Cold temperatures

[soloudinhere]

Normally I would ride down to about 15F (whatever the outside temp is. The indoor can be whatever, but I value my limbs attached and I don’t go out when it’s that cold) but this year it was 50 degrees last week and this week it will be -7. They really haven’t gotten a chance to get acclimated and a lot of the horses have shed most of their coats, so I don’t feel it’s fair to ask them to do anything more than stretch their muscles for a few minutes, even with qtr sheets.

This weekend when it is friggin miserable (-30F with windchill) the horses will be inside, and I will go handwalk him so he can stretch his legs. If he were outside, he’d not be moving much as he’d be hiding in his shelter anyway.

[enjoytheride]

I ride into the lower 20s but I don’t really get any quality work out of the horse unless I’m prepared to ride the feral horse into submission first. At those temps and with the ground outside frozen into ruts, the good footing in the indoor turns into a “look what I can do with my legs!” game and I mostly spend the ride spronking around the arena while swearing.

[merrygoround]

Let’s just say, I’m not teaching tomorrow. Forecasted weather in the single digits and winds in the double digits.

[Dutchmare433]

I won’t really ride below 10F (in the ring temp). The ones that live out move around plenty and they don’t need to get ridden in those temps. The ones that spend the night in, I’ll often hop on and walk around, just to keep them on the move.

I spent one winter at a barn with a lightly heated indoor–it never got below freezing and it was glorious.

[tbchick84]

I’m good down to 20 degrees. Below that, and my horse is just too stiff to do anything but very light work which doesn’t give me enough movement to stay warm.

[frugalannie]

Sorry but I think turning horses out in windchills of -35 (F) is punitive. And even though they have extended neck blankets their ears could actually be frostbitten. I remember a polo mare with frostbitten ears: her barn name was Possum, in case you haven’t seen one and want to have a visual. Mine will go out in short sets in a sheltered area behind the barn while their stalls are cleaned. Then they’ll come in and won’t be ridden. I can’t imagine that I’m an effective rider when my hands feel like frozen hams!

[IFG]

[QUOTE=frugalannie;8528222]
Sorry but I think turning horses out in windchills of -35 (F) is punitive. And even though they have extended neck blankets their ears could actually be frostbitten. I remember a polo mare with frostbitten ears: her barn name was Possum, in case you haven’t seen one and want to have a visual. Mine will go out in short sets in a sheltered area behind the barn while their stalls are cleaned. Then they’ll come in and won’t be ridden. I can’t imagine that I’m an effective rider when my hands feel like frozen hams![/QUOTE]

Annie,

My guys live in/out 24/7. They will have hay both in and out tomorrow. I suspect, they will choose to be out. Honestly, I think that they stay warmer walking around than being stalled.

[tbchick84]

[QUOTE=frugalannie;8528222]
Sorry but I think turning horses out in windchills of -35 (F) is punitive. And even though they have extended neck blankets their ears could actually be frostbitten. I remember a polo mare with frostbitten ears: her barn name was Possum, in case you haven’t seen one and want to have a visual. Mine will go out in short sets in a sheltered area behind the barn while their stalls are cleaned. Then they’ll come in and won’t be ridden. I can’t imagine that I’m an effective rider when my hands feel like frozen hams![/QUOTE]

Mine is out 24/7 too. He’s currently feasting on a massive round bale and has two sheds to get out of the wind.

[GoodTimes]

Mine lives out 24/7 as well. He’s got hay 24/7 and he’s top dog so I know if he wants in the shelter he can always get in.
Yesterday I was freezing my buns off when I went to go get him and he was snoozing in the wide open field.
The only time I would be concerned about frostbite would be if there was wet snow falling during very cold temps, or a horse who had had his ears clipped within the last couple months.

[quietann]

I have a 15 degree, more or less, limit in the indoor. At 10, I might hop on on top of the mare’s blankets, use a rope halter rather than a bridle, and mosey around for a bit.

However, I timed the mare’s SI injections and necessary hand-walking such that I’ll be dragging her around the arena for 30 minutes on Sunday, when the high is supposed to be 8. She’s creaky enough that I know it’s better for her to walk around, but I can tell you that neither of us will be having a good time…

[Ajierene]

I never thought about it. My riding is not dependent on extreme cold or heat, I go out and ride almost every day regardless of weather and do whatever is scheduled for that day. I do not ride as much if the ground is frozen because uneven, hard ground is hard on their feet as well as a tripping/injury hazard.

I do have an indoor to ride in. The main door is open pretty much all the time but I noticed a significant dip in temperature in it when the barn worker opened the back door to take the tractor out. We survived, though.

Currently, my horse (as she did last year as well) is running around furry and nekkid. She’s out 24/7 with a shed and her ears are warmer than her nextmdoor neighbor who has a heavyweight on. They were about the same temperature as gelding I rode yesterday who also has a heavyweight on.

I figure the horses live and worked for centuries in all weather, they should be fine for riding in all weather. The Amish horses certainly do not get a reprieve.

[frugalannie]

Just want to respond that mine don’t have run-ins or much shelter from wind (the perils of living on a hill). If they did, I’d let them choose their own situation. But as it is either in or out for them, I have to decide. Moreover, I worry about tree limbs or even entire trees coming down in the wind. Even if the horses aren’t hit, fence lines can be decimated and equine creativity can take over. Thank goodness we don’t have the snow of last year when some of our lot just walked out over the fence lines!

[IFG]

Annie,

Got it. I built my place to accommodate my heavy gelding who cannot live in a barn. Now I wouldn’t do it any other way. As for fencing, I cannot say enough positive about 5’ high non-climb. We have had very large limbs com down on it. It sags a little, then pops back up once they are removed. In any case, I think that the last wet heavy snow took down all the weak trees in our area. The joys of losing power for 10 hours in the middle of winter.

