Windy Riding?

[Crazyhorse]

Hi all

Bit of a silly question really but how safe is it to ride when it pretty wind. My lesson Thursday is due to be very windy ( 30mph) and could possibly be outside. I think in general the school's horses are pretty laid back, and being near the coast they are used to strong winds. Mine is a private lesson so no other horses to freak out except my own! I have only had a couple lessons back after a few months break and to put it bluntly am a bit of a wimp at the moment:rolleyes:

Any advice much appreciated!

[Vik]

Dont ride in the windy condition if you dont want to. There is no big deal. I havent been riding for a while cause just not worth it in these winds. But I have a TB who spooks easily ! Depends on the horse I guess.

[angelfben]

It depends on how you feel your horse will react, horses tend to get more spooky and flighty when its windy because of everything moving in the wind and all those objects flying around, also because they can't hear as well in the wind so they tend to be extra cautious. It varies from horse to horse though, if they are used to the wind they might not even bat an eyelid, and as its just you there's a reduced risk of any harm coming to you or your horse if she does play up at all. I'd see how it goes, you can always end the lesson if it starts to go pear shaped? :)

[eventerbabe]

hmm. i've had jumping lessons in howling gales. you just need to get on with it. our welshie was awful for creating if it was windy but we just got on with it and took her out for a ride. yes a horse may be a bit more spooky but i think a lot of the time its the riders nerves getting to the horses! i went out for a hack at the weekend in strong winds and my horse, who hasn't been ridden in 6 weeks, never batted an eyelid coz i wasn't bothered or anticipating him spooking.

[helenc]

I ride in the wind unless it's raining too because the rain hurts if it hits you hard in the face :eek:

[notpoodle]

dont do it if you dont feel comfortable with it :)

i had some scary experiences with a bolting horse where i used to ride. when it was windy, she would go berserk (this being a laidback schoolhorse for beginners!) and bolt all over the place :rolleyes:

my pony doesnt seem to be affected by wind at all! even when its so windy sand blows across the school in mini tonados, she doesnt seem to give a hoot, it's like 'yeah, so my mane is now skywards. so what??'

julia
x

[cazrider]

I'd agree with Julia, go with what you feel comfortable with.

Sennie is fab in wind. We went to try him during the hurricanes last March, so knew he was fine, but my friends confidence giver is just that, EXCEPT when its windy, when ride him at your peril!!:)

[Laetitia]

See how you feel. Horses live out and move around in all sorts of weather without being bothered about it, so shouldn't have thought there'd be a problem, especially as you're on your own and with your instructer. You can always cut the lesson short if you don't like it.
Biggest problem I find having a lesson in high winds, have trouble hearing the instructer. We get over that by her moving around me and giving me sequences to ride. Have fun L

[Caz&Irena]

If you don't feel right riding in the wind then don't. My old horse could be ridden in any weather and was as bombproof as they come. However, the horse I have now freaks out in the wind, even tied outside her stable:rolleyes:

[Mary Poppins]

I was really worried about riding in the school in the wind a few weeks ago as I thought that my horse would be very spooky. However, he didn't bat an eyelid at anything and was just as laid back as usual.

If you are having a lesson with an instructor with you then I would give it a go. If the worst happens and you feel scared and your horse plays up, then your instructor should understand and you could just do some work in walk or halt working on your position etc. Or you could call it a day early. You might surprise yourself (as I did) and find out that your horse is fine but if you never ride in the wind you will always think that it is something to be scared of.

[Crazyhorse]

Thanks for all your help guys. In the end the lesson was inside:rolleyes: and the wind wasn't as bad as they were predicting, so I would have braved outside if I couldn't have gone indoors. It's silly I rode out in all weathers last year and then didn't bat an eye lid, now I am right wimp:rolleyes:

Thanks again!

[DITZ]

i used to worry about riding in the wind and i probably transferred my tension onto him and he would spook at nonsense. I dont worry about it anymore and so neither does he. We've ridden in what felt like gale force and he doesnt bother.

Dont ride if you dont want to tho.