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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1032
 
Location: IL | I know this topic has been beaten to death but it's that time of year! When I was younger, and didn't have access to an indoor, we usually just gave the horses the winter off. And I have been spoiled the past couple years with having access to a small indoor arena to ride in during the winter months however, we finally got a barn up in Oct and my horses are now on my own property. My own property that does NOT have an indoor arena haha! I don't want to waste a good part of my season just trying to get my horses conditioned and tuned up once Spring arrives, I'd rather have them pretty much in shape so we can start hauling as soon as our season starts.
We live in Central IL so it usually gets pretty cold and the ground freezes. My outdoor "arena" is currently just a small open area of black dirt where I can canter circles and do work around one barrel (we will be working the ground in spring and I will have a large arena). We do live along a dirt road so I do have access to ride up and down it as well.
Those of you that ride through winter and deal with frozen ground and freezing temps like I do, what do you generally do in terms of riding? Do you do any barrel work with the ground frozen? Do you stick to trotting only or do you do canter work as well? Do you just work in straight aways only? Fill me in please! I'm interested to hear what everyone does during their winter rides! Thanks!
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | We are in northern Iowa and all you can basicly do is just a lot of trail riding to keep the basics going. Let them have some time away from the barrle pen. You will have a much happier horse. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 628
Location: Missouri | Lots of long trotting come Feb. I just trot along the outside of my field. If I need to work barrels I will haul to an arena and work them if not, I just trot to keep them in shape. |
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 Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | I don't work them on any hard ground. And I don't ride if I am not comfortable. If it's too cold for me or there's any precipitation. That's not fun for me. But I'm older now! I used to think nothing of riding in blizzards in the old days, lol. But I do like to handle them, take them for walks, catch them and give them a treat. This is a good time to do all that stuff if you can't ride. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | When I lived where it got cold I would only ride if there was snow on the ground. If the ground was bare and frozen--no way. I liken frozen ground to concrete, just not safe. I would haul into an arena if you can! Or ask around and see if any private parties would be willing to let you rent out their arena for a couple nights. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1032
Location: IL | hammer_time - 2016-01-10 8:14 PM When I lived where it got cold I would only ride if there was snow on the ground. If the ground was bare and frozen--no way. I liken frozen ground to concrete, just not safe. I would haul into an arena if you can! Or ask around and see if any private parties would be willing to let you rent out their arena for a couple nights.
I know what you mean about the ground and that's why I was curious what other people do because it really is like concrete lol. Unfortunately we live in the middle of nowhere. There is an indoor arena about 30 minutes (Gordyville) from us however they don't keep the arena up all the time because they use the place for other events. Plus they refuse to rent it out when they do have it up. Not to mention there are very few horse people around us let alone any that have an indoor. AND on top of that, I currently don't have my own truck/trailer to haul to an indoor when I want to lol Im stuck between a rock and a hard place sorta speak because of that
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I live in north eastern alberta..and i must say so far our winter has been great...the coldest ride day was -15 but with the windchill it was -20....i.dont work barrels in the winter......i also dont have acces to an indoor but i also think its way healthier to be outside. ...i stick to straight lines long trotting with some loping and a sprint thrown in every once in awhileThe closest indoor is an hour away.....i ride every night after work...unless the temp is -20...thats my cut off..... ..m |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | I live in North Dakota, I have room in my barn to lunge which is super helpful when the ground is frozen and we don't have much snow cover.
Otherwise, I keep my horses legged up through the winter, I'll put miles on or if the ground isn't terrible I work barrels in my outdoor, usually just trotting around them and really working on position.
I believe in keeping my horses in shape, 'letting them go' to me is harder on them. I don't have to do barrel work or compete but keeping them conditioned certainly won't hurt them. And it keeps me from being lazy! |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| mruggles - 2016-01-11 8:49 AM
I live in north eastern alberta..and i must say so far our winter has been great...the coldest ride day was -15 but with the windchill it was -20....i.dont work barrels in the winter......i also dont have acces to an indoor but i also think its way healthier to be outside. ...i stick to straight lines long trotting with some loping and a sprint thrown in every once in awhileThe closest indoor is an hour away.....i ride every night after work...unless the temp is -20...thats my cut off..... ..m
I am assuming this is celsius so -15 is 5 degrees fahrenheit, right? (BRRR)! |
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | Griz - 2016-01-12 10:11 AM
mruggles - 2016-01-11 8:49 AM
I live in north eastern alberta..and i must say so far our winter has been great...the coldest ride day was -15 but with the windchill it was -20....i.dont work barrels in the winter......i also dont have acces to an indoor but i also think its way healthier to be outside. ...i stick to straight lines long trotting with some loping and a sprint thrown in every once in awhileThe closest indoor is an hour away.....i ride every night after work...unless the temp is -20...thats my cut off..... ..m
I am assuming this is celsius so -15 is 5 degrees fahrenheit, right? (BRRR )!
Yes..sorry i never remember to put the c on it......m |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| I do lots of walking and trotting. I ride around the perimeter of our home pastures which takes about 45min walking. If it's somewhat nice I'll go further into the other pastures but we live by a river and sometimes hard to tell what areas may have flooded and have ice under the snow. If it's not windy (haha!) I'll set up my pop up barrels and walk/trot them, mainly working on position and control. |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | I ride bareback over winter blankets or Back on Track sheets (when I need to pull a blanket & take it inside for a quick patching job) more often than I saddle in the winter. It's quicker, I don't have to strip blankets off & put them back on 30 minutes later, and I think it's a good "workout" for me too.
Most of the time, I just walk and trot - walk only if the ground is really frozen & there isn't much snow cover - but I have loped laps around the big pastures & hay fields when ground conditions were good.
So far this winter, I haven't had many days when it was too cold to ride - in fact, I rode some on Sunday when actual temps were below 10 F - but I also haven't done much barrel work. I think Dec. 30th I did some one-barrel drills while riding Chance over his winter blanket in 6" of snow because we were entered in rodeos the next 3 days, but I haven't done any barrel work with anyone else since before Christmas. Granted, I haven't run the other 3 horses since Dec. 20th. I'm hoping to do some more off-pattern work with Clifford this week, probably in the round pen if it's decent Wednesday & Thursday, but mostly I just keep mine conditioned in the winter and run at a handful of jackpots between Christmas & March 1st. Chance is going to my parents' place this weekend for a 5-6 week vacation and I'll run the other 3 at NBHAs and a few other races this month & next, but my goal is to have the full team legged up & ready to run by April 8th.
As far as my clothing, I wear flannel-lined jeans or fleece-lined leggings & jeans, at least 2 shirts, a fairly heavy winter coat, gloves, and either a stocking cap or headband. Sometimes I throw a scarf on too, and I've been known to ride in my muck boots since they're insulated. |
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Location: WI | I have been spending my evenings riding in my round pen (with my colts) or in the open corn field next to our property. Luckily, we have about 3-5 inches of snow cover and in the areas that I ride in there isn't any slick spots. I refuse to ride on any hard solid ground. My temp cut off is 10 degrees F, any colder and I don't saddle up. It just isn't fun or worth it in my opinion. I will only do long trotting and some loping and have yet to do any barrel work in the snow. I usually don't work any of my horses to a point where they are sweating either. As long as they are still in shape, come April or May the ground is usually soft enough to start getting to work on the barrels if need be. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | how I dress when I ride in the winter.... |
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 Veteran
Posts: 189
| mruggles - 2016-01-11 8:49 AM I live in north eastern alberta..and i must say so far our winter has been great...the coldest ride day was -15 but with the windchill it was -20....i.dont work barrels in the winter......i also dont have acces to an indoor but i also think its way healthier to be outside. ...i stick to straight lines long trotting with some loping and a sprint thrown in every once in awhileThe closest indoor is an hour away.....i ride every night after work...unless the temp is -20...thats my cut off..... ..m
-20??? as in 20 degress below zero?? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 490
| MOVE SOUTH! Lol I ride all winter cuz its not terribly cold. I dont know how yall do it! |
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | RunfastNTurn - 2016-01-12 1:29 PM
mruggles - 2016-01-11 8:49 AM I live in north eastern alberta..and i must say so far our winter has been great...the coldest ride day was -15 but with the windchill it was -20....i.dont work barrels in the winter......i also dont have acces to an indoor but i also think its way healthier to be outside. ...i stick to straight lines long trotting with some loping and a sprint thrown in every once in awhileThe closest indoor is an hour away.....i ride every night after work...unless the temp is -20...thats my cut off..... ..m
-20??? as in 20 degress below zero??
Well ya.......lol....m |
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 BHW Jr. Cougar of the Year
Posts: 14957
Location: Heart of Texas | Y'all are crazy! I drew out of an indoor barrel race a few days ago because it was 47 with drizzle. 
I'm so excited when winter gets here because I can wear makeup to a barrel race. 9 months out of the year it's too hot and I sweat it all off. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| Our nice winter (10 to 20°) has allowed me to keep riding way more than usual this year! I've been trying to ride at least Sat / Sunday when it's daylight. So 2x a week I feel is a lot better than nothing. Plus with all these Friday Holidays I've gotten several Fri/Sat/ Sun rides. We walk, long trot, lope and hand gallop the edge of a field. It has plenty of snow cover and that in itself gives a good workout. I don't work him into a sweat but it takes 30 min to go all the way around.
