Too Cold to Ride?
Posted by Mikki on Jan 03 2008 at 06:40 pm | Tagged as: General, Riding
It’s that time of year again, when you have to wear three layers of clothes and a goofy hat to go outside. I don’t like winter! Here we are, all excited about riding, with three horses to ride now - and it’s in the 30’s. In the daytime. And windy, too. We’re so disappointed. It’s not actually snowing (the picture is from last winter), so maybe we should just suck it up, bundle up and ride. But it’s just so cold!
I spent a lot of time outside yesterday, actually, cleaning out the spare stall, seeing as how it’s not actually a spare stall anymore - we now have three of each (horses and stalls). It was supposed to be 15 last night, so we thought Sinbad should have a stall too, whether he wanted one or not (his owner says if he’s locked in a stall, he’ll knock the walls down to get out). So we shifted everybody down and gave Sinbad the stall closest to the pasture and left his door open. As it turned out, we had an overnight low of 12, so I’m glad we did it. Sinbad didn’t seem to mind either, once he confirmed - 7 or 8 times - that the stall door was still open.
Tonight it’s supposed to be 18, so everyone will be inside again, but tomorrow it’s supposed to start warming up again, with highs in the 50’s this weekend. Yay! We’re getting 100 square bales of hay on Saturday, and then we’re going to ride. I can’t wait. I haven’t gotten to use my beautiful new Henry Miller bridle yet. If all goes well, I’ll post pictures soon of Valentine in all his fancy tack.
So how’s the weather where you are? And when do you think it’s too cold to ride?
I live in Central Texas and have decided too cold is about when it hits 55 degrees. Just kidding!! It mostly gets “too cold” if it’s cold and wet. Otherwise, if my horse wasn’t a donkey in attitude, I’d be able to ride any day.
I live in Utah and the highs have been around 25-30 degrees. I know what you mean. It has been a low as 9 degrees here in the mornings. Feeding in the morning really sucks. We have ridden since Thanksgiving. I don’t think we’ll be riding until spring. The horses don’t seem to mind though. We have been graining our horses at night to give them some extra warmth. It sounds like it’s cold every where this winter. Good Luck!
My daughter’s philosophy is that if it’s not too cold for the horse it’s not too cold for the rider. She rode today, below freezing and breezy.
Here it was 16 degrees this morning. It was so cold! I agree with you, I hate cold weather!!
I think as long as you think you will be okay in the cold, then you should go riding. But, if you think it is freezing cold, then don’t go riding. It is a simple as that.
We were not used to this cold weather so it came on kind of fast. It hasn’t snowed in a couple of years but i wish it would. I am so cold, I can barely type this comment (just kidding) But seriously, it is cold enough to freeze a cow!!
Well, my old coach use to say that below -10 centigrade (14F), if you exercise a horse, you are doing damage to its lungs. Therefore, I never exercise below that temperature. Hope this can help you make your decision later on this winter.
Have fun ridin this weekend, I envy you…
Down on the Gulf Coast, I “wimp out” pretty early. When it gets cold enough for that chill in the air, I find myself thinking of things I need to do indoors. The 50s can be a bit nippy with the humidity and a slight breeze factored in. Let the horses be frisky out in their pasture, I’ll watch them all bundled up on the sidelines.
It’s been in the 20’s during the day and low teens (and lower) at night here in the mountains of New Mexico.
When we have 30’s then I don’t mind being outside doing barn work or riding….as long as the wind doesn’t kick in.
We have dry cold here and the wind bites into your skin down to your bones. So as long as the wind is calm, I’m out there.
Wow you guys all need to come up to where I live! I’m from Regina, Saskatchewan Canada and in the winter our average temperature is -20 C with a windchill of around -30C but it can dip as low as -40C! We don’t ride a whole lot in the winter either, it’s just too much work trying to get on a horse with that many clothes on. But our horses are out in the corrall all winter (there are plenty of shelters for them to go into) but their thick winter coat keeps them nice and toasty all year long.
Oh wow. When it’s up to 18F I’m excited to go out to the barn. It was -4F on Wednesday which is my usual barn day. I decided that was too cold and didn’t go. Anything about 20F is great and I’m out there in an instant. Today it’s supposed to be 30F but I’m so wiped out I don’t think I’ll make it out.
You cold weather people are so brave. I’m a wimp when it comes to cold. As long as I have a choice, I will always live somewhere “warm”. But I respect you guys for living with it each winter. We’re all wired a little differently. The horses seem to adapt nicely, as long as they have shelter options.
BTW, it’s supposed to be in the 60’s this weekend. We’re going to try to ride Sunday. I hope you guys have good riding weather soon where you are.
I’m in Wa and obviously not as cold at the Canadians folks but colder than usual here. I ride anyway. The only thing that stops me is the wind. If the wind gets to blowing 30 mph or above, you have to worry about injury from flying objects or trees falling (because our ground is so wet this time of year.)
At my age, I figure if I don’t ride as much as I can, my body is going to give out before I’m ready to quit riding and I have a lot of time to make up for not getting horses until my kids were grown.