Do you ride in snow/ice?

laceyfreckle

laceyfreckle

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2007
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Essex/Suffolk
It's been snowing here, meant to get about 5cm - 10cm overnight.

Anyway I have a lesson tomorrow (ride in a field) would it be wise to cancel it or would it be ok to ride in snow? frozen ground?

Never really ridden much in winter before (fair weather rider lol) but have been doing a lot more with Harvey as he needs it.

I want to ride anyway but just not sure how safe it is.

also is he likely to be loopy loo? I had to bring him in for the night tonight (normally out 24/7) as the wind is so sharp and he was a bit um, spooky/nervy leading him to the stables.
Will the h/w rugging to no rugs when ridden make him sharp? (has had m/w on up til now. Now has a 200gram m/w with a 150gram under rug). He will be turned out for about 5-6hrs before i ride, if i do
 
Grrr, Tell you what....it has taken me months and months of someone persuading me to get on that damn pony lol....................and guess what........................





I actually LIKE riding him now :eek:

I think it's taken me to be told it's not wise to ride for me to actually realise I'm disapointed not to!

I will cancel my lesson then I think and maybe just do a bit of groundwork. :(

btw lol it's the lovely pictures of people hacking/riding in the snow that made me wonder if riding might be possible.
 
What would you be doing in your lesson? If you can stick to mainly walk and a bit of trot (perhaps practice turn on the forehand, or a little basic lateral work?) then you would be okay, but I wouldn't advise cantering or fast trotting.
Perhaps get your RI to work on your position? Put pony on the lunge in walk and do lunge exercises?
 
Midnight_Ashes said:
What would you be doing in your lesson? If you can stick to mainly walk and a bit of trot (perhaps practice turn on the forehand, or a little basic lateral work?) then you would be okay, but I wouldn't advise cantering or fast trotting.
Perhaps get your RI to work on your position? Put pony on the lunge in walk and do lunge exercises?
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We mainly do transitions including, 20m circles, 10m circles, working on the bit, changes of rein/direction, school shapes eg figures of eight etc.

Obvouisly if I did have a lesson I'm assuming the work would be changed because of the weather, so no wouldn't want to be cantering on it! Unfortunatley pony hasn't really understood the basics of lateral work yet (doesn't understand the aids yet, still thinks legs mean go, reins mean stop) although we are working on that from the ground and doing a minimal amount of work on it in the saddle.

I will probably phone my RI after checking the ground tomorrow and see whether he thinks it will be wise to cancel.

If i do cancel the lesson, I'll probably get on for a little walk about in the snow anyway though:)

Forgot to mention, Harvey is good on the lunge when 'I' lunge him but is a little sod when other people lunge him so wouldn't want to be on him with someone else lunging
 
Unless your lessons are very expensive, I'd be inclined to go for it - for what you're working on you can do it mainly in walk (don't mean for that to sound patronising by the way).
Ring the RI in the morning and see what he says :)
 
Midnight_Ashes said:
Unless your lessons are very expensive, I'd be inclined to go for it - for what you're working on you can do it mainly in walk (don't mean for that to sound patronising by the way).
Ring the RI in the morning and see what he says :)
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Yes will probably phone in the morning. He's not the cheapest nor the most expensive. I pay £25 for a hour at my own yard.

My only slight concern is we mainly work at a fastish pace halt-canter, 6 strides canter, 6 strides trot then 6 strides canter ...etc etc, Transitions make up most of our work and Harvey tends to get silly if he's bored, although yes could work on outline work etc just as well in walk:)

btw you didn't sound patronising:)

I suppose if I phone him then we can discuss what we could do/if it would be worth having the lesson then or in a few days
 
i used to hack at an old yard in the snow round the off-road hacking. Might have a little wonder this year although only if its not icy too. I'd wait and see what your RI says :)
 
I have looked outside and listened to the news, and decided to cancel my lesson today.

For my RI sake as much as mine, the roads are a death trap round here and a few have been closed.

We have 20cm of snow approx at the moment and more due today.

All schools are closed too.

Might have a little wander in walk around my field on my own if its not icy on the field (unused field)
 
poohsmate said:
i think that's a sensible thing to do not worth taking any risks, there will be plenty of other times, and it must be perishing cold as well, i know it is here.. No snow here though!
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We're meant to have a high temp of 2 degree's today (didn't want to look at the low temp lol)

Hubby hasn't got work today either as he can't get there on and who wants to lay a driveway in this weather :p:confused:

I don't feel the cold so will still play horses but more grooming, groundwork at slow pace and probably a walk around (if its safe for 5 mins) just so i can say i've ridden in the snow lol
 
poohsmate said:
At least OH can see where he's put the tarmac LOL... i used to do that as well!!
Take some pics of you riding in the snow..:D:D
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I think he'd love it if it was tarmac he was doing....

the one he's doing at the moment is a fancy pants bricked thingy...for people who have a driveway about the same size as our house and garden lol.

He's a builder that does most things plus is qualified for plumbing and electrics

Probably won't get pics of me riding as the rest of the family is allergic to the cold so i have no chance of getting them out of the house lol.

Will take nice snowy pictures of the ponies though
 
laceyfreckle said:
I think he'd love it if it was tarmac he was doing....

the one he's doing at the moment is a fancy pants bricked thingy...for people who have a driveway about the same size as our house and garden lol.

He's a builder that does most things plus is qualified for plumbing and electrics

Probably won't get pics of me riding as the rest of the family is allergic to the cold so i have no chance of getting them out of the house lol.

Will take nice snowy pictures of the ponies though
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Will he come and replace our heating system? We need new radiators, new combi boiler etc. lol
 
Personally either of ours would be really loopy if it was windy and snowy! There is something about the white stuff that excites Joe!!! I am a chicken and would prob cancel if I had a lesson booked - specially in a field........
 
I had to cancel my lesson today too..boo hoo!
If i could have got there i would have been in the indoor arena but roads and traffic a nightmare.
Ended up replacing joddy boots for wellies and walking to work (on my day off!) to cover snow bound folk who live further out!
It looks nice but is causing havoc with my plans for the weekend!!!
 
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