[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;7443157]
I don’t think she is talking about taking them for a light ride…really the issue is working them (stressing them).
Even people are told not to work hard when temps get below a certain level. I think that is the basic point most are making.
Use common sense and good judgment.[/QUOTE]
I never said my horse is being worked hard. I actually never said what I did with him when I ride. I simply stated I ride down to minus 25- 28 C, and that the temperatures here are consistently those temperatures or below for months at a time. My horse is used to very cold temperatures. These are not unseasonal temperature drops these are within normal temps for this area.
For MY horse in particular it is best to keep him in consistent light to moderate work because of his stifle issues. I cannot leave him for months just because it’s -15C outside. The daily highs here can be under -20 for weeks to months at a time. We had 3 weeks of sub -30C weather and I didn’t ride during that time. When it finally ‘warmed up’ to above -30 my horses stifle issues were so much worse, and he had lost a lot of progress he had made since the summer. The research of Davis et al showing any potential negative effects of riding under -5C is questionable. So in MY horses case I use my best judgment and carefully ride him to condition his stifles in cold temperatures (its subzero from mid october to end of april here) rather than just leave him in a field for 6 months, as that would definitely cause more damage than elevated IL-10.
To compare, perhaps you could remove all your clothing and go for a 40 minute jog outside in -25c, and tell me how much you enjoy it.
What a ridiculous comparison. My horse lives outside 24/7 AGAIN because of stifle issues and he hates being in a stall. He is not naked he has a winter coat and works in a wool quartersheet, INSIDE an arena (it’s apparently heated with radiant heat, but it doesn’t really feel like it). And I’m hardly warm when I ride. I’m not bundled up (who can actually ride like that?). I wear a turtleneck, fleece zip up, winter breeches and wool socks in normal NOT winter paddock boots. I’m f@$king frozen and cannot feel my feet, hands or ass by the time I’m done riding and putting my horse away and the cold feeling stays with me for hours. But I do it for my horses soundness (who is warm, happy and willing while riding), so I will not tolerate anyone accusing me of carelessly causing my horse damage just because I want to ride in these temperatures, especially when that same person admits that the research is flawed and more needs to be done. And even posts research illustrating working horses in -25C had no ill effects, but who declares -15C as the cutoff point. 
And yes my horse has a ‘say’ in it and yes I can evaluate how my horse is handling/enjoying his "work"load regardless of the temperature. You can’t?
