Cold Weather Riding

I check the hourly forecast and try to catch a couple of dry hours on the trail

12/28/2010 12:14:43 AM

I ride indoors and out in the winter unless it's raining

12/27/2010 11:52:58 PM

We ride down to minus 25 Celsius

12/27/2010 11:14:28 PM

I ride as long as the temperature is in the upper 30's and above.

12/27/2010 10:13:38 PM

I live in ctrl VT--ride/exercise my horses several days a week year-round.

12/27/2010 9:24:27 PM

we trail ride throughout winter as much if not more. Only rain and slosh set us back.

12/27/2010 8:15:35 PM

I don't ride in the terrible cold. He needs his energy to stay warm.

12/27/2010 7:49:39 PM

None of the above. I ride occasionally in the winter and frequently in the summer.

12/27/2010 7:19:02 PM

Can't keep my fingers warm enough without mittens.

12/27/2010 7:13:46 PM

My horse is barefoot and surefooted-slipping isn't much of a problem and she enjoys winter more .

12/27/2010 7:05:34 PM

lexington. KY

12/27/2010 6:16:31 PM

We hibernate!

12/27/2010 5:29:47 PM

I ride indoors and hack outside on nice days

12/27/2010 5:13:55 PM

same except indoor arena

12/27/2010 2:57:39 PM

Don't ride if wind is blowing and temp is below 40 degrees.

12/27/2010 2:42:09 PM

Our location gets lots of rain which freezes and stays frozen. It's dangerous to ride.

12/27/2010 1:59:41 PM

There's an indoor arena about 5 miles from my place

12/27/2010 11:39:34 AM

My horse is almost 30 and I ride at least 3X/week all year. he loves the snow.

12/27/2010 11:06:22 AM

long, slow, works in snow or rain as long as there is no ice.

12/27/2010 10:48:55 AM

we ride on the trails weather and ice permitting.

12/27/2010 10:28:29 AM

Love riding in the snow too if conditions allow

12/27/2010 9:02:32 AM

Don't work your horse to hard because you are in a rink. They still sweat so a cool down is needed.

12/27/2010 4:16:44 AM

as long as it's not icy or bitter, we ride occasionally in the winter.

12/26/2010 10:57:15 PM

Ride indoors at night; outdoors on the weekend

12/26/2010 10:51:11 PM

winter is perfect time for lessons at nearby barn that has a nice indoor arena

12/26/2010 10:18:25 PM

ride, sheet up to cool off and let horse dry.

12/26/2010 9:18:46 PM

we ride when the footing is good enough, which hasn't been much so far this winter. (NY state)

12/26/2010 3:05:49 PM

various ground work. Snow inhibits mountain riding so we cruise around neighborhood boring but ridin

12/26/2010 2:20:00 PM

no-too much ice and I'm getting too old

12/26/2010 11:28:47 AM

When temperature allows I will ride

12/26/2010 9:22:22 AM

Now that my horse stays barefoot all the time, it's much easier on him to ride in the snow!!

12/26/2010 9:10:54 AM

If it ain't rainin', I'm ridin'.

12/26/2010 8:12:25 AM

settle the horse first and vaseline the hooves.

12/25/2010 10:20:33 PM

I use round bales. After work I water everyone and give grain. Two horses I haul water in a bucket

12/25/2010 5:49:50 PM

we ride 365 days a yr almost!

12/25/2010 4:42:24 PM

I board my horse in the winter so I can still ride.

12/25/2010 10:31:46 AM

i hope i can get out this winter, unlike the last

12/25/2010 1:11:43 AM

Thank God for an indoor. I don't feel safe riding in the snow.

12/24/2010 10:27:13 PM

I ride everyday I have a chance, to keep both of us fit

12/24/2010 8:32:15 PM

snow riding if not too bitter and little wind, indoor arena when can trailer out

12/24/2010 3:58:25 PM

We do mostly trail rides in winter, w/t... and lots of groundwork!

12/24/2010 2:29:03 PM

Although it is much wetter, many winter days are ok in Texas

12/24/2010 11:39:26 AM

we trail ride and ride in an indoor arena

12/24/2010 9:58:38 AM

I live in WA and ride 3 or more days a week, often in the rain. We don't melt!

12/24/2010 1:17:33 AM

My horse gets a vacation from riding and showin.

