idiots riding in snow and ice

[maximum]

Took child and dog for walk in the forest and passed 2 women out riding.

Now nothing wrong with riding in the snow ( well other than the snow stilts effect!) but we have had such cold freezing nights that it is ice under the hard packed snow and its just utter foolishness.Both child and I were sliding all over the place.

Apart from the fact that the risk of either going down or doing the splits ( a nasty but all too common injury to horses regardless of having rider on board) they were heading back via the main road!!

Ok so its cleared a bit but its still treacherous - as a driver if you are having to take extra care on a poorly treated road ( which many are) the last thing you need is some idiot on horseback appearing at your side. All it takes is for a car to skid and its broken legs all round- if a car skids you have little or no control over its direction

so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stay safe - dont ride on roads or ice covered tracks - better safe than sorry all round.

[bonnyben]

Totally agree maxi....people are so silly and selfish really - they think they are being smart but in fact they are being damned silly.

Two of the girlsdat my new yard went out on Saturday despite the fact three of us had skidded in our cars on the route they were going to take!! Total madness and as you say not at all fair to drivers...

[scattymare]

I wouldn't dare go out in it. The roads round my lanes are just like ice sheets. Very frustrating as I'm desperate to start work with Eddie, but rather be safe than sorry.
Haven't seen a single horse out either. Would be madness in my village.

[fimacg]

Totally agree, unless like Kylie you have miles of resh poder and off road riding and an unshod horse... I haven't been on mine in over a week and they are lucky if they get out into teh field for a couple of hours

[jane]

I have been out, but am very lucky that I can go on rough tracks which give a good grip and also stay on small gritted roads, there's not much traffic here.

Do agree though you can be totally foolish, I have seen someone out on a very skittish horse leaping all over icy roads..... ooh think of the legs slipperdy sliding.

[FirenLady]

I would never go out on roads in ice/snow, not only are they icy atm but sun is low in the sky. Me n Fire stick to the snow bits and woods. Theres been so many people off the road in their cars round here, were pushing people out of our drive n my dad fell over backwards and whacked his head

Nothing more delicate than a horses legs.

[brigadier]

Totally bonkers- cant agree more with comments above, would ride in a field if i knew what was underfoot and only fresh snow not ice. but certainly not on a road- why risk it.

[florence]

Thankfully, the only ones I've seen were riding in the fields in fresh snow. I would never even consider it, much rather stay safe. We've managed to get the horses out each day but we've had a slight thaw which will freeze over tonight so I doubt very much they'll be out tomorrow. Better safe than sorry.