Training/Riding in Winter/Lack of Light

[Sudi's Girl]

I’m frustrated - Plain and simple. I have SO much that I’d love to work on with my up and coming boy, but I just don’t have the light to do it. My job is a 45 mile drive towards the coast, and my barn is a 25 minute drive the opposite direction (so job to barn = hour drive). At any rate, now that it’s getting dark by the time I leave work, there’s not even a glimmer of light by the time I get to the barn. Unfortunately, we have only limited light in our ring (only on one end), and even less for the dressage arena. On top of that, my boy is young, so I hate doing everything in a ring with him (he’s never been a fan of ring work anyway – but what young one is??).

Of course I ALWAYS ride on the weekends and any day that I get off work (providing the weather permits – we don’t have an indoor either). I’ve “begged” my BO for possibly more lighting in the ring, but with the economy the way it is, they simply can’t afford it (even though she’d like it as much as I would!).

So for those that deal with the same time/light constraints – what do YOU do? Anything creative??

[Lori B]

All you can do is make the most of your weekends outside, I think. I've made a resolution to always ride out / hack on the weekends unless the weather is really awful / footing is unsafe. That way, I won't have to regain my outdoor riding 'nerve' in the spring all over again. If your horse is really young, it probably doesn't hurt to dial it back a bit in the winter anyway.

[mjrtango93]

Well there is always plenty to do with the babies lights or not. You may just need to re-arrange his schedule to fit better. Assuming you a 6 day a week rider why not try giving him Monday off (then you don't even have to go out so you can save gas money too), hack lightly in the arena Tuesday, flat work on Wednesday, jump a bit on Thursday, then flat Friday and hack and stay out of the arena on Saturday and Sunday. Much worse things have happened then him being in the arena 4 days a week, and if you hack/play on Tuesday it will keep his mind fresh. Not to mention if you get off early or have the day off you could always spend more time outside.

I am lucky in the fact I work 10 minutes from the barn and get off at 3pm. I can generally hack 2-3 before it gets too dark to see. I just do all my barn chores after I ride (I grain and blanket for the entire barn, about 50 horses). I actually like having the odd arena playday with the horses where we can wonder and do different figures and start lead changes with no pressure and no real expectations out of them.

[scubed]

My trainer just got something similar to this http://www.lightmart.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=19656
It sheds a good light at one end of the arena, plenty to do flat work on a circle. People who wanted to ride at night could pay a small "night electricity" fee to cover the extra cost of electricity

[equestrianerd]

Well there is always plenty to do with the babies lights or not. You may just need to re-arrange his schedule to fit better. Assuming you a 6 day a week rider why not try giving him Monday off (then you don't even have to go out so you can save gas money too), hack lightly in the arena Tuesday, flat work on Wednesday, jump a bit on Thursday, then flat Friday and hack and stay out of the arena on Saturday and Sunday. Much worse things have happened then him being in the arena 4 days a week, and if you hack/play on Tuesday it will keep his mind fresh. Not to mention if you get off early or have the day off you could always spend more time outside.

I think the OP's problem (like mine) is that it's too dark by the time you get out to the barn to do any of those things after work. Our barn is still working on installing lights in their ring, so my only choice for weekday riding is pre-work. I am not a morning person, so this has yet to happen (in my defense, I only got my new horse to the barn 5 days ago). As I write this, it is 4:28pm, there's barely any daylight out, and I'll be at work for another 1 hour and 32 minutes. Even if I could magically get to the barn instantly after work, it'd still be pitch black and (IMO) unsafe to ride (without lights, obviously).

My winter riding plan is to aim to head out to the barn in the morning, before work, even though that'll mean getting up by 6am at the latest. I'm also going to have my trainer work with him 1-2 times during the week so that I don't have to get out there early every single weekday. (Add a day off for him, and that means I might be able to get by with just 2 early days/week.) And, of course, I'll do longer/more varied rides on the weekends when there's a full day to spend out at the barn when it's actually light out.

[KellyS]

I'm in the same situation--pitch dark when I get home at 5:30. My guys are at home and I end up loading the pony (the only thing rideable right now :D) on the trailer to use an indoor about 15 minutes away. I try to do this 2 days a week and then ride both days on the weekend.

I've also ridden before work, but this is tough for me as I am NOT a morning person (and I also have to feed/do stalls/turnout in addition to riding). ;) I made it happen last week--and was on as soon as it started to get light at 6:15 am. Made me feel very motivated.

[Fergs]

I'm in the same boat. The only way I'm able to manage this time of year is to ride in the morning 2-3 times a week and then ride both weekend days. I get up at 5:00, leave the house by 5:30, hope to be in the saddle by 6:15-6:30. I have to be at work, 45 minutes away, by 8:30.

Of course, it completely sucks, but at least I'm keeping a training schedule going.

Is the footing in your arena good? My big problem is that ours freezes, so on mornings like today, all I can really do is trot up the gravel road. The ground and ring are usually frozen solid. It's mornings like these that I very seriously question my sanity.

