Indoor-less riders, you've had rides like this…

[HorsesinHaiti]

We’re in the height of rainy season, so it rains every afternoon. Today was a rare day when the rain held off, so I figured I’d give the pony some exercise. Which was something like:

Run home from office.
Unlock door.
Trip over hungry cat.
Feed hungry cat.
Change to riding clothes.
Grab pony from grazing.
Open gate.
Lead in pony.
Close gate.
Tie pony.
Water pony.
Brush saddle & girth area fast.
Pick feet.
Get tack.
Spank grumpy pony for giving me the middle hoof at sight of the girth.
Saddle pony.
Unhalter and Bridle pony.
Open gate.
Lead out pony.
Close gate.
Run down stirrups.
Collect reins.
Lift foot to stirrup.

FLASH!BANG!
Count lack of seconds between FLASH! And BANG!

Lower foot from stirrup.
Loosen reins.
Run up stirrups.
Open gate.
Lead in pony.
Close gate.
Unbridle and halter pony.
Unsaddle pony.
Remind now happy girth-hating pony he loves going out once we actually mount up and get to leave.
Take tack back in.
Untie pony.
Take pony to overnight paddock.
Assemble pony supplement / grain snack and forage.
Get drenched by rain while taking pony his snack and forage.
Change wet riding clothes for house clothes.
Tell bemused cat that today he’s lucky he’s a housecat and not a pony!

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

Or…you could be out riding, when the FLASH! BANG! happens, and your weenie pony decides he needs to run hell bent for leather to comparative dry…

Sorry you didn’t have a good ride - or a ride at all!

[SmartAlex]

A couple of weeks ago:

It had been dry all week, but showers are predicted for evening.
As I prepare for my lesson, the clouds get darker.
I mount up so as to be ready for my instructor and not lose a moment.
Instructor arrives.
So does rain.
I tell instructor, I don’t mind getting a little wet, when you’ve had enough, head to the barn and I’ll follow…
Clouds open up into torrential downpour.

Luckily, we do have a small indoor. So my 20 meter circle became a 15 meter circle. An hour later I dismount to find that my white horse is now coated with a quarter inch of arena dust which stuck to his drenched self.

Rain ends.

[mg]

I rode in the FLASH! BANG!s the other day…only they started before I got on :lol: I hadn’t had time to ride Fat Horse for a couple days and he really needed the work. I decided it was time for him to officially become part of the family and learn how to be a duck like my other horses! Unfortunately, I forgot my longer rain coat at home. Posting trot in sopping wet breeches with water in your underwear is marginally uncomfortable. I’ve also been oiling my saddle daily for a week since!

[trubandloki]

That always happens on a day that it has been gorgeous all day while you are sitting at your desk in the office drooling over what great riding weather it is.

I feel your pain.

[Paige777]

Oh, I have been there too many times!

[JRG]

Yup, put the big girl pants on and rode throught it. Funny, the following week had a show in the same type of downpour and had the ride of my life!

[PiaffePlease]

A few years ago there was a whole summer that this happened to me. Barn was 40 mins away. Weather.com said no rain, skies were clear, all was clear to ride. I rode out there, still looked nice, tacked up and bang, rained for an hour and the footing to too wet to ride in.

[Hinderella]

I don’t have much to add, except I LOVE the middle hoof thing…

I love when you’re stitting in your office, looking out the window at the beautiful weather ALL DAY LONG…and at 4:58, the rain rolls in.

[trubandloki]

@JRG;5715248

Yup, put the big girl pants on and rode throught it. Funny, the following week had a show in the same type of downpour and had the ride of my life!

I think there is a big difference between riding thru a down pour and riding in a thunder and lightening storm. (I believe that is the point the OP was making when she said the bit about the timing of the bang and flash.)

Riding in a rain storm is refreshing and fun. Riding in a thunder and lightening storm is not overly smart.

[JRG]

[QUOTE=trubandloki;5715736]
I think there is a big difference between riding thru a down pour and riding in a thunder and lightening storm. (I believe that is the point the OP was making when she said the bit about the timing of the bang and flash.)

Riding in a rain storm is refreshing and fun. Riding in a thunder and lightening storm is not overly smart.[/QUOTE]

Really, it is nothing to get anyone in an uproar about. I didn’t say the op, I was recanting my latest experience. I don’t have an indoor and I feel for the op having been in similiar shoes.

[kashmere]

[QUOTE=trubandloki;5715736]

Riding in a rain storm is refreshing and fun. Riding in a thunder and lightening storm is not overly smart.[/QUOTE]

Very true. A few years ago a local stable near me was having lessons when a big storm rolled in. Lightning struck the arena and 3 horses were killed – metal horseshoes are very efficient conductors Very sad day for all.

[HorsesinHaiti]

We have to replace a few fried transformers each year after lightning strikes, and this is the middle of lightning ‘season’. So yes, the sudden jump in the risk of being pony flambe was the dealbreaker. Otherwise, the saddle is a Wintec for a reason.

And the weather and thunder today are doing the exact. same. thing. :mad:

[CuteArabHunter]

[QUOTE=HorsesinHaiti;5714609]

Spank grumpy pony for giving me the middle hoof at sight of the girth.
…
Tell bemused cat that today he’s lucky he’s a housecat and not a pony![/QUOTE]

These made me :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: SO hard!

I do feel your pain though. :(:mad::no: