's worked hard and come on well this year and deserves a decent amount of downtime because if everything goes to plan she'll work even harder next year. Fingers crossed and touching wood as the God of Equestrians is no doubt already plotting against my audacity for having future plans......

The fact that this plan fits perfectly with my seasonal motivational dip is purely divine coincidence...... Honest 😉
 
Winter is rubbish!
Give yourself a break. I firmly believe they need it too.
Unless you're aiming for something specific everyone benefits from an easier life when it's cold and dark and wet.
Just hop on and have a nice walk hack when the sun is shining and you're in the mood. Then you can actually still enjoy it rather than it feeling like a chore.
 
Years ago when working full time I used to aim to hack once a week until Christmas, and then it would after drop to once a fortnight until the end of February, but that was generally because it was dark all the time and there was no other option.

I was always excited for the first after work hack as the evenings started to pull out though.

As you have a plan for you and your horse for competing next year shouldn’t you already have a fitness and exercise plan in place for both of you? If not, maybe do some research into that or ask your trainer, and work backwards to when you need to start working on it?
 
alibali said:
My horse is having a minimum of 2 months off from the start of November to at least the start of January, maybe longer, depending on weather/motivation.

I've promised her physio I'll do one walking in hand poles session a week so she doesn't lose the core muscle she has built this year (it was her first proper year of competition) but I won't sit on her until next year to give her back and her brain a proper break. She's worked hard and come on well this year and deserves a decent amount of downtime because if everything goes to plan she'll work even harder next year. Fingers crossed and touching wood as the God of Equestrians is no doubt already plotting against my audacity for having future plans......

The fact that this plan fits perfectly with my seasonal motivational dip is purely divine coincidence...... Honest 😉
Click to expand...
This sounds like a really good idea.
I find in summer/ spring I’m so worried about our work when I’m riding that I don’t give enough attention to ground work so I might just do that.
Thanks for the idea!
 
Spotherisk said:
Years ago when working full time I used to aim to hack once a week until Christmas, and then it would after drop to once a fortnight until the end of February, but that was generally because it was dark all the time and there was no other option.

I was always excited for the first after work hack as the evenings started to pull out though.

As you have a plan for you and your horse for competing next year shouldn’t you already have a fitness and exercise plan in place for both of you? If not, maybe do some research into that or ask your trainer, and work backwards to when you need to start working on it?
Click to expand...
I might do that, thank you!
 
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