[Sudi's Girl]

Thanks for all the ideas. Unfortunately, riding BEFORE work, really isn't an option for me either - I run into the same problem - no light. (With the bad traffic, I'd have to leave the barn when it's still dark out) :( Which is sad, 'cause I'm actually a morning person! :D

I guess I'm lucky that my ground isn't feezing though! :-) We're mainly sandy soil since we're so close to the coast anyway. However, I like the idea of adding a "use of lighting" fee to help with the added expenses. My BO's DH is a contractor, so surely he can get some of that nifty lighting reasonably priced :D hehe...well, here's hoping anyway...

[RunForIt]

sighhhh....I now get to run in the dawning light, only to rush home, get on at least one of the two I'll ride before the light goes...the other marches around the paddock security light to warm up and then off we go in the arena...know every inch by heart and hoof. Some nights we get lots of light from the moon, otherwise - heart and soul in the old 100 x 200 crappy footing arena - gotta love it. Glad to know there's more folks out there doing this - let's keep each other going all winter. haven't ever known spring not to come back.... :winkgrin: :cool:

[lizathenag]

flex time at work?

I rode at a barn that had a coin meter on the light poles. You put in a quarter and got 15 minutes of light (ok, this was the 60s). Anyway it was always fun when the lights shut off as you were cantering along.

[Debbie]

I have no ring but with a halogen light in the top of a run in shed and a light on the workshop, I can see enough (mostly) to ride. The horse sees much better than I do and I know there are no holes, so I just go with it. I don't canter much, but there's plenty to work on at the walk and trot for 3 nights of the week and mine gets two off.

[Jleegriffith]

It's a real pain but I do ride in the dark. I stick to walk and trot but man can you really feel what is going on under you when you have nothing else to look at:lol: We finally got lights at the barn we rented only to build our own place and still not be able to afford them. I was also thinking about hauling out to an indoor 2x a week. I could ride two and then haul two out.

[RiverBendPol]

Torrance used to get home from Wall Street, line the trucks, cars and tractor up against the rail, turn on the lights and prepare for the Olympics. I guess it depends on the determination factor. I hung halogen lamps in the trees around my ring-They worked, they weren't expensive.

[Mukluk]

I have to ride at night. By the time I get to the barn it is 5:15 to 6:00 anyway. I have a new 4 year old and I just want her to get a little riding in every day. My schedule is every other Friday off so that really helps. I can get a little light from the barn if the lights are on and the door is open. I don't think you need a whole lot. Just enough to see. We are only doing walk trot at this point. Well after December 21 the days will start to get longer. I'm all for that!

[lstevenson]

As long as you know where you are and the footing is good, you don't need light unless you are jumping.

Even when I have lights available, I have often ridden in the dark in a field that I know well. Your eyes adjust after a few minutes, and horses can see quite well in the dark. You will find numerous benefits to doing some riding in the dark, like an increased awareness of your horse's rhythm and carriage. You will feel a lot more!

[flypony74]

I just usually ride in the dark. My horses are at home and I can't afford to light my riding area, but there is enough ambient light that I can see a little. If I have an easy day in the office (ha!), I may be able to ride during the day, and sometimes in the evenings I will haul over to an indoor. On weekends I often haul out to my friend's farm to hack.

Winter is when I typically give my horse a bit of a break, so right now I'm not riding him more than a few days a week.

[Fence2Fence]

I ride in the dark. I appreciate a full moon and a clear sky.

[Hilary]

For those of you who ride in the dark is the spook factor increased? My mare is terribly spooky in broad daylight, so I've not wanted to try riding at night -when she spooks she leaps and bucks and spins, the last thing I need is to get launched in the dark and have her running around.

I know they see better than we do at night, but do they really see that well?

[Fence2Fence]

I haven't had any problems with increased spookiness. But my guy isn't spooky normally.

Though my dang barn cat likes to roll around in the sand and then dart through the fence to chase rabbits next door...he's the trouble maker!

[Janet]

I am another that just rides in the dark, both with the experienced ones and the greenie. I even do conditioning sets in the dark, provided there is SOME moon.

[Sudi's Girl]

Weellllll..........My guy likes to pretend he's spooky - but I think part of that is his young age, and part of that is just his Arab nature and love of an adrenaline rush.

However, in the ring he's fine (although I think that might just be boredom) - Outside of the ring there are scary horse eating goblins around every turn at night time (although he's not one to spook and run - he just likes to jump up in the air or slightly off to the side). But again - if I keep him moving forward and focused on working, he has less time to think about being spooky and is generally ok.

I would think if you rode in a place that's comfortable for you (like a ring), you'll be ok. But, if you're nervous about riding in the dark, chances are your horse will be too. :)

[findeight]

Don't event and don't have that problem now but, over the years, been plenty of times when I was in the exact same situation.

Suggest OP really look at her schedual and work around the days she can ride in daylight for the heavier excercises and jumping. Think it out carefully and arrange the "lesson plan" so it works with available lighting.

