Hacking out anywhere now?

[gee33]

Hello winter riders!

Does anyone know if anywhere is safe to ride at the moment? Its so icy and hard round us we haven't ridden for a month!

Beaches and forests spring to mind and we can now get the trailer out so if the main roads are clear and safe we would like to take the horses away for a weeks holiday to ride them.

Any ideas around you, where you might be riding now, that isn't so risky? Horses are barefoot so that helps and are out 24/7!

Thanks for any help!

[Dragonmaster]

I'm still riding on my usual routes, country roads that are bus routes so clear, and bridleways. But we have not had weather quite as bad or as cold as elsewhere.

[Deleted]

Where are you gee3?

[anastasia55555]

Not going anywhere anytime soon :-( ground solid, so off road would be ok if the council had bothered to clear and grit the roads properly! tbh its so bloody cold i dont think i could hang around long enough to ride, aswell as lug warm water about muck out shelter and hay them. Now got a stinking cold to add to my christmas cheer doh!!

[jennyb]

We hacked about 6 miles on the roads yesterday, mostly walking with a few brisk trots to warm us up. No chance of any fast work anywhere, not even risking off road hacks at the moment as the ground is frozen solid, rutted and icy. Luckily our horses are great in traffic and our yard leads straight out onto a gritted road. We did get quite a few cars passing yesterday but all were good and slowed down well.

Gazdag thought a mainly walking hack on the roads was quite boring though so decided to spice things up a bit by pretending to be scared of things he doesn't normally look at. He was clearly just doing it for entertainment value! Not full on spooks, just hesitating and peering at things suspiciously.

[cassiejane]

I think you are all very brave, no way would I be going anywhere from here, the ungritted roads are very very slippery even my 4x4 cant stop properly or quickly, so I would hate to get myself into a situation.

[jennyb]

I should state the obvious perhaps - we stayed on gritted roads yesterday!! The ungritted lanes are just too icy to risk a spook and a slip.

[steve]

Nope not ridden for about 4 weeks now :-(

Our arena is up a track that is currently about 3" thick solid ice, and the bridle paths that run through the farm is sheet ice as well where the farmer has driven up and down it a few times. Even dog walking is now an extreme sport! My legs and hips haven't moved like it in years!!

[greyhorses]

I've not hacked for weeks as it's been too icy. We live on a quiet lane (never gritted), then have to go through the village (doubt its gritted) and then down country lanes (never gritted). There's a real lack of bridle paths around my way.

I've only just been able to hitch the trailer up last weekend to go and get some hay as it's been so icy that I've not wanted to tow.

2010 been a bit of a rubbish year for horses and riding for me - hope it improves in 2011 :-)

[gee33]

Forgot to say we are in the midlands area but happy to go anywhere! The side roads round us are not gritted either and don't want to risk it but the main quiet road is ok now so we could go off somewhere with the trailer.


Looks like some people are lucky and have non frozen off road riding, Wrexham sounds like the place to be!

Have a youngster so we are keen to keep him ticking over so would be nice to find somewhere safe!

[Deleted]

tbh i think beaches are your best bet! I have access to miles of off road hacking and can't use any of it as before the snow came it was frosty all the paths were walked smooth, so now we have ice covered in snow.

I've been long lining and riding in one of our paddocks and up the track that runs alongside our fields - not very exciting but last time I went out my horse slipped when being led in-hand (without spooking) so I'm not doing that again!

[happysnail]

Not ridden for a month will be gutted if no riding till march like last year... Will have to borrow a horse for cuddles if nothing else.

[anastasia55555]

If its not annoying enough the bliddy white stuff is coming down like no bodies business again :-(

[Deleted]

It's not so bad when it's nice and fluffy and powdery, at least you can ride in the fields as they won't get churned up, it really sucks when it melts then re-freezes as sheet ice!

[anastasia55555]

Gotta get there first doh!!