Light at the end of the tunnel…
As winter envelops the equestrian world in its icy grip, horse owners find themselves navigating the challenges of chilly temperatures, reduced daylight, and often unfavourable weather conditions. However, with the promise of spring on the horizon, there’s a silver lining to these dark and cold months. As we venture into January it’s helpful to keep an eye on the calendar and remind ourselves that brighter days are ahead. Spring officially commences on the 1st of March, signalling a shift in the weather patterns, and giving a much-needed ease to those trying to fit horses in around their work hours. Daylight savings time follows suit on the 31st of March, bringing with it longer days and a welcomed extra five hours of daylight. This transition offers a glimmer of hope for horse owners, paving the way for more hacks, training sessions, competitions and all-important, mood-boosting vitamin D for both horses and riders.
If the dark winter days are getting you down, here are five key things to remember:
The shortest day of the year was 22nd Dec 2023
The days are already getting longer.
8th February – the day the sun starts to rise before 7.30 am
Hopefully giving enough time to fit in a daylight ride before work (depending on your commute).
1st March – Winter is over and it’s officially Spring
31st March – Daylight Savings
The clocks spring forward, so whilst we get an hour less in bed, we gain an hour’s more daylight in the evening.
From today there are only 23 more Mondays until Summer
Navigating the Challenges of Horses in Winter
Winter brings its own set of challenges, with mud and rain creating less-than-ideal conditions for doing the horses, let alone riding. Sometimes instead of pushing through, it’s okay to give both yourself and your horse a break. Sometimes, a cuddle and a grooming session can be more fulfilling than battling the elements. This is the perfect opportunity to focus on the well-being of both you and your horse. Engage in activities that promote relaxation and strengthen your bond, whether it’s groundwork, a leisurely walk, a deep grooming session, or simply spending quality time together in the stable. Using January to plan your year can be mood-boosting too.
Having the right kit for the job is equally as important. Ensure you’re comfortable and dry, and that you look after your body during harsh weather. Decent gloves are always a good idea, along with a trusty pair of yard boots. Our Barnsdale Wellingtons have been tested in -11°, the 4mm of neoprene and vulcanised rubber make them an excellent and sturdy yard boot. Defence from wet and mud is crucial too, extra helpful if waterproofs have a warm filling too. And if you’re a proud all-weather rider, a pair of over-trousers will keep cold wet legs at bay. If your horse tends to be fresh in cold weather, a pair of fleece-lined full-seat silicone breeches will give you more security in the saddle.
Here are our team’s favourite winter survival products:
Sunrise and Sunset Times
To help you plan your time with your horse, here’s a table of sunrise and sunset times for January through to April 2024:
Source: Sun Today
JAN | DAY | SUNRISE | SUNSET | DAY LENGTH |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 1, 2024 | Mon | 08:07 am | 04:02 pm | 07h 54m |
Jan 2, 2024 | Tue | 08:07 am | 04:03 pm | 07h 55m |
Jan 3, 2024 | Wed | 08:07 am | 04:04 pm | 07h 57m |
Jan 4, 2024 | Thu | 08:06 am | 04:05 pm | 07h 58m |
Jan 5, 2024 | Fri | 08:06 am | 04:06 pm | 07h 59m |
