By Jec A. Ballou

Before retreating into the warmth of his truck, my student’s husband took one last look at us, shook his head, and muttered, “You guys are insane.” Then, without hesitation, he drove off to his comfortable, heated office. Meanwhile, we remained—standing in a miserable blend of rain, snow, and biting wind, preparing for a full day of dressage instruction. The horses had been hauled in ice-cold trailers, and we were bundled up in layers that did little to keep the chill at bay.

For a moment, we exchanged glances—what little we could see of each other beneath scarves, hoods, and waterproof gear. My boots felt like blocks of ice, my fingers ached, and my eyes stung from the wind. Should we call it off? The thought crossed our minds, but only for a fleeting second. No one said a word, yet the decision was unanimous. Of course, we were moving forward. No pep talk, no dramatic declaration—just a shared, silent resolve. Because that’s what horse people do.

Why Equestrians Ride Through Anything

To outsiders, our priorities seem ridiculous. Weddings, reunions, and family gatherings? Those get postponed for bad weather. But a clinic, competition, or group ride? We’re there—frozen toes, soaked jackets, and all. Hiking or playing soccer in a storm sounds absurd, yet we’ll saddle up in a blizzard without a second thought.

Maybe we are a little crazy. But if being an equestrian means braving the wind, rain, and cold without hesitation, then so be it. We don’t just endure the elements—we embrace them. Because for us, the love of the ride will always outweigh the discomfort of the weather.

This is just another illogical thing about life with horses. It’s almost as if we all solemnly assume that foul weather is part of the deal with horses, whereas elsewhere in our lives we have more sense. A lot more.

I, for one, am an avid cyclist, yet I’d never dream of pedaling down the road for a long spell in rain, hail, or mud. The notion strikes me as impossibly unbearable. Given the same rain, hail, and mud, though, you’ll likely find me out on horseback. I can’t explain it. I recall recently riding a horse for a client while big chunks of icy hail bounced off my face and collected along the horse’s crest. In the same conditions, you would never find me on my bike, out for a walk, or for that matter doing anything other than huddling under a comforter in front of the fire.

And next time a hail storm pushes through, I’ll probably once again be out on a horse. I’m a horse gal. It’s what we do.

Related: Riding Your Horse in Winter - How to Stay Motivated

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Main photo: Shutterstock Anghi