riding in the snow. yes or no?

So I was up the yard the other day, and it had snowed. It was only a few centemetres deep & I thought it would be nice to ride around in the paddock. I tacked charlie up, but the guy who claims to be in charge of the yard (hes not, but he thinks he's all high and mighty because he's had his horses there for about 20 years) shouted across the yard at me "are you demented?!" ....i thought it was a little rude. And I personally don't see anything wrong with riding in the snow as long as you don't go crazy galloping around. Walking & trotting would be fine though...
I was just wondering, do you ride in the snow? Or do you think its a bad idea?

I put charlie in the lunging paddock in the snow the other day, and he had no problem galloping around like a nutter..he didnt slip once..so I don't see why I got called "demented" for wanting to have a little trot around....

As long as you know what is under the snow there is no problem with it (no ice, and know the lay of the land so you don't end up in a creek or something). I would be more careful if you horse is shod, but if they are barefoot they should be fine to walk and trot and even canter. The horse's here (even the shod ones) go flying around the pasture just fine.

i know the paddock like the back of my hand, I've been at this yard for a good 5 - 6 years and I was literally just going to walk and trot..i didnt see the harm in it, but clearly he thought I had a death wish or something.. I mean..the horses walk & trot round the fields on their own in the snow, so whats the harm in me being on his back while he's doing it?

I love to go for long walks on the horse in the snow. Enjoy the beauty of snow, and the crunch under my horses feet. As for troting and cantering I let my horse tell me how fast he wants to go. If I ask for the trot and he is reluctant, then we just walk. He knows what the grounds like better than I do.