[crackerjack]

At this moment it’s -44c with the windchill. Obviously I’m not riding. I don’t mind riding until about -18c. Luckily this winter we’ve been hovering for the most part at about -5c. The arena, although not heated can be much warmer. This year I was still riding outside without snow on Boxing Day - I’ve never been able to do that and even have been able to keep the big arena door open many times as it’s has been warm enough. -15 to -18 is my limit. Happily I’m off to the BVIs tomorrow so definitely looking forward to heat!

[findeight]

Back in the old days horses did rough it much more then today and it was rare to see one in full work past mid teens. Even when I was a kid in the 1960s, a 20 year old horse was an ancient novelty. No idea about the Amish horses useful years or life span…but a lot of them look pretty used up. Not sure it’s a health benefit.

If the horse is used to it, well fed, has access to unfrozen water, dry and out of the wind? No problems. Heavy work in such conditions, not so sure.

Same thing with humans, maybe we did used to endure extreme heat and cold and bear heavier loads but we didn’t live as long as we do today.

[Halfpasser11]

[QUOTE=Ajierene;8528498]
I never thought about it. My riding is not dependent on extreme cold or heat, I go out and ride almost every day regardless of weather and do whatever is scheduled for that day. I do not ride as much if the ground is frozen because uneven, hard ground is hard on their feet as well as a tripping/injury hazard.

I do have an indoor to ride in. The main door is open pretty much all the time but I noticed a significant dip in temperature in it when the barn worker opened the back door to take the tractor out. We survived, though.

Currently, my horse (as she did last year as well) is running around furry and nekkid. She’s out 24/7 with a shed and her ears are warmer than her nextmdoor neighbor who has a heavyweight on. They were about the same temperature as gelding I rode yesterday who also has a heavyweight on.

I figure the horses live and worked for centuries in all weather, they should be fine for riding in all weather. The Amish horses certainly do not get a reprieve.[/QUOTE]

This is my feeling too. The instructor at my barn cancels all lessons if it’s below 20F which I think is ridiculous. I get my ass to the barn every morning at 530am and get my pony ridden. We are currently rehabbing a stifle injury so it’s really important he gets his scheduled “workout”.

I’ve read the literature on the effects cold weather on their lungs and 1)It almost never gets cold enough here (OH) 2)I don’t work my horse that hard in the winter. My students think I’m crazy for riding at 10F and I think they are lazy for not. And the instructor? “Its bad for the horse to ride when it’s this cold”. Sigh… #scienceisn’tscary

[yellowbritches]

What some may call lazy, others call having a hobby and not feeling obligated to torture oneself if it is unpleasant. I am no longer a professional being paid to show up and ride. I HATE the cold. My horse hates the cold. My DOG hates the cold. It’s mid February, my horse has a basic level of fitness and if we WERE eventing in the spring, missing a few days when the weather is how it currently is (howling winds with real feel temps in the single digits- VERY cold for VA) would not have a negative impact on our fitness. Call me and the rest of us pansies lazy if you must, but riding is a blissful hobby for me now and I am a-ok with staying inside when the weather is unpleasant.

[IFG]

[QUOTE=yellowbritches;8528653]
What some may call lazy, others call having a hobby and not feeling obligated to torture oneself if it is unpleasant. I am no longer a professional being paid to show up and ride. I HATE the cold. My horse hates the cold. My DOG hates the cold. It’s mid February, my horse has a basic level of fitness and if we WERE eventing in the spring, missing a few days when the weather is how it currently is (howling winds with real feel temps in the single digits- VERY cold for VA) would not have a negative impact on our fitness. Call me and the rest of us pansies lazy if you must, but riding is a blissful hobby for me now and I am a-ok with staying inside when the weather is unpleasant.[/QUOTE]

I am with you. Of course, both horses are standing outside in the cold (even though they have access to their stalls with hay nets). They are not even eating their outside hay, just standing there waiting for some excitement LOL!

[billiebob]

I usually stick to flatwork if it’s below 10F. I’ll ride until about -10F and at that temperature it’s just a glorified power walk. My horse will start being stupid on the ground if he’s not “worked” for a few days, even if I just walk for 10-15 minutes. My barn does have an indoor, but I spent the last two winters riding out on a cattle ranch in SD where it would regularly hit -20F before windchill. And I’d ride down to a windchill of about -20 or -25 because checking cattle is much warmer on horseback than on an ATV. I get a lot of “you’re crazy” comments from my fellow boarders for riding when it’s below 10 but that’s when the crazies stay inside so it’s very peaceful!

So I do pretty well in the cold, but even I hated teaching lessons when it was below about 15F. Don’t be too hard on your trainers, everyone–it’s really hard to keep yourself warm. I used to regularly wear both my insulated coveralls and winter coat and I’d still be a popsicle after 20 minutes. Even with my dog zipped up inside my coat as a heating pad.

https://scontent.ffsd1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/406935_2723287875541_690383046_n.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoibCJ9&oh=8841d505aa197e1dfd44f7bb6e9935b5&oe=576E2ABC

[frugalannie]

Talking about heavy work in the cold…My dear late father was from Eastern Europe. He talked about what it was like when he was a kid. In the winter, the coachmen would have to stop and get out of the conveyance every now and then to break the shell of ice that would develop over the horses’ muzzles. It was so cold that as they exhaled the vapor in their breath would freeze and if the shell wasn’t broken periodically they couldn’t inhale.

Now that’s cold!