Don't know about overall goals but there is certainly plenty of walk/trot flatwork you can do in almost complete darkness (and none of mine ever were any more spooky in the dark, less if anything). Maybe winter can also be used to allow you to back off a little and just keep him in condition, beaks can be good with youngster-good for busy owners too.

When you are boarding out, it is up to the BO to make any changes and it is best to be low key when suggesting any changes. Many don't want to make those changes. Also, OP does have some light so is not in complete darkeness like myself and some others have been at times so this is not so tragic.

One other thought...you don't have to get everything done every day and it will not hurt the horse to be restricted to ring work during the week. Personally, I'd skip Tuesday and Thursday and back him off a little until around Valentines Day when the days start stretching out more.

[Arcadien]

You're making me appreciate even more my flexible work-mostly-from-home schedule I have right now!

But I've been there, know the frustration. I did manage one winter to stay fairly serious with a mare I had aiming for Prelim. I had a very bad, dim, hung to low on a tree branch light on an extension cord. It took amazing guts to go out in the cold dark, tack up my spooky TB mare, and ride under that dim light. But when I could make myself do it, it felt great! I guess I averaged 2 nights a week, and couldn't do much more than walk-trot exercises on a 20 meter circle. But that was enough that we could be more serious on the weekend - a hack out one day, jump lesson in an indoor (hauled to of course) the second day. Without the couple of dark cold rides during the week, I wouldn't have felt right making her work harder on the weekends. It was just enough for us, to keep going.

And as far as her spookiness, yes it was an adventure some nights! But overall I think it brought us closer. Without being able to see very well, I was so aware of my seat, her movement, the rhythm. There was always plenty of energy to work with! I think in spite of herself, she enjoyed those night rides too.

I wouldn't have been able to make myself do it every night - I avoided those with high winds, precipitation, or really hard freezes. But it was just enough.

Maybe you can find a similar compromise?

Anyway, thanks for pointing out that I have no excuses - though I dislike riding in the winter, I have plenty of daylight - got to kick my butt & get out there & on them!

Cheers,
Arcadien

[RunForIt]

For those of you who ride in the dark is the spook factor increased? My mare is terribly spooky in broad daylight, so I've not wanted to try riding at night -when she spooks she leaps and bucks and spins, the last thing I need is to get launched in the dark and have her running around.

I know they see better than we do at night, but do they really see that well?

Buddy did the spook-drop-a-shoulder-and-bolt routine day or night...I generally could feel it one second ahead...he helped me out with night riding, as I got uber-sensitive to his back and that teeeeensiest moment of not going forward = grab the right rein in his case and INSIST we continue forward no matter what direction that might be. Buddy also had predictable spots for spooking at night, as well as predictable minutes into the work. When in doubt, put on a warm coat and LUNGE!!!!!! - all over the ring, down the long side, over poles...gets 'em worked and saves a trip to the emergency room. :D :cool:

[WldnHrseCrzy03]

I feel your pain. I too am having a hard time deciding what to do this winter because of the amenities (or lack of) at my current barn. The BO finally got *most* of the lights working in one of the outdoor arenas. . . but the problem is. . . we are in MN!! And no indoor = not doing much because the ground is hard as a rock and usually uneven. Plus bad weather. . . snow/sleet/who knows what?! :eek:

Not too bad yet because it hasn't snowed (or iced) yet and the temps are still above freezing during the day so the sandy footing in the arenas are still pretty rideable. But once it's solidly frozen and with snow/ice. . . I can't ride with or without lights! :mad: Frustrating. . .

Part of my issue is that I am leasing the horse I ride. I really really REALLY want to keep working with him because he has SO much potential. . . but under the circumstances. . . I might give us both the winter off. I just can't justify spending the $$$ on leasing him over the winter when I can only work him once a week. . . if at all! :no:

Makes me sad. :(

[Sudi's Girl]

As I was riding both of my horses last night..(in the rain :()...I remembered this thread I started a while back. However, even though I was slightly soggy upon dismounting, I was really glad I made the effort to still ride (esp. as I have some shows coming up)!

So - How is everyone else doing with this?? I need more motivation! :D

On a good note, my BO is currently figuring out a lighting configuration for us - although realistically nothing will probably happen until next winter. I'm still hopeful though!

[Gwendolyn]

I've been doing much better this year than I was last year, I can say that! I even rode a few weeks ago when it was about 40 degrees out (VERY cold for us Floridians!). My normally DEAD QUIET mare tried to take off bucking with me 4 times!! All I could do was laugh, as she's NEVER bucked a day in her life (even when I started her). She was definately enjoying the cold!

I'm proud that I've been able to keep going through the winter. It's not nearly as cold here as it is up north, but we still have the same problems with lack of daylight.

[Elghund2]

I've ridden mine in the dark or by moonlight. Spooking never seemed to be much of an issue.

I've also used the floodlights that you can get that are on a telescoping stand. I got two sets of those and set them up by the ring and rode.