11 Signs You Might Be a Fair-Weather Rider

Snow thank you.

Photo by Kristen Kovatch

Let’s admit it, the older we get, the more favorable conditions we prefer for trail riding — and that’s totally okay. Here are 11 ways to tell if you’re a fair weather rider.

1. You check the weather before you saddle up. You won’t ride in wind, rain, snow or any chance of some type of bad weather conditions.

2. You have relocated from the east coast/midwest/any cold place to some place warm where you can ride all year long without worrying about above-mentioned bad weather.

4. You and wind are like oil and water. Anything over 15 mph and you’re staying in. That’s what they made Helmet Cams for: for watching from the comfort of your couch.

5. You’ve invested hundreds of dollars on staying warm. You buy Hot Hands and Toasty Toes by the truck load.

6. Your horses get blanketed if the weather drops below 55 degrees. Who cares if they have a thick natural coat? If you’re cold, they’re cold.

7. You’ll cancel your plans to ride a week in advance because there is a 10% chance of snow flurries predicted in the forecast.

8. You snowbird in Arizona in the winter… and join your 100+ friends who also are snowbirds.

9. You use excuses like “my horse gets spooked in the wind/snow/rain/extreme heat” to get out of riding, even though your horse could care less about those conditions.

10. San Diego seems more and more appealing the older you get. The only thing keeping you from relocation is the cost of horse property on your salary.

11. In the winter you go to the barn once a week, tops. Thankfully you have the barn manager on speed dial to check to see how your horse is doing, hourly.

Go riding. Maybe. Check the weather first.