Favorite winter riding attire

[173north]

For cold feet: Ariat Bromonts, merino wool socks - I like the Tredstep winter socks and Smartwool best, but any of the Smartwool knockoffs on Amazon work the same - plus the air-activated insole-shaped toe warmers. I can manage a full day at the barn even with the digits in the teens with that combo, and I run cold.

Hands are hard but I swear by the Roeckl Weldon gloves, and put hand warmers in your pockets so you can stuff your hands in there to warm up during walk breaks.

A little fleece headband to cover your ears, like bikers wear, helps a lot too.

Also, trust us when we say you NEED a big giant barn parka to wear while not riding, and that it will be so smelly and gross it will be worn for no other purpose. You can usually pick one up at TJ Maxx or the Macy’s sale section for $100ish, especially this weekend.

[Scribbler]

Well OP if you’ve been skiing you know a bit about the cold!

What you will need for the barn will depend a bit on the layout. If you are just riding and the barn attaches to the indoor you will need clothes for dry cold but not for wind and wet.

If you are doing barn chores as well you will need things more waterproof depending on if your climate tends towards sunny cold or sleety snowy days.

Have a hat to put on when the helmet comes off!

The biggest chill factor is standing still. For coaches it’s how to keep warm teaching. For ammies, it’s sitting around gossiping or watching other lessons. If you keep active you stay warmer.

The drawback though with waterproof boots and gloves is you sweat inside them and they get chilly. Make sure you dry them out at night. And maybe bring extra gloves to the barn.

The other thing about climates with winter is honestly you collect a lot more clothes because you have one wardrobe for summer, one for spring/fall and one for winter. That goes for work clothes, party clothes, weekend clothes, pyjamas, even bedding, as well as riding gear. I would say I have a pretty much 100% changeover winter to summer clothes. Things get boxed up in bins seasonally.

[hunterjumper98]

Back On Track’s long sleeve shirt and long johns are my saving grace in the winter time. I like to layer them under my breeches and a long sleeve shirt because if by some miracle I get a little too toasty, I can always take layers off. You can’t really do that with just winter breeches.

As for gloves, look into ski gloves. They are durable. thin, and super warm. You can get them relatively cheaper than some equestrian marketed gloves. Plus, some of them have built-in hand warmer pockets.

Toe warmers and thick socks will also be your friend. :lol:

[touchstone]

Smartwool socks are nonnegotiable.

I also put those neoprene “Futi” boot covers over my normal paddock boots. They keep my toes warm and can still flex at the ankles, unlike the insulated boots.

A pair of fleece breeches can also make a huge difference once the weather gets below freezing. They all look pretty terrible. But, when it’s really cold, it’s worth wearing unflattering tights.

For gloves, I just have two pairs. I wear super thick insulated gloves to tack up and get on, then switch them to normal once once I’ve warmed up on the horse. I find there is no good glove that provides both insulation and dexterity.

Sounds like you have tops and jackets figured out already!

[Scribbler]

This thread prompted me to get a new pair of Kerrirs sit tight full seats. Actually the current style is not bad. The fake suede panels wow out a little on the ground but still they look much nicer than my 5 year old pair.

[dynamite0319]

I live in North Texas, so it isn’t super cold here, but the humidity can make it pretty terrible (I grew up in Montana so I’m familiar with real cold, too). I got some Roeckl winter gloves on super sale at Dover this past summer and I LOVE THEM! I’ve ridden in them twice when the temps were in the 30’s and my fingers were toasty warm.

I am a whipper-in for a foxhunt and we ride out at 9a most every Saturday during hunt season, As silly as it may sound, I’ve found that “hunter hair” (hair covering your ears and pony tail pulled up under the helmet) keeps my ears warm. We wear stock ties and wool coats so unless it is raining or snowing I stay pretty snug and don’t need an additional ear warmer or neck cover. And long johns and warming undershirts help on the colder days.

[MegBackInSaddle]

Forgive me for giggling after seeing you’re in Texas! I’m from Oklahoma, and I just got my first horse in Canada (imported her from my sister in Oklahoma).