My boy still feels like he is in "work mode" vs. "snorty, tail in the air, prancy dumb*** mode". Because that's what he turns into with significant time off.
None of us northerners will say we LOVE dealing with this cold, but we do what we have to do. Now, it's 1° out right now and the windchill is likely -15°. I won't ride in that.
I will say that being in TX this week, 40° there felt COLD to me. And I think it's due to the humidity, because up here, 40° in January is shorts weather.  |
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BHW Jr. Cougar of the Year
Posts: 14957
Location: Heart of Texas | star1218 - 2016-01-11 3:51 PM Our nice winter (10 to 20°) has allowed me to keep riding way more than usual this year! I've been trying to ride at least Sat / Sunday when it's daylight. So 2x a week I feel is a lot better than nothing. Plus with all these Friday Holidays I've gotten several Fri/Sat/ Sun rides. We walk, long trot, lope and hand gallop the edge of a field. It has plenty of snow cover and that in itself gives a good workout. I don't work him into a sweat but it takes 30 min to go all the way around.
My boy still feels like he is in "work mode" vs. "snorty, tail in the air, prancy dumb*** mode". Because that's what he turns into with significant time off.
None of us northerners will say we LOVE dealing with this cold, but we do what we have to do. Now, it's 1° out right now and the windchill is likely -15°. I won't ride in that.
I will say that being in TX this week, 40° there felt COLD to me. And I think it's due to the humidity, because up here, 40° in January is shorts weather.
I agree. I lived in Mo. for a little bit and 40 was not cold. Here.... no way I'm going out there. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| RunfastNTurn - 2016-01-11 2:29 PM
mruggles - 2016-01-11 8:49 AM I live in north eastern alberta..and i must say so far our winter has been great...the coldest ride day was -15 but with the windchill it was -20....i.dont work barrels in the winter......i also dont have acces to an indoor but i also think its way healthier to be outside. ...i stick to straight lines long trotting with some loping and a sprint thrown in every once in awhileThe closest indoor is an hour away.....i ride every night after work...unless the temp is -20...thats my cut off..... ..m
-20??? as in 20 degress below zero??
See my post - that is -20C. |
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 Three in a Bikini
Posts: 2035
| I have decided that since horses are my "hobby", if it isnt fun... I dont want to do it.
Riding in anything less than 40* is not fun for me.
Therefore, the ponies can all just be fat and happy until the sun is shining again.  |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I am lucky to have an indoor but if its possible, I like to ride outside on the trails. I usually just walk unless we have some snow coverage then I will trot but am pretty careful with it. I dont ride below 10 f. Just because I dont think they enjoy it and I dont want them getting sick. |
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Veteran
Posts: 189
| I seen it after I posted. :o)
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | Id be lucky if i got to ride for a week if i waited for your temps....lol....m |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | Where I am it's been -22F (-30 C) with the windchill for the last two weeks. Until then the weather had been great. I have probably two feet of snow in my outdoor arena so I just keep it harrowed up and removed the frozen manure and I ride in that for the winter. Before the middle of December we only had frozen ground and I just did a lot of trot work in the fields and down the dirt roads. I do a lot of lateral movements while I'm riding to keep them supple.
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| Kry5ta1 - 2016-01-12 11:56 AM
I have decided that since horses are my "hobby", if it isnt fun... I dont want to do it.
Riding in anything less than 40* is not fun for me.
Therefore, the ponies can all just be fat and happy until the sun is shining again.
SAME HERE - not like I make MONEY at this, so I am in by the FIRE!  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1032
Location: IL | Thanks for all the replies everyone! Sorry I've been MIA, it's been a busy week so far!
I wish we could live south where it's warmer but unfortunately Hubby's job is here and it pays well so moving is not possible. I'm glad to hear so many of you still ride through the winter to keep your horses in shape. I'm thinking I'll just start going up and down the dirt road and then maybe do a little slow barrel work on days when it's warmer and the ground is decent enough. It's been bitter cold here lately, 3F last night with wind chills of -15F. But tomorrow it's supposed to be a high of 43 and then rain on Friday lol.
I don't mind riding in the cold but I don't do gusting winds, especially 25mph winds like we've been having! Ugh! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 516
| Kry5ta1 - 2016-01-12 11:56 AM
I have decided that since horses are my "hobby", if it isnt fun... I dont want to do it.
Riding in anything less than 40* is not fun for me.
Therefore, the ponies can all just be fat and happy until the sun is shining again.
Yep, I determined this when I was battling with myself on whether or not to go to a race in 5 degrees F on Saturday. Luckily it got postponed until January 30th so I don't feel guilty for skipping it.  |
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Winter riding (Yes, yet another thread about it lol)