RE: WINTER RIDING

["Snodgrass, Bonnie" <snodgrab@ncr.disa.mil>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	The Craig/Haisz family [SMTP:inuvik@magma.ca]
> Sent:	Thursday, December 17, 1998 12:32 PM
> To:	ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject:	WINTER RIDING
> 
> I ride in Eastern Ontario, very cold and damp winters(usually).  I have
> always suffered from cold hand and feet, probably from freezing them when
> skiing as a kid.
	[Snodgrass, Bonnie]  (edit)
	The polar fleece sheet under another blanket or sheet works great.
You will probably find the top blanket or sheet pretty wet after the fleece
wicks the moisture off the horse. Unless the sheets have leg straps on them
I wouldn't turn the horse loose  wearing those layers. They'll turn on your
horse as he takes a good roll. I like to use a full sized cooler that covers
the neck under a medium weight blanket. The added warmth of the blanket gets
the horses body warmth up which speeds drying.  Now I gotta admit that these
days I clip and blanket and find this works best for me. Actually need to
get in and do a second round of clipping. We're having an unusually warm
winter here in Maryland.

	Bonnie Snodgrass
>  
> I would like to know how others deal with a wet horse on a cold day.  My
> guys live outside, with a loafing shed, and have heavy coats.  I get cold
> feet doing slow rides, they can get too warm going faster.  I now have a
> water-proof breathable sheet, so I am going to try that.  Would a
> polar-fleece liner under help?  
> 
> Alison