I find layers matter most. Today was a balmy 38 or so (translating from Celsius), so two shirts, a vest, thin pants under my fleecy breeches, and I was nearly too hot (and it’s wet here, in Ontario on the banks of the St. Lawrence). For my upper body, I’ve invested in thin layers Zippers are your friends (easy on and off). Higher necks win. I have two or tree neck covers (just round things that slip over your head and encircle your neck). Zip them into the top of shirt number two or three. Then I wear my “head condom”. Got them from Costco Just a tube, which I fold once to shorten it. Kind of ends up like a bandana covering my hair, but covers my ears securely and meets/overlaps the neck coverage. A warm neckhole is key!

For breeches, I’m a big fan of my Tuffrider fleece breeches They’re not sexy, but they’re thin in the lower leg (allowing my Ariat Bromonts to zip over them and my skinny longjohns) and warm. Ariat vest over layers will keep me comfy in the indoor to around 15°F. Like others have said, I take a coat, ride in the vest, wear the coat again as I cool down.

Key: layers, and try stuff on WITH the layers you intend to use Outdoor stores for everything but breeches and boots. Or including boots, as I use my Wind River outdoor boots as muck boots til its time to ride.

Gloves, I’m no help. I wear regular riding gloves as I’m warmed up by then. But maybe mittens? They have the mittens with the English riding split for your pinky.

[myrna]

SSG silk lined gloves!

[Jo]

Another Texan chiming in - and I HATE BEING COLD.

For shoes, I just wear my regular boots and socks… but I drop these bad boys in under my toes and they are life savers! They are sticky, so go with me from my paddocks to my tall boots and back again when I’m done riding.

https://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Toe-Warmers-Odorless-Activated/dp/B0007ZF4PE?th=1&psc=1

For gloves, I use the winter Head brand runner’s gloves. They come out each fall at Costco for like $13 and they are amazing. Warm, but slim enough that I ran ride in them, and they have grip in the necessary places. I believe these are similar:

https://www.amazon.com/HEAD-Sensatec-Touchscreen-Digital-Running/dp/B014TK9NHW/ref=asc_df_B014TK9NHW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312061190803&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10665644251657151003&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9026807&hvtargid=pla-570061144981&psc=1

For ears, I use one of the head bands found in the hair area (NOT made for cold weather) but are wide enough to cover my ears. Since they are thin “fashion” headbands, they will fit easily under your helmet - bonus - mimic hunter hair.

[BK6756]

Thought I would chime back in now that I’ve been in the northern tundra (AKA Ohio) for a month now. I’ve got a couple pairs of fleece breeches, but I actually prefer to wear an under armour layer of leggings under my regular breeches.

My toes were always freezing no matter what socks or boots I wore (even the toe warmer things weren’t cutting it for my weenie self) so hubby got me some heated socks for Christmas and I love them! My toes stay toasty no matter what!

I’m still trying to figure out the glove thing… I hate big thick gloves cause I just end up taking them off. So I got a little electric heater to warm my hands periodically while I’m tacking up and just use some thin gloves as many of you suggested.

[wilkins2]

I love my Tropical Rider winter breeches. They have great sales and they are very durable…last me for several seasons at least and I wear them everyday! Check them out!

[kashmere]

My very favourite breeches are the FITS fleece lined breeches that were given to me and which I will never be able to afford to replace :lol:

I wear those with good smartwool socks and an ancient no-name pair of Swedish riding boots that are hideous and very warm.

On top I wear an underarmour base layer, a smartwool top marketed to runners, a fleece zip up, a think windbreaker, and a vest with fill. That keeps me very toasty so long as I am moving about - grooming, tacking, riding etc. I keep an ugly old parka at the barn for a top layer if I am doing any sitting around.

I wear a Buff under my helmet to keep my ears and head warm - works better than any ear muffs I’ve tried.

Gloves I haven’t cracked the code for yet. I have Raynaud’s syndrome and can’t seem to get anything that will keep my hands in good shape during the really cold days.