I’m not sure about anyone else but I lose all motivation in winter, and although I quite happily look after the boys day in, day out, I just don’t feel like riding like I do in the spring/summer/autumn. Anyone else?
It’s normally when the dark nights start drawing in. I get to the yard about 15:30 and by this time it’s already getting dusky. I still have to muck out and get the stables prepped as they are turned out for me in the morning, and by the time I’ve done all of this it’s dark. To top it off this winter, nearly every day it has been raining and when I already have a lack of enthusiasm this just normally cements it.
Because of this it means my boys normally get through a lot of the winter months with a heavily reduced amount of work. Do I feel guilty for it? No. Do they mind? No. In fact, I think it does them some good – some downtime never hurt anyone, did it? And they always come back into full-time work feeling good (after we’ve got the initial “Am-I-going-to-get-floored?” sessions out the way).
Arlo is sometimes the exception., at least come January, if I plan to get out hunting, as I need to get his fitness back up. Normally, after the Christmas break, I’m feeling a little refreshed and have a bit more enthusiasm to get back into the saddle.
I just think: why push ourselves to ride if we really aren’t feeling it? Horses are hard enough work as it is without forcing yourself to enjoy something because you feel you have to.
Of course, everyone has their own opinion, and some people are happy to ride in all weathers – that’s just not me and I’m fine with that, as are my boys. Roll on spring!
Once again I threw Arlo in at the deep end, affiliating him purely for the Arena UK second round show, and once again he pulled it out the bag. How lucky am I to have such a wonderful little horse? We haven’t really competed this year. I don’t really compete over the winter, and also my horsebox was away for repairs up until the beginning of June, so I had no transport even if I’d wanted to.
With the dry ground we don’t seem to be having much luck with shoes, as little madam managed to pull both her front shoes off within 12 hours the other day! We entered the arena with two shoes on for a schooling session and left it with one missing (took about an hour to find it). Then that afternoon, as I went to put some hoof ointment on, I looked down and had to double take, thinking I was looking at the wrong hoof. But, no, the other shoe was missing too.
After having a long wait and some lunch at the onsite café, it was time to get ready for the Joan Wolfe Overall Supreme Shetland Pony Championship. I got changed out of my usual showing outfit into black trousers and a maroon top with white spots, as you are expected to be a bit more “bling” in the evening.
We were all set to go for our next outing, and were super excited. That was until I heard the dreaded clunk of a loose shoe! I checked it over, praying it wasn’t too loose, but, nope, it was going to need a refit.