12/23/2010 9:36:09 PM

We are 'fair-weather' riders from April to November!

12/23/2010 6:40:42 PM

I ride on the old roads on the mountain where i live. Dakota loves to play in it. we have fun

12/23/2010 5:17:29 PM

I keep my horses at home, the snow now 20" deep and temps are around 20. Wish I could ride, tho.

12/23/2010 4:32:59 PM

IF ITS NOT MUDDY OR SLIPPERY I RIDE AS OFTEN AS I CAN. LONGER COOL DOWN, NOT AS HEAVY WORK.

12/23/2010 4:27:44 PM

NO even with an indoor!

12/23/2010 4:10:20 PM

Full work, just like summer months

12/23/2010 3:17:18 PM

I wish we had more snow - it's just plain cold here in PA.

12/23/2010 2:24:29 PM

I foxhunt so winter riding is the norm.

12/23/2010 2:07:34 PM

Walk with the occasional trot and canter so coats don't get damp. Bareback if time is short.

12/23/2010 11:26:55 AM

pull shoes at beginning of winter.

12/23/2010 11:15:51 AM

Depending on how cold, and how frozen ground is. if it's below 35 degrees, I don't ride.

12/23/2010 9:56:32 AM

Foxhunting

12/23/2010 9:54:15 AM

With pads & studs, we are ready to go!

12/23/2010 8:41:31 AM

No clips so mostly slow work and troubleshooting

12/23/2010 7:59:03 AM

Thank goodness for the mild winter weather in Australia!

12/23/2010 2:39:55 AM

Fox Hunting!

12/23/2010 12:54:31 AM

I still ride nearly as often in S. Oregon

12/22/2010 10:52:45 PM

as long as there is no ice

12/22/2010 9:55:47 PM

Snow is great as long as there's no ice. Otherwise we go indoors.

12/22/2010 9:31:33 PM

I have and older TB, so I lunge him at walk and trot before we ride.

12/22/2010 8:00:17 PM

That's one reason why I stay in CA!

12/22/2010 6:08:58 PM

Riding in the woods right after a new snowfall is AWESOME!

12/22/2010 4:25:05 PM

I live in SoCal so unless it rains its business as usual

12/22/2010 3:16:12 PM

My wife and I, both over 70 try to ride 100 miles each month in winter.

12/22/2010 1:14:07 PM

Add grain supplement; water heater helps A LOT; good access to minerals or they eat the fences!

12/22/2010 11:19:18 AM

Mostly on Sundays, to avoid the hunters, but we love to ride in the cold and snow

12/22/2010 11:09:21 AM

ride in the snowat home a couple of times a week weather permiting and indorr arean once per week

12/22/2010 11:07:01 AM

In South Florida this is the time of year to ride!

12/22/2010 11:01:00 AM

I mind the 30-40 degree weather more than the horses

12/22/2010 10:54:55 AM

We ride all winter here in upstate NY! Multiple layers and hand/foot warmers req'd but we ride!!!

12/22/2010 10:43:43 AM

We are sooo lucky in Africa, Winter the best time to ride

12/22/2010 10:02:59 AM

Living in MI and have no indoor,we wait for the ground to freeze and have snow on top for cushioning

12/22/2010 9:13:40 AM

We get some snow in SC, but it's pretty nice to ride here all year long.

12/22/2010 8:58:33 AM

If the ground is as hard as cement, I go out into rough grassy areasto get in some trotting and bori

12/22/2010 8:16:49 AM

As long as there is no ice under the snow it is wonderful to ride in the winter

12/22/2010 8:06:12 AM

Once the snow softens the frozen ground we ride all year- Minnesota.

12/22/2010 7:36:15 AM

Most riding done in the indoor, but if we had more snow I'd rather be out in it!!

12/22/2010 6:58:49 AM

Winter is our riding season here in Fla!

12/22/2010 5:35:56 AM

Occassionally I trailer to the indoor arena, but mostly winter is play-time!

12/22/2010 2:45:38 AM

Too cold in northern MN.

12/22/2010 2:10:50 AM

not as much, it's cold and wet

12/22/2010 1:07:50 AM

I ride in Fresh snow, and in my indoor when icy or hard. when below 20 degrees, I keep it light

12/22/2010 12:35:11 AM

Live in Florida. Actually better riding than in the summer heat.

