Feeling guilty

It has been at least 2 weeks or more since I last rode my haffie. I am trying to learn english so I can be riding at least hunt seat by our one local fair, or at least have a good start (with posting and what not) The thing is i'm just getting back into riding after being very afraid after my first fall from by big gelding. So I currently i'm working on balance and i've started for the first time off the lead! However I want to get a little more riding time under belt in western saddle so I learn my balance and get comfortable trotting more before I move up to the english saddle and starting to learn posting. The thing is here it is either snowy or freezing cold and when its not that its rainy and the ground is so soggy I can't trot in the pasture where I practice because if I tear it up too much the grass won't grow and not to mention she slips and stuff in the mud.
The only times I get to ride is the weekends because of school and i'm in 3 AP classes so I get a ton of homework and it needs to get done since I hold really good grades and don't want to loose that. That being the case I get no time to ride becuase on the weekend the weather is not great at all. I wouldn't mind riding in the cold so much but its SO cold to the point by the time I get up to the little pasture (takes only like 2 min.) and get the saddle out and the horse out and her saddled up my hands hurt so badly even with gloves. I feel horribly guilty because I feel like I should be out there every chance I get and I planned to try and be riding in the english saddle by end of Feb. At the best. I love to show my haffies and I can't wait to be doing more things with them (driving and riding and what not) but I feel like i'm slacking so much but I can't control the whether. Have any of you experienced this? (sorry for the long post)

I feel your pain about not being able to ride. I don't show or anything, but every horse needs to be rode. I think my horse has a better mind the more he is rode (although, that's the way I feel about all horses). It has been snowing and we've had freezing rain and all that mess here and my horse has been doing a lot of standing around. IMO if you are outside and you start feeling actual pain in your fingers and toes after only a couple of minutes, then it is entirely to cold to ride. You don't want to put yourself at risk for frost bite. I will tell you like I tell myself spring is coming and then Major will have to get his nose to the grind and get back to work.

It sounds to me like you should get together with a trainer, at least on a temporary basis. Consider boarding at a stable with an indoor for a couple of months - that way, you'll get to ride - even if it's dark when you come to the barn, or the weather sucks, and you can banish the confidence issue. I think that's the most important thing for you to overcome.

We don't board at a barn because we don't have the money and we have the property to have our horses here at our house. That's the one thing I do like about it is that I can go see them when I want. I wouldn't mind working in the cold but its either REALLY cold or horribly muddy. I just hope some nice weather comes our way soon!!! I agree I need to get the confidence thing down though the past few times I have rode my horse I have been feeling pretty confident so I think its def. Getting better : ]