WINTER IS well and truly here – for me, arriving with a sharp frost two weeks ago then some wild and wet weather at the weekend.

The message is ‘wrap up warmly’.

Now is traditionally a quieter time of year, with most competition horses having a well earned rest, but there are lots of other horses in work who have a reverse work season.

The National Hunt racehorses, point-to-pointers and hunters are all in work as will many leisure horses whose work will be less frequent.

For those horses on yards that have flood-lit all weather arenas, I envy you as it’s dark by the time I leave work and finishing horses in the dark is one thing but the thought to ride is another.

My horses are well mannered but I’d rather not ride with a head torch on, I don’t think I’d be thanked and I don’t want to imagine the ‘monsters’ that emerge from the shadows, and if I came across another animal, well I’m not sure who would have the biggest fright but I’m sure one of us would be disappearing at high speed in the opposite direction!

Suffice to say their exercise is severely curtailed at the moment but instead of being cooped up in their stable they are turned out daily for the full day, come rail, hail or, on the rare occurrence, shine!