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Expert
Posts: 4766
   
Location: Bandera, TX | When you ride on super cold days and your saddling a shivering horse do you warm them up on the ground before mounting? |
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 Can You Hear Me Now?
Location: When you hit the middle of nowhere .. Keep driving | Depends, I may lunge for a few minutes if I find a spot that isn't icy or covered with 4 feet of snow. Otherwise my winter riding is restricted to a little bareback trail ride (no indoor here), or I ride with a fleece cooler on them and still bareback. I ALWAYS keep my bridle in the house until right before I use it though; I figure I would hate to have a piece of cold steel shoved in my mouth too....
ETA: I have seen people train with one of those half fleece blankets on, at least until they warm up.
Edited by ndiehl 2013-12-08 9:30 AM
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 Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015
Location: Four Corners Colorado | I usually ride bareback in extreme cold. Its easier on me and them, besides you stay warmer that way. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | It's not usually "cold" for long where I'm at. I did warm bits up yesterday. I've never had a hard time mounting up when its cold but I've also never had 2 horses with such thin skin. My colt and his father were both shivering when I mounted. I went about 15 min before I even felt the lumbar muscles begin to get supple. I had no time to put a blanket on him and let him passively warm up. We had a threat of sleet and I wanted to ride before it hit. I however, don't want to hurt him in any way so I thought I would ask what you do.
I only rode his "pop" about 15 min. he just wasn't doing well at all. But he has been a pasture pet for the last 4 years. I've only started back on him six weeks ago. He had a concerning "throaty" noise that I'm going to look into. The cold may have set something "off", I pray he has no epiglottis issues! |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | equussynergy - 2013-12-08 9:34 AM I usually ride bareback in extreme cold. Its easier on me and them, besides you stay warmer that way.
I have no problems going bareback but this colt was not fun in the extreme cold last year and he can buck to beat the band if he wants, I'm afraid I would quickly be a hump of bones on the ground!
He was a good boy yesterday glad to say he came a long way this year.
Do any of you ride them with a face mit? We used them on our race horses years ago when we had to gallop in extreme conditions. |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | uno-dos-tres! - 2013-12-08 9:51 AM equussynergy - 2013-12-08 9:34 AM I usually ride bareback in extreme cold. Its easier on me and them, besides you stay warmer that way. I have no problems going bareback but this colt was not fun in the extreme cold last year and he can buck to beat the band if he wants, I'm afraid I would quickly be a hump of bones on the ground!
He was a good boy yesterday glad to say he came a long way this year.
Do any of you ride them with a face mit? We used them on our race horses years ago when we had to gallop in extreme conditions.
I do!! And ski goggles!!LOL I probably look like a freak, but its so warm:). |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | equussynergy - 2013-12-08 7:34 AM I usually ride bareback in extreme cold. Its easier on me and them, besides you stay warmer that way.
Ditto. And just simple walk-trot-lope out in the field. You really do stay warmer!!
ditto to keeping your bridle inside!! Although I forgot yesterday. My horse was so excited to go do something that he didn't mind. |
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