Eight ways riders can embrace the clocks going back for winter

The rumours are true, British summertime is officially over! But far from the doom and gloom associated with the season, there’s so much to look forward to over the autumn and winter months. H&R picks just a few of our favourites…

That Sunday morning lie-in the rest of the world enjoys in the annual ‘fall back’ clock-changing tradition? Not a thing if you’re a horse owner whose trusty steed threatens to break down his stable door or pace his fence line into a world war-worthy trench when his breakfast’s even five minutes late. So, if not the elusive extra hour in bed, what is there to look forward to as we prepare to welcome in the winter? It turns out, there’s loads to love about the colder months!

1. Make mornings the peak of productivity

There’s nothing more rewarding than getting up before the dawn chorus and ticking off a dozen items on your to-do list while everyone else sluggishly awakens from their slumber. We’ll admit it’s a struggle to start with, but the colder months provide the perfect opportunity for some early bird smugness when the world’s feeling a little slower to start.

So, strap on a headtorch and head down to the yard bright (or not so bright) and early to get mucked out, hayed, fed and watered. A fresh, crisp ride – whether on a hack or in the arena ­– is the best way to start the weekend, although with a few weeks left of pre-7.30 sunrise, there’s still a limited window for full morning productivity on weekdays, too. Seize your last chance to squeeze in a quick hack around the block and still be at your desk by 9am – if you’re serious about being tacked up and ready to hit the road early, it’s totally achievable.

2. Better riding conditions (yes, you did read that right!)

It’s easy to romanticise the summer months when you’re leaving work at 5pm in the pitch black giving yourself a pep talk for yet another floodlit schooling session while you yearn for evening hacks on your horse during which you both bask in the summer’s glow. Yet, in reality, autumn and winter actually make for far better riding weather. So much of the summer season gets written off by ground conditions that are too hard, or hot and sweaty workouts surrounded by your entire local area’s population of flies – and let’s not forget, wet weather certainly isn’t reserved solely for winter.

By making use of a smart clipping regime, your horse is unlikely to suffer from workload-induced overheating (provided, of course, that you don’t face him with more exercise than his current fitness level allows). Then – with a healthy dose of forward planning, religious weather app-checking and making the most of everything available to you – many of us will be able to cleverly combine the use of all-weather surfaces, roads, tracks and fields to create the ultimate equine conditioning routine. In fact, we’d almost be willing to wager that your horse could come out of winter fitter than he entered it.

3. Evenings under the floodlights

For those of us working 9–5 Monday to Friday, there’s no escaping the fact that the only way your after-work weekday riding is going to be facilitated is under the bright lights of the arena. If this sounds like you, first of all take a moment to count your blessings – a surface and floodlights are a real winter luxury that eludes a lot of horse owners! Plus, the light drawing in tends to shake off a lot of the fair-weather riders so with many of your fellow liveries hurrying their visit in a bid to get home to the warm and dry, there’s likely to be less competition for the arena.

4. Training opportunities galore

While we’re still thinking about riding, there’s no reason why winter needs to be a total holiday from the competition calendar – if you’re that way inclined. Sure, there might be a little less than usual going on (and it’s eventers who really take the biggest hit), but there are still plenty of chances to get out and about to earn some rosettes with your horse. From arena eventing and showjumping to dressage and showing, and let’s not forget that lots of venues are ramping up their winter training schedules, too. There’s bound to be plenty of opportunities for evening clinics, arena hire, top trainer lessons and demos – and be sure to look out for the season’s must-visit… a festive polework clinic!

5. Embrace the special occasions

When you think back on the reasons you first got into riding, do you ever think maybe we’re missing out on some of the fun of it all? Now, we’re not saying that the third lunge session of the week to relieve enough pent-up energy that you might have a fighting chance of actually getting on your beloved horse isn’t fun… It’s just a different type of fun.

So, why not bring back fun in the more traditional sense with some classic fancy dress! No longer just a pastime of Pony Club-goers and riding school kids, it turns out us adults love playing dress-up just as much. With Halloween on the horizon (although you’ll need to be quick!) and festive-themed activities looming, whether you go full-blown witch on a broomstick or give more of a subtle nod with a more tasteful yet trendy burnt orange baselayer, there’s nothing wrong with dipping your toe in something more lighthearted from time to time.

6. Enjoy some much-needed R&R

By that we mean rest and relaxation, of course – but also, if you’re spending less time in the saddle over the autumn and winter, it’s a great opportunity to regroup and reorganise. After all, why save spring cleaning for the spring when it’ll be warmer, lighter and on the whole slightly more enjoyable to be riding in? If wet weather or diminishing light conditions are stopping play, why not bite the bullet and spend an evening mucking out your tack and feed rooms? There’s no better time to turf out the unrepairable, leaky or downright unsuitable rugs while they’re fresh in your memory. Round up your yard mates, get some tunes blasting from the speakers and make an evening of it – a better organised yard is sure to cheer you up even on a grey and gloomy day.

7. Prepare for ‘Mission: best season yet’

Spending less time in the saddle this winter? Maintain your motivation by getting excited about next season! With a planner or calendar to hand, mark out key dates in your diary. Where do you want to go and when will you go there? How can you use your time to max out on enjoyment? When will your horse’s fitness regime start scaling back up? Include all your horse’s routine checks and appointments around these key dates, too.

Don’t forget to factor in non-horsey plans, too. No, sadly that week-long family camping trip over half-term is very much non-negotiable, even it does clash with the only competition in the area scheduled to run the Prelim test you’d planned to perfect over winter…

8. It’s not forever!

From the moment the clocks change, it’s only 147 days (or 21 weeks…) until the clocks go back again. It’s really not that long to wait, we promise!