12/22/2010 12:06:50 AM

During the winter I do lots of groundwork and bareback riding- head out for casual trail rides.

12/22/2010 12:05:07 AM

ride most Saturdays even when snowing or below zero. I ride around our rural community.

12/21/2010 11:58:17 PM

feeding and cleaning, usually to wet and slippery to ride

12/21/2010 10:31:40 PM

California weather is mild by comparason, yet I choose to. wait for better weather

12/21/2010 10:08:10 PM

As long as it's above 20 degrees F I ride. I just stuff handwarmers in my boots and we're off i

12/21/2010 10:03:53 PM

walk/trot on trail rides when footing allows. otherwise, work lightly in indoor arena.

12/21/2010 9:26:22 PM

we train in the arena at night, round pen by day and hack on snowy afternoons

12/21/2010 9:21:50 PM

I ride as long as it's above 20 degrees! which luckily it doesn't get that cold to often in GA.

12/21/2010 9:21:38 PM

no arena, and only when weather is bearable

12/21/2010 9:20:19 PM

horribly rainy this winter, but ride when we can.

12/21/2010 8:43:57 PM

dry, no snow, love it!!!

12/21/2010 8:37:01 PM

try to remain out on trail as long as temps aren't below 25 and there is no wind

12/21/2010 8:20:34 PM

In N Tx ice is rare, snow is lite, we are barefoot,doesn't stop us. Temps are mostly above freezing.

12/21/2010 8:11:43 PM

Winter means rain here. Slippery footing reduces riding to no faster than a walk in some areas.

12/21/2010 8:11:25 PM

No. My horse is permanently retired!

12/21/2010 8:05:05 PM

deep soft snow is the best footing to start young horses...

12/21/2010 7:56:22 PM

If the temps were more normal, we'd be riding

12/21/2010 7:55:52 PM

no indoor and frozen ground mean limited riding opportunities

12/21/2010 7:54:27 PM

Frozen slippery ground, no riding

12/21/2010 7:46:25 PM

I ride 4 days a week (usually 2 horses per day) rain, snow or shine.

12/21/2010 7:44:34 PM

Too much snow & ice. I ride 4-5 days per week in an indoor arena where I board.

12/21/2010 7:37:30 PM

I ride MORE in the winter-no bugs and my work schedule is slower allowing more time to do so.

12/21/2010 7:32:11 PM

Here in Arkansas the weather is pretty mild so we're able to trail ride here several times each week

12/21/2010 7:28:23 PM

I love riding in winter as here in australia its too hot to ride in summer. 36 degrees plus.

12/21/2010 7:21:35 PM

the kids sled and snowboard with our horse, great for conditioning

12/21/2010 7:02:20 PM

any time any where as long as the fotting is reasonably safe

12/21/2010 7:01:14 PM

It is wet but we ride

12/21/2010 6:59:04 PM

Don't ride in the ice but the snow is OK

12/21/2010 6:51:43 PM

School in the arena and hack in the snow. Keeps horse interested.

12/21/2010 6:34:52 PM

I'm always afraid of injuries on ice...

12/21/2010 6:28:28 PM

My poor old body can't handle the cold anymore.

12/21/2010 6:19:55 PM

I would if the footing outside were safer.

12/21/2010 6:06:43 PM

its zero, its why they make Sorel Pacs and Carhartts!

12/21/2010 5:56:32 PM

Illinois, so weather is wet and icey. Turnout is usually indoor areana-ice is treacherous.

12/21/2010 5:56:19 PM

I move my horse to a facility with an indoor during Jan & Feb.

12/21/2010 5:50:05 PM

No interest in CT ice and cold.

12/21/2010 5:33:46 PM

I try to ride 3-4 times a week outdoors, weather permitting.

12/21/2010 5:31:25 PM

We go out when we can

12/21/2010 5:30:51 PM

The trick is to dress in layers that wick away sweat but keep heat in.

12/21/2010 5:30:36 PM

walker 20 mins e/w in am & 50 mins/10miles in pm

12/21/2010 5:29:12 PM

We ride if the weather allows through the winter

12/21/2010 5:04:33 PM

Rarely - I hate winters and riding indoors bores me to death

12/21/2010 5:02:16 PM

For both of us the warm weather time is for riding. Winter is for comfy down time.

