Winter routine

treccie

We probably all have stories of cold days and bad weather, but I really like this time of year, the colours are just stunning and there's a lovely crispness in the air. I find in winter I tend to do more flatwork schooling and keep to the odd weekend hack as a treat. How about everyone else? How does your riding routine change in winter?

Valentina

With my old horse I loved riding in winter! Going for quiet hacks and cantering in stubble fields My old school used to quieten down a lot in winter too so we often had the arena and xc course to ourselves.

I only have my current horse since the summer so I haven't decided what we're going to do for the winter. Schooling and more schooling I think!

marley123

Thankfully we have floodlights in outdoor & in indoor.... as we have just started a pretty intensive schooling programme so need to be consistent.

silverfox88

Love this time of year, there's something about the fresh weather and winter mornings that make me much more productive!! I hope to do a fair bit with my four year old this winter, starting a combined training league on Saturday so hopefully over the five weeks he should progress a bit!

Got this book recently and would 100% recommend it to anyone who needs a bit of a kick in the a** for schooling - it has completely changed how I ride, I have a whole new warmup now and the bending exercises have reeealllly opened my eyes to how stiff he actually is through the neck. I find the way she's structured the book makes it really easy to use and you can either come up with a whole routine from it or add bits to your own schooling. Id love to be able to get lessons all the time but to be honest using this is a bit like having an instructor in your pocket!!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/101-Dressage-Exercises-Horse-Rider/dp/1580175953/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352904808&sr=1-1

marley123

Silverfox, that book as been recommended to me 3 times in last day:) Defo ordering a copy of it!

Are you doing Combined training @ Boswell?

silverfox88 wrote: »

Love this time of year, there's something about the fresh weather and winter mornings that make me much more productive!! I hope to do a fair bit with my four year old this winter, starting a combined training league on Saturday so hopefully over the five weeks he should progress a bit!

Got this book recently and would 100% recommend it to anyone who needs a bit of a kick in the a** for schooling - it has completely changed how I ride, I have a whole new warmup now and the bending exercises have reeealllly opened my eyes to how stiff he actually is through the neck. I find the way she's structured the book makes it really easy to use and you can either come up with a whole routine from it or add bits to your own schooling. Id love to be able to get lessons all the time but to be honest using this is a bit like having an instructor in your pocket!!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/101-Dressage-Exercises-Horse-Rider/dp/1580175953/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352904808&sr=1-1

silverfox88

It is FANTASTIC, would seriously recommend it!! Yes I am, are you? Doing the baby baby dressage on sat morning but just going to do the jumping on sunday morning. Will have to say hello as I think we missed each other at kilmac!!

marley123

I will be there but on foot:) Will be doing baby dressage in couple wks, so going down for a look. We need couple wks more schooling before we are ready:)

silverfox88 wrote: »

It is FANTASTIC, would seriously recommend it!! Yes I am, are you? Doing the baby baby dressage on sat morning but just going to do the jumping on sunday morning. Will have to say hello as I think we missed each other at kilmac!!

Ah_Yeah

Just a quick question on winter routine. For those of you who have stabled horses, how long do your horses spend in/out of the stable daily? My mare is ridden Wednesday - Sunday excluding Fridays, as I can't get out Monday or Tuesday to her. She is turned out either Monday or Tuesday, and then Friday.

I feel bad that there's possibly one day during the week or even two that she'll be stabled for the full day - is this unfair on her?

Ah_Yeah

marley123 wrote: »

Silverfox, that book as been recommended to me 3 times in last day:) Defo ordering a copy of it!

Are you doing Combined training @ Boswell?

Just a heads up for anyone looking for the earlier version of this book, it's on sale for Black Friday on Amazon for just £6 now

http://www.amazon.co.uk/101-Schooling-Exercises-Horse-Rider/dp/0715329758/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353802425&sr=1-3

Heydeldel

Ah_Yeah wrote: »

Just a heads up for anyone looking for the earlier version of this book, it's on sale for Black Friday on Amazon for just £6 now

http://www.amazon.co.uk/101-Schooling-Exercises-Horse-Rider/dp/0715329758/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353802425&sr=1-3

Got that book during the week. It's great! So easy to follow and jargon free. Now, if only it would stop raining so I could ride...:(