Winter plans..

karenjj

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As the clocks go back this weekend I'm finally accepting winter is upon us again! Last year my boy was in livery with a school but to save money this year I have had to move him to my parent's field. He's there with his Mum and a shetland. All stabled at night as there is only 1.5acres and the ground is already muddy! I've been having lessons regularly down the road to try to have a go at dressage and he's getting on really well. I'm feeling a bit depressed because at the moment I'm lunging/riding him most evenings after work as well but know with the fields as they are this will no longer be possible in the winter. Should I carry on having lessons at the weekend even though I can't work him in the week? Or should I be accepting that he's got to have a break now until March time?! I was hoping to do some fun rides but he won't really be fit enough will he? What do you all do in winter? Sorry for the millions of questions! Look forward to your replies!!
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Could you do road work in the week and still have lessons at the weekend? If you hire the school for your lessons could you use it in the week as well?
I'm on DIY and lucky to have plenty of riding available.
Good luck x
 
I'd carry on with the lessons for a few more weeks, maybe having less than a full hour. As his fitness drops down and the weather gets worse coming up to Christmas, maybe give him some time off until you can work him regularly again.
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My horse just had a bit of a break turned away next to a road to try to get her used to traffic, and I keep her at a yard with a floodlit school. I'm planning on doing a bit of indoor dressage and working on our hacking over the winter.
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I'm in a similar situation - a muddy field, no school and dark nights so can only ride at weekends. I am quite lucky that I can use a friend's school up the road at the weekend but only if there is no-one using it.
I would still like to do some indoor dressage - therefore I shall hack out whenever I can and do the very occasional dressage test - I'm sure he will be fit enough to do one or two tests on the odd occasion!
 
I think when winter is here and for those of us that can't ride in the evenings .. we can only do what we can do and hope the winter goes by quickly (fat chance!) ride when you can and don't beat yourself up over it.
You will be able to get him fit for your rides in March, it won't take long.
 
When my lad is 'on the road' we only go out riding at the weekends as we are all road work here with no school near. So I take him out for good brisk hacks at the weekend and box him to disused railway lines to do some longer distances with no traffic worries.
He is off the road this year and it will be a while yet before he is ridden again...probably new year so hopefully it will be a quick run down to the spring!
 
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