Re: Snow/bitter climates

[Dave Schneider <woodmands@attbi.com>]

Kris,

It is possible to continue riding even when it gets quite cold.  Natalie and
I rode last Saturday when it was around 0 degrees F.  In our minds, the main
issues are:

1. What is the wind chill and what can you tolerate?  O degrees is
OK(although not truly comfortable !) as long as there isn't a strong wind
chill.  You need to dress for the conditions and be aware of the risk of
frostbite etc.

2.  From the horses point of view, they seem to tolerate the low
temperatures without problems. Our horses live outside in the pasture all
winter long.  They have a winter coat and with adequate windbreak, food and
cover are fine.  The main issue is that they sweat when working at the trot
and canter.  We usually go a bit slower when it is real cold so they don't
get too wet.  You need to spend the time letting them cool down and dry out.
Using a cooler and keeping them out of the wind helps the process without
letting them get chilled.  Then we brush them and they are ready to go back
out in the pasture.

3. What is the footing?  Snow is fine.  The thing that will keep us from
going out is ice.  We don't want to have a crash or have a horse slip and
sustain an injury.

Montana doesn't give us ideal temperatures for riding a lot of the time, but
with some adaptations it is possible to continue riding most of the time.

Dave Schneider