12 questions every horse owner asks themselves when the cold weather strikes

Temperatures have been dropping and we all knew we couldn’t get away with a soft winter forever. However well prepared you are, however good your cold weather clothing and rugs, chilly weather is always a tricky time for horse owners. Here are 12 questions we’ve all asked ourselves between shivers…

1. Does my horse have enough rugs on?

2. Do I really have to stick my hand in that freezing water trough to remove the bits of ice? (Where’s that old kitchen sieve when you need it?)

3. How long is this going to last? I’ve only got three weeks supply of haylage left and I can’t get my trailer up the icy hill out of the yard to collect more until it thaws…

4. Where did I put those really warm riding gloves at the end of last winter?

5. Can I persuade my other half to hump water containers from the house to the car and out to the yard for me because the outdoor tap and hose are frozen solid?

6. Is that school too frozen to ride on?

7. Will my horse slip over on that treacherous track to the woods if I try to go hacking?

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8. Exactly how many clothes can I wear and still be able to ride with some degree of competence to control this fire-breathing dragon?

9. How much fitness is my horse losing while he can’t do much work?

10. And how much should I reduce his feed to account for his lower workload?

11. Will I be able to get out to that super-duper training session I’ve booked next week?

12. Remind me why I’m doing this? I’m sure knitting is very soothing… and warm…

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Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.