What do you do to keep up your driving through the winter?

Diamond_Jubilee · Well Schooled

What do you do to keep up your driving through the winter?

Margaret · Foal

as we get a lot of snow and temps way below 0celcius we don't do much. No arena and those metal ones are colder inside than outside anyway, unless they are heated. I just got a sleigh but it needs some restoration so it will have to wait until next winter. We did get some nice weather at the end of Feb. so I did get in a couple of sleigh drives using a friends sleigh. Margaret northwestern ontario.

deb · Well Schooled

Hi

I have stbs, so for me it is a daily grind (I'm stabled in London Ontario) so while this year was not the usual snow belt, no matter the weather (barring they get the track done-- only missed twice in 20+ years of the tracks I've stayed at) we jog daily... training has a different set of dues, that we are careful about and need a far better track... so we go into the local race track if need be for that. So for me it is dress warmly, and hope that I can talk my husband who has a much better inernal heater than I do to do the jogging on the colder and rougher weather-- works sometimes wink . We use our joggers, same as always. For me the biggest concern in that weather that is slushy or wet snow due to the packing of feet, snow pads are not a great option for stbs, due to the rough surface of the track and the long miles that they go, and painting them does no real good either, so we 'go like' heck'-- fast as we dare so the snow will fly out, but once their feet heat up we have to head in. A hoof pick, and the shoeing hammer at the barn door also are a must, as when we walk to come off the track is when most snow balls occur.

Stbs are really tough horses, and they are like mailmen, they seldom stop for any weather! confuse

Ridding is much harder for me and my stbs. When I was in the ridding game I was always in arenas, so this was easy... but now all I have is the paddock I also rent, so once it is rough I have to stop ridding or risk a leg injury, I can ride on the track, but I don't like to do this at more than a walk with the stbs I have right now, since they are all racey, and while I can control them, it is confusing for them to be asked to be ridden at any speed on the track, as a jog rate is very fast compared to what a ridding horse is asked to do. My gang know that when they are on the track other than at the walk they are to be race horses, and when they are in the paddock they are show horses. Tattoo my 8 year old gelding is also very hot, so this was the easiest way to get him to understand, and while Che my 5 year old stud is awesome anywhere, we have even stuck to this for him... and my little trotter can stand up in harness if you go to slow, so the paddock for him, we have just started to brake him. So I am just now starting back up ridding, but driving-- that is a year round thing for me... I wish on those really crappy cold days that I could use the excuse that I have no way to go out... but the track calls!!! lol

Deb McDaid

Tiocfaidh Ar La Racing and Eventing Stable

Cheers from my guys, Che, Tattoo, and Steel

deb · Well Schooled

"so the paddock for him, we have just started to brake him. So I am just now starting back up ridding, but driving--"

sorry to clarify, he is 9, and raced for years, that would be to brake him to ride...lol :) stand up as in rear, and lay down if you hold him back too much :( once too many beatings from his old owner.