As a "Winter Weather Warrior" who rides and trains and teaches, year-round and without an indoor arena, trainer, instructor and Tough1 Sales Rep Maddie Hofmeister has accumulated a few tricks to help you survive and maybe even conquer the cold weather. This first blog post will focus on how she dresses to keep warm while riding and working in the barn. The next blog post shares some tips on how to maximise your winter riding.
Dress Appropriately
Before you even think about heading out, you need to be well-equipped to get the job done! If you are riding in an indoor arena, you will want to layer your clothing. The wind protection that the indoor arena offers allows your body to regulate temperature a bit better than riding outdoors. In an indoor arena, you can typically do more of a “routine” riding/training session, which will warm you up and keep you warm. I almost always shed a layer or more when riding indoors. Vests and sweaters can be helpful in this case, but do what works best for you!
Everyone tends to invest in a good winter coat, which means the rest of the body can often be an afterthought. However, ensuring that your extremities are covered appropriately is just as important, especially if you are riding outside.
Hands I like to wear thinner riding gloves, which allow me to still work my buckles when tacking up. However, I will often add an additional layer with a pair of wool mittens or cotton gloves. I can easily pull these on over my thin gloves while I am riding if needed.
Legs Low profile is the name of the game for keeping your legs warm. Bulky coveralls or snow pants will restrict your legs from wrapping around your horse correctly and can cause a fall hazard. They also dull leg cues which may interfere with communication with your horse. I recommend layering fleece-lined leggings under your normal riding jeans or breeches or investing in a pair of ready-made lined riding pants. Often, I still find this leaves my upper legs painfully exposed to the cold and will add a pair of chinks/chaps, a quarter sheet or even a pair of oversized fleece pajama pants over the regular riding pants to block the wind and add insulation.
Feet Boots and headgear are an especially important consideration because you want to be warm but you also need to be safe. Invest in a pair of winter riding boots. I recommend getting them a half size up from your regular size to make room for an extra pair of socks. Winter riding boots can make all the difference in comfort as you face the elements.
It’s important not to use regular snow boots or even some muck boots because the aggressive tread on work boots can impede your ability to remove your foot from the stirrup in the event of a fall. The additional bulk can also cause an entrapment hazard. I might choose to replace my stirrups with larger ones or safety stirrups, due to the bulk of insulated winter boots.
Head Special care must be taken with headgear. Hats should not be worn under the helmet, as it changes the way the helmet sits on the head. Sometimes it may be enough to wear a scarf (tucked into your jacket so it does not catch the wind) or a high-collared base layer, especially if you combine it with wearing your hair down. I have seen some balaclava styles fit under some helmets, or lycra neck gaitors, if pulled up and arranged so they don't slip and annoy you during your ride. A winter helmet cover is a very simple option to keep the neck and ears warm and can be pulled over the face on very cold days.
Coming up with the perfect winter riding attire will be trial and error until you find what works best for you—these are only tips in hopes of steering you in the right direction. Just remember KISS: Keep It Simple and Safe.
In the next blog, I'll share some of my winter riding and training tips to help you get the most out of your limited, and cold, time in the saddle.
