Notes on riding in snow

Plenty of people think winter is no time for riding. In fact it’s one of our favourite seasons.

Snow takes away all the colour, leaving white mountains, black trees and that cold blue sky. Horses breathe clouds, the packed snow creaks under every hoof and now and then a branch drops its load — the whole world goes quiet, as if someone pressed pause.

The horse knows snow better than you

Horses judge snow better than people. Rock underneath, ice, a hollow that will give way — one step and they know.

So the most important thing in snow is this: don’t make the horse’s decisions for it. Give a little rein and let it find the way. When it slows down, it has a reason.

In the snow your job isn’t to command. It’s to trust.

Warm, but not bulky

Riding is warm work, especially uphill, and you cool down fast when you stop. Wear layers you can take off and put on rather than one huge down jacket.

Gloves, a hat, a windproof shell and waterproof boots are essential. Snow on the plateau is blinding, so bring sunglasses too.

The horses need looking after too

Before a winter ride we check every hoof and clear out packed snow and ice. Afterwards we dry them off, put on their rugs and give them warm feed.

Horses can’t tell you they’re cold, so we think of it for them.

The joy of snow

And snow has its own joys.

Trotting across a slope no one has touched, a spray of white behind you. Stopping at the top so a few of us can stand up on our horses, arms wide, shouting at the mountains. Climbing down for a snowball fight when we’re tired of riding.

You’ll see plenty of those photos in our albums. They’re probably what we mean by wild: not reckless, not dangerous, but playing hard with safety always underneath.

Come and see the snow in Xiaozhongdian this winter. The horses are ready.