Jan 6, 2024 | Sat | 08:06 am | 04:07 pm | 08h 01m |
Jan 7, 2024 | Sun | 08:05 am | 04:08 pm | 08h 02m |
Jan 8, 2024 | Mon | 08:05 am | 04:10 pm | 08h 04m |
Jan 9, 2024 | Tue | 08:05 am | 04:11 pm | 08h 06m |
Jan 10, 2024 | Wed | 08:04 am | 04:12 pm | 08h 08m |
Jan 11, 2024 | Thu | 08:03 am | 04:14 pm | 08h 10m |
Jan 12, 2024 | Fri | 08:03 am | 04:15 pm | 08h 12m |
Jan 13, 2024 | Sat | 08:02 am | 04:17 pm | 08h 14m |
Jan 14, 2024 | Sun | 08:01 am | 04:18 pm | 08h 16m |
Jan 15, 2024 | Mon | 08:01 am | 04:20 pm | 08h 18m |
Jan 16, 2024 | Tue | 08:00 am | 04:21 pm | 08h 21m |
Jan 17, 2024 | Wed | 07:59 am | 04:23 pm | 08h 23m |
Jan 18, 2024 | Thu | 07:58 am | 04:24 pm | 08h 26m |
Jan 19, 2024 | Fri | 07:57 am | 04:26 pm | 08h 28m |
Jan 20, 2024 | Sat | 07:56 am | 04:28 pm | 08h 31m |
Jan 21, 2024 | Sun | 07:55 am | 04:29 pm | 08h 34m |
Jan 22, 2024 | Mon | 07:54 am | 04:31 pm | 08h 37m |
Jan 23, 2024 | Tue | 07:53 am | 04:33 pm | 08h 39m |
Jan 24, 2024 | Wed | 07:52 am | 04:34 pm | 08h 42m |
Jan 25, 2024 | Thu | 07:50 am | 04:36 pm | 08h 45m |
Jan 26, 2024 | Fri | 07:49 am | 04:38 pm | 08h 48m |
Jan 27, 2024 | Sat | 07:48 am | 04:40 pm | 08h 51m |
Jan 28, 2024 | Sun | 07:46 am | 04:41 pm | 08h 54m |
Jan 29, 2024 | Mon | 07:45 am | 04:43 pm | 08h 58m |
Jan 30, 2024 | Tue | 07:44 am | 04:45 pm | 09h 01m |
Jan 31, 2024 | Wed | 07:42 am | 04:47 pm | 09h 04m |
FEB | DAY | SUNRISE | SUNSET | DAY LENGTH |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feb 1, 2024 | Thu | 07:41 am | 04:49 pm | 09h 07m |
Feb 2, 2024 | Fri | 07:39 am | 04:50 pm | 09h 11m |
Feb 3, 2024 | Sat | 07:38 am | 04:52 pm | 09h 14m |
Feb 4, 2024 | Sun | 07:36 am | 04:54 pm | 09h 18m |
Feb 5, 2024 | Mon | 07:34 am | 04:56 pm | 09h 21m |
Feb 6, 2024 | Tue | 07:33 am | 04:58 pm | 09h 24m |
Feb 7, 2024 | Wed | 07:31 am | 05:00 pm | 09h 28m |
Feb 8, 2024 | Thu | 07:29 am | 05:01 pm | 09h 32m |
Feb 9, 2024 | Fri | 07:28 am | 05:03 pm | 09h 35m |
Feb 10, 2024 | Sat | 07:26 am | 05:05 pm | 09h 39m |
Feb 11, 2024 | Sun | 07:24 am | 05:07 pm | 09h 42m |
Feb 12, 2024 | Mon | 07:22 am | 05:09 pm | 09h 46m |
Feb 13, 2024 | Tue | 07:20 am | 05:11 pm | 09h 50m |
Feb 14, 2024 | Wed | 07:19 am | 05:12 pm | 09h 53m |
Feb 15, 2024 | Thu | 07:17 am | 05:14 pm | 09h 57m |
Feb 16, 2024 | Fri | 07:15 am | 05:16 pm | 10h 01m |
Feb 17, 2024 | Sat | 07:13 am | 05:18 pm | 10h 05m |
Feb 18, 2024 | Sun | 07:11 am | 05:20 pm | 10h 08m |
Feb 19, 2024 | Mon | 07:09 am | 05:22 pm | 10h 12m |
Feb 20, 2024 | Tue | 07:07 am | 05:23 pm | 10h 16m |
Feb 21, 2024 | Wed | 07:05 am | 05:25 pm | 10h 20m |
Feb 22, 2024 | Thu | 07:03 am | 05:27 pm | 10h 24m |
Feb 23, 2024 | Fri | 07:01 am | 05:29 pm | 10h 27m |
Feb 24, 2024 | Sat | 06:59 am | 05:31 pm | 10h 31m |
Feb 25, 2024 | Sun | 06:57 am | 05:32 pm | 10h 35m |
Feb 26, 2024 | Mon | 06:55 am | 05:34 pm | 10h 39m |
Feb 27, 2024 | Tue | 06:52 am | 05:36 pm | 10h 43m |
Feb 28, 2024 | Wed | 06:50 am | 05:38 pm | 10h 47m |
Feb 29, 2024 | Thu | 06:48 am | 05:40 pm | 10h 51m |
MAR | DAY | SUNRISE | SUNSET | DAY LENGTH |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mar 1, 2024 | Fri | 06:46 am | 05:41 pm | 10h 55m |
Mar 2, 2024 | Sat | 06:44 am | 05:43 pm | 10h 59m |
Mar 3, 2024 | Sun | 06:42 am | 05:45 pm | 11h 03m |
Mar 4, 2024 | Mon | 06:39 am | 05:47 pm | 11h 07m |
Mar 5, 2024 | Tue | 06:37 am | 05:48 pm | 11h 11m |
Mar 6, 2024 | Wed | 06:35 am | 05:50 pm | 11h 14m |
Mar 7, 2024 | Thu | 06:33 am | 05:52 pm | 11h 18m |
Mar 8, 2024 | Fri | 06:31 am | 05:53 pm | 11h 22m |
