Staying Warm and Safe in the Saddle This Winter

While there’s nothing quite like heading out for a ride in a picturesque snowscape, winter riding does not come without its fair share of headaches. Here’s some tips for staying warm and safe in the saddle this winter.

Protective Layers & Dry Feet

Layering up is a crucial part of staying warm in the winter; it ensures that you’re trapping your body heat in while keeping the cold out.

A thermal undershirt layered with a thick sweater and a waterproof coat is an excellent example of cozy, warm layers that will do the trick.

It’s important to layer your feet up, as well; there’s nothing quite as uncomfortable and chilling as when snow is able to get inside your shoes and soak right through your socks, leaving your feet freezing and numb.

Invest in some thick waterproof socks, and make sure you’re heading out with a good pair of durable (and ideally thermal) waterproof boots that keep your lower legs protected.

Protect Your Hands

As equestrians, we depend on our hands for a wide variety of things, whether we’re getting chores done, giving our horses a much-needed grooming, or going for a ride.

Freezing and numb hands can be painful and frustrating, and may even lead to trouble communicating with your horse while riding. It’s important to invest in a good pair of thermal and waterproof gloves to keep your hands protected and warm.  My other go to are foot and hand warmers!  When its really cold out, they stay warm for hours and allow me to ride and stay comfortable the entire day.

Hoof Health

Ensure that your horse’s hooves are kept up with throughout the winter; cold weather can increase the chances of splitting or cracking a hoof.

Many people choose to have their horse’s shoes removed in the winter, as shoes can cause slipping once the ground starts icing over. This is something that is up to the discretion of both you and your farrier.

If you wish to keep your horse’s shoes on throughout the winter, speak with your farrier about your options for protective winter hoof pads, as well. These pads can be extremely beneficial, preventing ice and snow from becoming packed inside the hoof and helping ensure that they have a bit of extra grip.

Safe Riding

Being confined to the indoor arena can get a bit dull; it’s only natural to want to venture out, but it’s very important to make sure that you know the ground you’ll be working on is safe.

If you have access to an outdoor arena that’s maintained throughout the winter, this is probably your safest option; the snow can easily cover uneven terrain, rocks, and branches that can pose a risk to both you and your horse.

It’s always best to be safe than sorry, but if you wish to go outside the arena for your ride, be sure to walk the path on foot and closely examine the ground before you do so.

Going forward with the information you learned here, you can ensure that both you and your horse stay safe and warm, no matter what the winter weather throws at you this year.

For more informative equestrian blog posts and tips, check out our Blog page. Stay tuned for updates!

Photo credit Kristin Leigh Richards https://www.facebook.com/kristinleighhrichards/