Decreased riding time and how it affects your horse...

[iluvhorses28]

Since the winter set in, and with all the awful weather, my riding has definitely decreased from 4-5x a week to 2 if I am lucky... As a result, I thought I was getting far with Savannah..... now that riding is lesser.... I have noticed her to somehow be 'difficult' when it came to riding.. She will now whine about when asked to move... with this little backing and side step bit, as if saying.. DO WE REALLY HAVE TO??? I DONT WANT TO....

It's frustrating because I now need to PUSH her to move on, even when we hack! I suppose there's no other solution other than to wait for spring and better weather to get back on the game.... just surious if this happens to anyone else.. or is it just me???? :confused:

[DITZ]

Yep, very common in winter. It gets better dont fret too much, just 'ride it out' as it were!

[smaggi]

My horses are at home and I don't have an indoor arena. In the winter it really reduces my riding time. I think that for the horse it's similar to the way we feel about going back to work after you've been on vacation for a week. That first morning it's especially hard to get excited about work. Now imagine if your vacation lasted a month or more. This year Cisco's vacation is lasting over a month with only about a day or 2 of work a week. We have had so much snow and ice the last 3 weeks that I have only ridden him twice.

[NoviceNic]

Wherever I am I make sure I have a school. It only tends to be the weather that stops us from riding expecially if it is windy. It scares the life out of me hacking out in wind...:o So I have to school mostly through the Winter and only get out about once a week. All of the monsters that appear in the Winter are amazing...:rolleyes: Dont worry the better weather is just around the corner and then we will be complaining we arent getting our housework done...lol...:p

[iluvhorses28]

Thanks all!

Glad to hear it's sort of normal. I agree NoviceNic.... winds are the worse! Horse squinting away, debris and sand blowing about... UGH!

I am debarting over going back to group lessons, I dont want to hold up the class coz she is being stubborn! Mostly I've been riding on my own and working on her.... but now seems like maybe she'll get her motivation back being with other horses??? I HOPE???

[Lora]

I'm putting mine in group lessons for that same reason. He NEEDS to be near the schoolies and see what a good work ethic looks like. :rolleyes:

Ours starts in a week, and though we're doing a walktrot class, I'm so looking forward to it. I do have to push him to be in "Schoolie" mode though, but I tell you, all the exercises are awesome for his physique and overall mental attitude.

I highly recommend giving it a try with yours, and prep him before hand by riding in a mock lesson if possible, like following others if they don't mind.



Thanks all!

Glad to hear it's sort of normal. I agree NoviceNic.... winds are the worse! Horse squinting away, debris and sand blowing about... UGH!

I am debarting over going back to group lessons, I dont want to hold up the class coz she is being stubborn! Mostly I've been riding on my own and working on her.... but now seems like maybe she'll get her motivation back being with other horses??? I HOPE???

[Fizz]

jay gets ridden atleast 4 times a week as i have a fab sharer,fizz is only doing 2 ridden days but lunged a few if i have time:D

soon be summer:D