It’s typically British to moan about the weather but over the last 15 months I have spent a lot of time trying to tell myself ‘There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing’ – however I’m going to admit that despite lots of waterproof jackets I now feel pretty beaten.
If rain was motivation then it would be plentiful for everyone, instead it is sapping energy, removing my mojo and I’m fully now willing to admit – it’s also dampening our fun.
Last weekend we had a little taster that warmer weather may arrive, the thinner rugs came out, the ground started to dry with the wind and it actually looked like I could see some grass… I even wore my sunglasses for at least an hour… and then it rained… and rained some more, oh and then snowed overnight just for good measure.
As a naturally optimistic person I really don’t like to moan, but I do feel justified in my moment of defeat. According to provisional figures from the Met Office, 1,695.9mm of rain fell from October 2022 to March 2024. This is the highest amount of rain for any 18-month period since the organisation began collecting comparable data back in 1836.*
No wonder the fields look like paddy fields.
Even day-to-day jobs seem to require that little bit more energy when its wet and muddy, goodness knows how it feels for the horses – but do they even care? Probably not!!
I have previously said on multiple occasions that you don’t need an arena to keep your horse’s competition fit, that the benefits of hacking combined with some work on grass are just as plentiful, and usually much better for your horse – but now I would like to retract that!
We haven’t been able to get in our fields to ride for months and months – even last summer was too wet for the most part and it’s now ebbing away at my mojo.
Obviously it’s not just me – events have been cancelled up and down the country with huge impacts on all involved and let’s not even talk about our Equiteam Confidence Camps at the start of the month!! At least we did manage to run and everyone was brilliant sports!
At the time of writing this we are officially in Spring time and its 70 days until the official start to summer and that makes me happy! I’m a true sun-loving bunny – I love the lighter sun filled morning, the long summer nights, the smell of summer, the feel of the warmth on my back and the sun-kissed tone to my skin for the tiniest bit of sun (pale skinned people please don’t hate me!).
After many days spent cold and wet coaching in arenas all over Scotland and that ‘peely wally’ look I feel like some sunshine could benefit us all.
Having seen many weather-related social posts from friends I know I’m not on my own – which is one of the reasons for writing this blog and being so honest about my weather-sucked mojo!
One of my friends recently posts about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – her post was brilliantly written and had suggested that people comment with pictures of sunnier days to cheer everyone up – how brilliant! But it also got me to do some research about SAD as well.
1 in 20 people are diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is also called ‘winter depression’ due to its seasonal timing. It has many symptoms including:
- Increased sleep and daytime drowsiness.
- Loss of interest and pleasure in activities formerly enjoyed.
- Social withdrawal and increased sensitivity to rejection.
- Irritability and anxiety.
- Feelings of guilt and hopelessness.
- Fatigue, or low energy level.
- Craving carbohydrates and gaining weight.
- Difficulty concentrating.
If you can relate to the above and have a low persistent mood then it’s always worth speaking to someone.
We might not be loving our Spring time just yet, but we can at least take some comfort in knowing that we are all in this together and not alone in our thoughts.
Roll on summer, returned mojos and hard ground!!!
*Sky News 2nd April 2024
You can find out more about SAD here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/overview/
If you are feeling low you can speak to Riders Minds.
