What do you usually do with your horse/s for the winter? Do you let them have some down time or down time for yourself.. aka its way too cold to saddle because my fingers may freeze off? What is your routine?
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Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway. - John Wayne
I give our ponies a well deserved rest after a busy show season. We just had a cutter restored so I will be taking a pony driving on a nice snowy day! I go for hacks on nice warmer days as well and usually take a friend or two...
I'm one of those mean people that keeps going all winter. Maggie lives inside, we have a heated indoor... Sometimes she gets about a week off over Christmas. But, of course, we vary her work and work load to keep her from getting bored or sour. Time to train for next show season!
I keep going over the winter also, my minis get a bit of a break after a long show season, but I start working them again in about March. I continue to ride over the winter, mostly outside/trails, I absolutely love riding in the winter/snow, probably my favourite thing to do while riding. I do board my riding horse at a nearby barn with an arena for a month or two so I can use the indoor arena and keep up with my schooling over the winter.
I pack up my saddles and bust out the suede bareback pads..... Sorrel boots don't fit in stirrups!! I trail ride by the light of the moon or by a LED lamp strapped to my helmet almost every evening after work. We have groomed trails for our farms sleigh rides, so we have year round access to some awesome forest trails. My guys are on 24/7 turnout, so they are used to playing around in the cold...
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A horse doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care.