Word of warning about sudden ice when hacking

Devonshire dumpling

Devonshire dumpling

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It gets dark here at 5.15 , it was completely ice free here at 4pm and I waved my friend off as she took her TB out for a 45 min hack, still some slush about, but fairly mild at 3C and everywhere perfectly safe to hack, she had a high Viz exercise sheet on as it is very hilly here and lots of riding on the lanes but with alot of tree cover......
5pm came and she wasn't home and the light was fading, I had just about finished mucking out and was feeling really anxious, so I set off in the car to give her an escort home ( I knew exactly where she had hacked) I drove a lot futher than I thought and was very worried, was now very dark, then I see them in the gloom (thank god she had her hi viz on)!! Poor girl was very frightened, she was 1/2 way around the ride when everything started to freeze, she had to get off and walk and pick her way home, hence why she was so late. It really shook her up, so just a word of warning really, that although it can be perfectly fine when you go out , that time of the afternoon, you can get caught out, wouldn't have entered my head that it could drop 3C in such a rapid timescale!
 
This evening I left the house at 5.30pm (Worcestershire), car said 1 degree, drove 1.5 miles to yard, car said -2. Left yard at 7pm car said -6.

Weather warning for tomorrow night, then it will thaw and we will need a fecking ark.
 
it was 1 degree here at 5 and it has dropped to -9 degrees now its scary how quickly the temperature drops but i dont think i would go hacking at that time of night, on the road in icy conditions... seems a little risky but each to their own :) glad to hear both got back okay!
 
I think that's what took us by surprise, it was 3-4C and it's forecast to stay warmer here, everything was running like streams down the road, unfortunately, the mare needs to stay fit for hunting, so she isn't ridden for pleasure, she has to be exercised, haven't been out much this week due to weather, so was a window of opportunity ... we always have to hack around 4pm due to work.... but yes it was a mistake tonight, really caught short! X
 
AdorableAlice said:
This evening I left the house at 5.30pm (Worcestershire), car said 1 degree, drove 1.5 miles to yard, car said -2. Left yard at 7pm car said -6.

Weather warning for tomorrow night, then it will thaw and we will need a fecking ark.
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According to our forecast we are going to be above freezing 6am tomorrow, then 5-7C thereafter including rain, so think the cold weather may be over for us for now :-)
 
The drop in temperature everywhere seemed very fast tonight. I left work at 5.35pm, and my car said it was 3 degrees, just 10 miles north when I got to yard about 40 mins later car said -1, the water that had melted on the yard from the snow was already icing over and I had to give up after 4 circuits of walking my pony round the stable block as could feel my feet starting to slide. Glad she got back safely :)
 
It was nice of you to look out for her, the weather can turn suddenly and we all get caught out sometimes. It became dramatically cold here too this evening.

I recall hacking out with friends one bright summer day, friends were wearing sleeveless T-shirts. 90 minutes from home, we found ourselves in a freak storm. The girls had turned blue, so we pulled into a drive way and I told the coldest one to take her top off and have my showerproof blouson. Wearing just a strappy top, I was freezing by the time we got back.
 
I had my car on the yard and it had had the sun in it most of the afternoon. Cue 5:00pm and me wanting to dash home to let the dogs out before doing all the evening chores and there was a nice layer of ice on the windscreen!

I couldn't believe it. I am in Wiltshire and it is bitterly cold here!
 
Aww you are a good egg for looking out for your friend like that!

I went out on Sunday as it was just snow on grassy areas and all roads were gritted and ice free, but since then more snow and slush everywhere, its poo as I have just got my new saddle and wish to have picturesque canters on grassy tracks with my horse's flaxen mane glistening in the sunshine.... How far away are we from this? Just dry-ish and not a death trap will do!
 
I'm sure your friend was grateful that you went to help and I'm glad that they got home safely but as sunset is about 4.30 this week, I do think that she was pushing her luck to go out on a 45 min hack at that time - not something I would have done but then I wouldn't be hacking on slushy roads when drivers were coming home from work either.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I'm sure your friend was grateful that you went to help and I'm glad that they got home safely but as sunset is about 4.30 this week, I do think that she was pushing her luck to go out on a 45 min hack at that time - not something I would have done but then I wouldn't be hacking on slushy roads when drivers were coming home from work either.
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She as grateful bless her. We don't get cars on our lanes very often, luckily she only met me! ps light here until 5.15!
 
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mandwhy said:
Aww you are a good egg for looking out for your friend like that!

I went out on Sunday as it was just snow on grassy areas and all roads were gritted and ice free, but since then more snow and slush everywhere, its poo as I have just got my new saddle and wish to have picturesque canters on grassy tracks with my horse's flaxen mane glistening in the sunshine.... How far away are we from this? Just dry-ish and not a death trap will do!
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Ahhh bless you! Bad weather all gone now, just wind and rain to contend with, come on you don't want the summer, we will be moaning about flies then lol X
 
I'm glad ur friend is ok. I'm lucky I have very careful horses which is as well as I have very bad feet and ankles so i'd have to stay on mine and let him/her pick via safe route.
 
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