I am just really curious as to where all of you live.
My previous trainer would not do lessons (in the indoor or the outdoor) if the outside temperature went below 40.
You people are giving me a reality check about other parts of the world! (Feeling chilled even as I type this!)
[QUOTE=RPM;8023907]
I am just really curious as to where all of you live.
My previous trainer would not do lessons (in the indoor or the outdoor) if the outside temperature went below 40.
You people are giving me a reality check about other parts of the world! (Feeling chilled even as I type this!)[/QUOTE]
Roflmao!! 40??? Wow, that is pretty soft, if you don’t mind my saying so! It can be 40 here in May and September, never mind in the winter. If we followed that we might only ride 3 months of the year!
Canadian border is my location. Heck we show when the temp is in the teens. Temp here today is 4, with a windchill of, I think, 15 below. Heading out to ride in a few minutes, and have 2 lessons scheduled for this afternoon.
We have been below zero, either real temp or wind chill, for at least half of the last 2 months, and several of our horses are not even blanketed. I actually am not a big fan of blankets just as a routine thing. Don’t use them if horse does not have an issue that requires them (sparse coat, underweight, heavy sweater if too much coat, or clipped for some reason) because they often cause bigger problems than they solve, and I believe nature knows better than I do.
What it really comes down to is we all get used to what we are used to!
Edited to add that above temps are F not C.
I’m in Northern Canada, we ride in an un-heated indoor down to -25C. For trainers/clinicians and auditors, we have two propane style heaters that sit on the ground. The clinicians are always appreciative and it more than does the trick. No matter what kind of gear you’ve got, you’ll always be cold just standing in these conditions unless you have some sort of external heat source.
We bought our trainer a battery heated vest for xmas last year - she wears it all day every day all winter now…
Carhartt insulated coveralls (ugly but so toasty) and insultated/winter weight muck boots got me through some 10 degree nights (and I was even a little toasty!).
Never heard of not riding below 40… 25 degrees if the ground wasn’t frozen is my personal limit. Basically, if the ground isn’t frozen, I’ll ride. :lol:
Portable table, thick blanket to cover all but one side, chair in front of open side and a good space heater underneath. Works really well.
Carhartt bib overalls. Bulky but warm, and I can do chores outside in them when it’s 10F without a jacket. I’ll wear a long sleeve shirt, sweater and fleece. That’s plenty with the bibs if I’m moving. Hat, mittens and usually a scarf as well, of course. Steger Mukluks for boots if it’s below 15 or 20, or if I’ll be standing around a lot. They aren’t cute, but they’re warm.
I couldn’t do horse chores without my Carhartts.
Coveralls. Seriously, they are THE WAY. I’m an equine vet and mine have been getting plenty of use this winter, both at appointments and my own barn. I even bought some for my husband for Valentine’s Day (since I had entered a dressage show and temps were forecasted to start out in the 20s, falling throughout the day, and winds gusting up to 40 mph, I thought it was the least I could do, LOL)
Under my coveralls when it’s really cold I wear Under Armour base layers, fleece breeches and top, and Muck brand boots with Coolmax socks - keeping your feet dry is so important, as someone else mentioned above! Plus gloves (winter leather gloves of various brands) +/- a hat.
I’m pretty sure there’s a mix of C and F above, but the ambiguity is kind of entertaining. (In particular I assume that “full work over -20” is Celsius, but if not I want to see your horses!)
I was out practicing some dressage tests this past weekend. After the past few months sunny and 20F felt like a sauna! The horses are way less whiny than me; they’re loving the work when I’m ready to hang it up. The only real problem is footing, both traction and the hardness of the frozen ground; it’s pretty much studs and flatwork until the thaw.
All in what you’re used to, I think. Certainly with the winter we’ve had my standards have been changing.
Our barn pooled the cash for a patio heater this year. Otherwise we were pretty sure we would be being taught by cell phone from the viewing room.
The Styrofoam block is a great idea.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