12/21/2010 4:55:24 PM

Ussallywe jjust go out on a nice day and ride bareback in the snow on our mares or indoor arena

12/21/2010 4:47:34 PM

as long as we have our borium shoes and handwarmers for boots and gloves

12/21/2010 4:45:41 PM

No I don't particularly like the snow but no choice if I want to ride.

12/21/2010 4:45:05 PM

Depends on how cold it is and how the footing holds up, but generally, yes.

12/21/2010 4:45:05 PM

I used to ride outside, but two years ago we hit a patch of ice under fresh snow and we went down.

12/21/2010 4:42:55 PM

I hate the cold but try to ride anyway

12/21/2010 4:41:42 PM

Glad we have the indoor! My horse "snowballs" badly.

12/21/2010 4:32:37 PM

We ride when it's not rainy and muddy

12/21/2010 4:31:43 PM

Arizona's winter is the best time to ride

12/21/2010 4:31:00 PM

Winter is gorgeous in the central Arizona deserts!

12/21/2010 4:20:34 PM

Fox hunting keeps us in shape

12/21/2010 4:14:22 PM

Unless it gets too cold & windy we try to ride during the winter.

12/21/2010 4:13:03 PM

ride every chance I get

12/21/2010 4:12:22 PM

No snow where I am. If there's no cold front coming, its always really nice out, like 70F.

12/21/2010 4:11:54 PM

layers, quarter sheet, longer warm-up time

12/21/2010 4:03:19 PM

My husband and I ride at least once a week in Idaho where we get rain, snow and sun all winter long!

12/21/2010 3:58:36 PM

Temperature is the deciding factor!

12/21/2010 3:54:26 PM

We show in spring so we use the winter months to condition in round pen and some mind freeing trails

12/21/2010 3:51:30 PM

Longer walking warm up and cool down. I use a rump rug while I ride.

12/21/2010 3:49:54 PM

I ride every day I can except when it it very icy. the horses have rim pads.

12/21/2010 3:48:49 PM

if it gets up into the high 30's and its not icey then I'll head out for a trail ride

12/21/2010 3:47:14 PM

Love it! Unless there is ice!

12/21/2010 3:44:16 PM

Also outside, as long as the ground isn't too frozen (danger of road founder)

12/21/2010 3:42:14 PM

Winter in FL is like Fall elsewhere. 65F and fire weather today. Perfect riding day!

12/21/2010 3:41:06 PM

On days that aren't a total blizzard

12/21/2010 3:40:42 PM

Rain can keep us off.

12/21/2010 3:40:31 PM

I'm jealous of people that get to ride in the snow!

12/21/2010 3:39:44 PM

I ride inside during the week and outside on the week-ends (if there isn't much snow & ice)

12/21/2010 3:25:15 PM

My horse has a heavy coat, and I wear long underwear under my riding clothes.

12/21/2010 3:20:32 PM

Only daylight turnout, lots of hay, exercise rug for riding, studded EasyBoots for ice

12/21/2010 3:15:53 PM

Only ice stops us

12/21/2010 3:15:18 PM

No, too much ice this year ( Iowa ) some years yes ( outside )

12/21/2010 3:06:03 PM

Winter riding is the BEST!

12/21/2010 3:02:57 PM

I lived with my horses in Québec, we adjust the gate and the lenght of the ride.

12/21/2010 3:00:45 PM

Without an indoor we pretty much ride on the weekends... better than not at all!

12/21/2010 2:57:31 PM

I'm not left with enough daylight afterwork in the winter months :( Weekends are the only chance.

12/21/2010 2:57:25 PM

Lot's of long walks and trail rides if very chilly, quarter sheets work great.

12/21/2010 2:55:58 PM

unless it is cold enough to irritate her airway I work my horse through the winter

12/21/2010 2:52:54 PM

if its above 30, and no ice

12/21/2010 12:58:15 PM

I live in GA and our winter is just right to trail ride .

12/21/2010 12:21:54 PM

As long as the temp does not dip below -10C and no wind

12/21/2010 10:15:00 AM

I mostly ride in the indoor, but we link to take an occasional hack in the snow!

12/21/2010 9:08:40 AM

We ride and drive. The horses love it. NO FLIES!

12/21/2010 8:59:38 AM