Re: Conditioning effects of snow?

["Cheryl" <mskit@utec.net>]

Hello All-

I hope you are having a great and promising New Year. Our snow here (western
New York, basically on Lake Erie) is very dry right now, and although deep,
(above Kit's knees), if they're in fair shape, it's not that taxing to walk
through it. She wasn't warm or blowing. We also rode through chest deep snow
for about a 1/4 mile,  just walking, to get into the woods, and she was
"purring" along (she's my trail-trimming horse, and with all the snow
holding down the branches, it was a good day to saw and trim). Both Kit and
Bobby (Appy and Arab, respectively) do great in the snow, I still go out on
my long trails, and pack accordingly, but mainly just walk. The scenery is
so beautiful, I don't want to miss it!

My Quarter mare, Dani is having a bit more taxing time in the deep snow. She
just came home from the trainer, and although she was ridden, it was mostly
in the indoor ring, so she is not in the shape the other two kids are. Where
they come in from riding just as cool as they  went out, she has to have a
cooler and towel dry. K and B also have full haircoats, where the barn Dani
was in was kept closed up tight and the horses were under lights, so she has
little winter coat, and has to wear a blanket now that she is back home. My
barn still has (always has) open windows, so in the winter time, it is just
about the same temp as the outside. It has been in the 10's and 20's for a
couple weeks now. It is only in the summer that I try to keep the barn
closed up a little more to keep it cool (the kids stay inside during the
day).

I LOVE winter, I can pack ice cream bars in my saddle bags and they don't
melt! I ride as much as I can during the winter, because it doesn't last too
long and then we are right back to those horrendus western New York summers.

Get out in the snow and ride, "it's the most wonderful of the year..."

Cheryl in WNY
Horse Kids Kit, Bobby & Dani


-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Kopp <jkopp@ohio.net>
To: Kristi Schaaf <iluvdez@yahoo.com>
Cc: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Sunday, December 31, 2000 7:18 AM
Subject: RC: Conditioning effects of snow?


>
>I would be interested in any replies you get that don't also get posted to
>the general list.
>I also ride in snow - yesterday rode for  over an hour - just walking
>through fields, 4 - 6  inches but he was very warm ( not wet ) by the end.
>Seems to me that the extra effort, not only just picking the feet up and
>the resistance of the snow but also the effort required to maintain balance
>in the shifting footing would be a good cardiovascular workout>Plus,
yesterday it was one of those really cold quiet snowy days - workout
>or not I just love riding when its like that.  I go bareback so we both
>stay toasty warm!
>
>Roxanne
>NE Ohio ( still cold and still snowing)
>
>
>
>
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
>Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>