ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] Winter riding/Keeping warm

[endurance] Winter riding/Keeping warm

KAREN CHATON (ZHBF15A@prodigy.com)
Wed, 20 Dec 1995 12:14:02 EST

I have a couple of questions for all you cold-climate people (it was
14 degrees this a.m. here) - Just how do you keep your EARS warm when
you wear a helmet? I didn't have this problem last winter because I
wasn't wearing a helmet yet. I find that there isn't room for a
headband or earmuffs and my ears go numb in about two seconds! Maybe
somebody could suggest someway that I could rig something up??? I'm
one of those people who ride no matter what the weather is like - I
often tack up when the temp is in the teens and low 20's.

Also, has anybody tried the Ariat WINTER boots? I was wondering how
well they work - down to what temperature? How do they do getting
wet - and going thru mud and snow? I'd wear my sorels riding,
however it is a tight fit getting them in the stirrups (and not
enough arch support either). Maybe somebody has another type of boot
they might recommend. Right now I'm using my regular Araits (which I
LOVE), and using battery heated socks! I just plug them in and go
(they are available at Wal-Mart this time of year at a reasonable
cost - just make sure you don't put any of the wires where there will
be pressure on your foot).

Does anybody do anything extra for their horse when they ride them in
really cold and/or windy conditions? I make sure not to bring them
home hot or sweaty, and will usually put a cooler on them and walk
them for a while anyway. I'd like to know if anybody else out there
also rides when it's below freezing? Sometimes I don't have a choice
-today our high temp is supposed to be 36.

Happy Holidays! Karen

P.S. My husband tells me he figured out what E-Mail is. "Equine-
Mail".