While we may officially be in autumn, winter is most certainly on its way, making the odd appearance, hydrating our already wet fields which means cold, wet mud covered days with our favourite four legged friends. Whether you love or loath the cold weather, winter can present some pretty special problems for horses and their owners. But the challenges brought on by the cold weather and icy conditions aren’t a blockade for a good time. Here are Foley’s top hints and tips to make sure this winter is a much more enjoyable one… whatever the weather!

Adjusting The Workload

Cold weather and dark evenings can cause havoc with any evening riding schedule, especially if you lack the required power to light your arena up. That being said, don’t be afraid to adjust your workload and reduce riding time in the evenings, to ensure you’re fitting in those rides before the darkness descends or if that isn’t an option, simply reduce your riding down to the weekends if possible.

If the weather takes a drastic turn fro the worse and we find ourselves surrounded by the beautiful precipitation that is snow, remember that horses work harder when travelling through snow, so this would be another occasion when it’s a good idea to reduce the workload. 

Slow It Down

If you’re someone who doesn’t clip their horse then it may be wise to slow down the riding. This can help reduce the amount your horse sweats and ultimately will make cooling down much quicker and more efficient. Even if you do clip, it’s surprising how much your horse may still sweat after an intense session. Horses can sometimes need a little time to adjust to new temperatures so do consider this when planning out their work schedule for the coming season.

Keep Those Horses Dry

Following on from our previous suggestion to ‘slow it down’, we want to draw attention to the fact that wet horses get cold. This doesn’t just apply to a horse that’s been rained on however, oh no. We’re talking about those that sweat following their rides too. With that in mind, it’s important to plan extra cool down time after your ride and if there isn’t time, do not ride. You cannot put a rug on a wet horse, clip or no clip. There are however products you can purchase, such as the Dri-Rug that can help to dry your horse following a ride. It claims to dry your horse in record time and can even be used under a regular rug in the stable. If you have the money to spare and don’t have the time for those extra cool down sessions, then this may be the perfect tool to add to your winter belt.

Don’t Shock The System While Riding

If your horse is used to being rugged and stabled, kept cosy and warm on a regular basis, suddenly whipping that rug off to ride could give them quite the shock. Make sure you keep muscles warm to keep their body temperatures regular and simply using a quarter sheet while riding. This can also help to keep them dry on wet days while riding too. 

Now It’s Time For The Rider…

While we’ve spoken a lot about the horse, who let’s face it we devote our lives to is it only makes sense – it’s now time to talk about us, the rider and we’re beginning with clothing.

Layer Up

We know it seems like the right thing to grab the thickest jumper you can find and pair it with a ski jacket, we can guarantee that it won’t be suitable considering how hard some horse owners work. It’s always best to layer it up at every opportunity. While you might still be revelling in the warmer weather, think long and hard about those sweaty winter days when you couldn’t manage to wiggle out of the thick coat and jumper while you were mucking out, making haynet and squelching through mud to turnout. 

With layers, you can simply peel off one layer at a time and find the right amount for you. When you only wear one or two thick layers, you’ll find yourself unable to get to the right temperature at any given time. Take one off and you’re immediately too cold. Keep one on and you’re immediately sweating. 

With multiple layers however, you can simply take one thin layer off at a time and adjust accordingly. From Vivendi Apparel’s base layers and leggings to the amazing Equidry coat that guarantees to keep you clean and dry, there are so many products on the market that can ensure you remain warm, dry and most importantly comfortable.

Thermal Footwear

There’s nothing worse than frozen toes while riding, which is why insulated boots are an incredible addition to your winter riding wardrobe. The Ariat Heritage Contour II Waterproof & Insulated riding boot is indeed a fantastic boot however there are several cheaper options. It pays to check out local Facebook groups for advice and testimonials on other’s and their experience. If you’re watching the pennies like a great deal of us right now, it may be worth looking into a two in one option that provides you with a thermal boot to be used around the yard and for ridden work. 

A Rideable Surface

Last but most certainly not least, we’re talking about arena surfaces. We’ve lost count of the amount of people who contacted us last winter in search of a riding surface that would allow them to continue their riding through the winter, stuck with another surface that froze and flood. Thankfully, with Foley’s Equestrian Surfaces, your riding never needs to stop as our surfaces are frost resistant and provide incredible drainage. From our Sport Mix, to our Eco-Flex and our Eco-Excel, you can enjoy riding whatever the temperatures, keeping your riding routine on schedule and giving you the peace of mind that your horse in on as supportive surface as possible, even during the most harsh of conditions.