#EventerProblems, Vol. 40: Winter Is Coming

Go ahead and unpack those cozy sweaters, admire the cascading leaves, bask in the brilliant glow of late autumn. Soak up the season while you can because we’ve got bad news for you, suckers: The end is nigh.

All around the Eventing Nation, readers have been seeing the signs, heeding the omens and ‘Gramming ominous proof that winter is just around the corner. Here’s a sampling of the struggles that lie before us.

The joys of blanketing…

Waiting for rugs to wash… #laundromat #horseshaveabetterwardrobethanme #eventerproblems #shownextweek #horselife

A photo posted by Courtenae Truswell (@courtenae.t) on Nov 6, 2015 at 5:46pm PST

When you pull out last winter’s freshly repaired blanket and find they put the wrong end on the belly strap! Seriously!? #eventerproblems #wintertimeblues #whoops

A photo posted by Full Gallop Eventing (@fullgallopeventing) on Nov 9, 2015 at 3:08pm PST

The delightful weather…

Inevitable, but depressing none the less. Indoor season is coming. #horse #fall #offdutyeventer #hack #eventerproblems #eventer #redhorseeventing

A photo posted by smartequine (@smartequine) on Nov 6, 2015 at 11:46am PST

When you have to take refuge on a hobbits porch during the rain. #wetfeanarion #eventerproblems

A photo posted by Zara Flores-Kinney (@thefeanarion) on Nov 6, 2015 at 1:09pm PST

The burden of body-clipping…

When your mom is an obsessive groom you get your second clip job of the season on November 6th. #ihatefur #groomslife #secretlyloveclipping #eventerproblems

A photo posted by Jeanna Epping (@jemevent) on Nov 7, 2015 at 5:59am PST

When the sedative wears off and you’re only 3/4 done because your horse decided to grow a coat that rivals a wooly mammoth… Someone forgot to tell Tonto we’re not in Canada anymore #eventerproblems #furrypony #frustrated #mylineswillneverbeperfect

A photo posted by @sj_ostasz on Nov 9, 2015 at 4:28pm PST

The glamour of grooming…

#loubou is part #zebra? Or maybe just wet and muddy… #texasrose #eventing #eventerproblems

A photo posted by Becca Speer (@beccarides) on Nov 6, 2015 at 5:29pm PST

The thrill of tack-cleaning…

This is #eventing in a nutshell. Beauty covered in a little #rain and #mud. #texasrose #eventerproblems #albion #dressage #schockenmohle

A photo posted by Becca Speer (@beccarides) on Nov 6, 2015 at 1:28pm PST

Conditioning confusion…

Me: What a perfect day for a nice, relaxi– Horse: WAIT MOM THIS IS WHERE WE DID GALLOP SETS DURING EVENT SEASON #boyswillbeboys #EventerProblems #elninothehorse

A photo posted by Erin Donahoe (@erindonahoe) on Nov 9, 2015 at 3:44am PST

A lovely day for Kitty’s first hunter pace #wheresthestartbox #whyarentwegalloping #confusedeventhorse #eventerproblems

A photo posted by Sara Gartland (@sagartland) on Nov 8, 2015 at 3:01pm PST

And last but not least, the early, early Christmas shopping…

Welcome to the family, gorgeous

A photo posted by jmk (@littlemissjmk) on Nov 9, 2015 at 5:27pm PST

Of course, there are countless other #EventerProblems that just keep coming year-round. Including but not limited to…

That dressage school was super tough #eventerproblems #ottb

A photo posted by Michaela Holmes (@watupholmes) on Nov 8, 2015 at 11:08am PST

When your horse is really bad at standing to have his foot soaked so you rig a leg up with a polo wrap because holding it for 20 mins is MURDER. #eventerproblems #epsomsalts #solebruise #didimentionwehaveaneventin6days? #horsenation

A photo posted by @emmyofdeath on Nov 8, 2015 at 3:47pm PST

We put in our best dressage to date until I forgot to steer and Tillie thought it was over. #eventerproblems #eventingblues #stressage

A photo posted by Kaitlyn Julio (@kaitlyndzn) on Nov 9, 2015 at 3:26am PST

Took over the bathroom. #sorrynotsorry to my non-equestrian roommates….. #eventerproblems

A photo posted by @camelias2009 on Nov 9, 2015 at 3:36am PST

When your wedding colors happen to be a toned down version of your cross country colors #eventerproblems #navyblackwhite #bluesilverwhite #teamv #teamveventing #helikesthesecolorstooipromise

A photo posted by Erika Phillips (@phillipserika) on Nov 9, 2015 at 8:53am PST

Halter fleece works well on slings after you break a collarbone getting dumped cross-country. #eventerproblems

A photo posted by Nancy Toby (@nancytoby) on Nov 10, 2015 at 3:27am PST

Dinner plans…. And night check. #eventerproblems #barnmanagerlife

A photo posted by alicia_wood (@aliciawood123) on Nov 6, 2015 at 7:24pm PST

When 25 years of falling off horses isn’t nearly as traumatic as 1 poorly executed handstand. #givemeabreak #throwmeabone #eventerproblems

A photo posted by Caro (@fauxregonian) on Nov 6, 2015 at 1:51pm PST

#finnthedog training for Rolex 2016. He doesn’t know that he hasn’t qualified yet. #eventerproblems

A video posted by Jo (@kneehousejo) on Nov 7, 2015 at 11:16pm PST

Glad to see our horses’ weights are being watched more closely than any A-list celebs… #eventerproblems #IrishTB pic.twitter.com/CSSnkRJx7e

— Caitlin Kirkman (@Douglassie13) November 4, 2015

When the only nice clothes you have are from trot ups #EventerProblems pic.twitter.com/RPB0XCtTfD

— Hunter (@_trombley_) November 5, 2015

#EventerProblems getting excited when your fecal tests come back and your horse is a low shedder.

— Lilia Beal (@bealilia18) November 5, 2015

UGA riders might need to work on their fitness #eventing #eventerproblems #eventingnation #godawgs @DevonNOlivier pic.twitter.com/54Yk5zXq2q

— UGA Eventing (@UGAEventing) November 7, 2015

The main #EventerProblems is the confusion about wearing breeches before socks.

— CarolaBri (@CarolaBrighenti) November 8, 2015

Not sure what is more agonising #NoStirrupsNovember or re-wearing top boots in for @aus3de #EventerProblems

— Laura Wallace (@burwoodeventing) November 9, 2015

well I’m going to be sore tmrw#eventerproblems

— tblakepark (@tblakepark) November 5, 2015

What’s YOUR problem? Tweet it, Instagram it or share it on Facebook with the hashtag #EventerProblems for inclusion in the next edition of this series.

If you missed them: Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39.

Go Eventing!