Mar 9, 2024 | Sat | 06:28 am | 05:55 pm | 11h 26m |
Mar 10, 2024 | Sun | 06:26 am | 05:57 pm | 11h 30m |
Mar 11, 2024 | Mon | 06:24 am | 05:59 pm | 11h 34m |
Mar 12, 2024 | Tue | 06:22 am | 06:00 pm | 11h 38m |
Mar 13, 2024 | Wed | 06:19 am | 06:02 pm | 11h 42m |
Mar 14, 2024 | Thu | 06:17 am | 06:04 pm | 11h 46m |
Mar 15, 2024 | Fri | 06:15 am | 06:05 pm | 11h 50m |
Mar 16, 2024 | Sat | 06:12 am | 06:07 pm | 11h 54m |
Mar 17, 2024 | Sun | 06:10 am | 06:09 pm | 11h 58m |
Mar 18, 2024 | Mon | 06:08 am | 06:10 pm | 12h 02m |
Mar 19, 2024 | Tue | 06:06 am | 06:12 pm | 12h 06m |
Mar 20, 2024 | Wed | 06:03 am | 06:14 pm | 12h 10m |
Mar 21, 2024 | Thu | 06:01 am | 06:16 pm | 12h 14m |
Mar 22, 2024 | Fri | 05:59 am | 06:17 pm | 12h 18m |
Mar 23, 2024 | Sat | 05:56 am | 06:19 pm | 12h 22m |
Mar 24, 2024 | Sun | 05:54 am | 06:21 pm | 12h 26m |
Mar 25, 2024 | Mon | 05:52 am | 06:22 pm | 12h 30m |
Mar 26, 2024 | Tue | 05:49 am | 06:24 pm | 12h 34m |
Mar 27, 2024 | Wed | 05:47 am | 06:26 pm | 12h 38m |
Mar 28, 2024 | Thu | 05:45 am | 06:27 pm | 12h 42m |
Mar 29, 2024 | Fri | 05:43 am | 06:29 pm | 12h 46m |
Mar 30, 2024 | Sat | 05:40 am | 06:31 pm | 12h 50m |
Mar 31, 2024 | Sun | 06:38 am | 07:32 pm | 12h 54m |
APR | DAY | SUNRISE | SUNSET | DAY LENGTH |
---|---|---|---|---|
Apr 1, 2024 | Mon | 06:36 am | 07:34 pm | 12h 58m |
Apr 2, 2024 | Tue | 06:33 am | 07:36 pm | 13h 02m |
Apr 3, 2024 | Wed | 06:31 am | 07:37 pm | 13h 06m |
Apr 4, 2024 | Thu | 06:29 am | 07:39 pm | 13h 09m |
Apr 5, 2024 | Fri | 06:27 am | 07:41 pm | 13h 13m |
Apr 6, 2024 | Sat | 06:24 am | 07:42 pm | 13h 17m |
Apr 7, 2024 | Sun | 06:22 am | 07:44 pm | 13h 21m |
Apr 8, 2024 | Mon | 06:20 am | 07:46 pm | 13h 25m |
Apr 9, 2024 | Tue | 06:18 am | 07:47 pm | 13h 29m |
Apr 10, 2024 | Wed | 06:16 am | 07:49 pm | 13h 33m |
Apr 11, 2024 | Thu | 06:13 am | 07:51 pm | 13h 37m |
Apr 12, 2024 | Fri | 06:11 am | 07:52 pm | 13h 41m |
Apr 13, 2024 | Sat | 06:09 am | 07:54 pm | 13h 44m |
Apr 14, 2024 | Sun | 06:07 am | 07:56 pm | 13h 48m |
Apr 15, 2024 | Mon | 06:05 am | 07:57 pm | 13h 52m |
Apr 16, 2024 | Tue | 06:02 am | 07:59 pm | 13h 56m |
Apr 17, 2024 | Wed | 06:00 am | 08:01 pm | 14h 00m |
Apr 18, 2024 | Thu | 05:58 am | 08:02 pm | 14h 04m |
Apr 19, 2024 | Fri | 05:56 am | 08:04 pm | 14h 07m |
Apr 20, 2024 | Sat | 05:54 am | 08:06 pm | 14h 11m |
Apr 21, 2024 | Sun | 05:52 am | 08:07 pm | 14h 15m |
Apr 22, 2024 | Mon | 05:50 am | 08:09 pm | 14h 19m |
Apr 23, 2024 | Tue | 05:48 am | 08:11 pm | 14h 22m |
Apr 24, 2024 | Wed | 05:46 am | 08:12 pm | 14h 26m |
Apr 25, 2024 | Thu | 05:44 am | 08:14 pm | 14h 30m |
Apr 26, 2024 | Fri | 05:42 am | 08:16 pm | 14h 33m |
Apr 27, 2024 | Sat | 05:40 am | 08:17 pm | 14h 37m |
Apr 28, 2024 | Sun | 05:38 am | 08:19 pm | 14h 40m |
Apr 29, 2024 | Mon | 05:36 am | 08:21 pm | 14h 44m |
Apr 30, 2024 | Tue | 05:34 am | 08:22 pm | 14h 48m |
Looking Ahead to Spring
As winter gradually loosens its grip, horse owners can look forward to the promise of spring. Longer days and milder temperatures create an ideal environment for more focused training sessions and adventurous hacks. The transition from winter to spring is a reminder that, like the seasons, our journey with our horses is marked by change and adaptation.
In conclusion, owning a horse in winter requires a delicate balance of patience, self-care, and a whole lot of grit and determination. Embrace the downtime, utilise moments of connection with your horse, and look forward to the opportunities spring will bring.