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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
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Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | I'm in North Dakota and ride year round with no indoor. I have a small area inside that is big enough to lunge but that is it. When my outdoor ground freezes before the snow comes to cushion it I just head down the road, and this is all in the dark. It's a great trust test :) Makes everyone more tough. You learn to just deal with what you have, if you want it that bad you make it work! |
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 Life Saver
Posts: 10477
Location: MT | cranky B4 10am - 2016-10-03 11:14 AM Holy cow ladies, I am impressed.... I could not ride like that. Luckily I don't have to think about it.
Pretty sure I'd be in hibernation for several months each year if I lived up north!
I made the mistake of hibernating last winter and only rode a few times. I sure paid for it this spring when my horse was a fresh hot mess from not getting ridden regularly! Decided I better go back to my old ways and keep him rode down this coming winter!  |
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 Expert
Posts: 2128
| All of these replies make me feel like a wuss. If its freezing or below, not happening lol. |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4642
Location: Texas | If I ride after dark in the winter I will borrow some headlamps from the hubby that he uses for fishing. I fasten one to the front of the breastcollar and I wear one on my head. |
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 Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | ruggedchica - 2016-10-03 12:57 PM cranky B4 10am - 2016-10-03 11:14 AM Holy cow ladies, I am impressed.... I could not ride like that. Luckily I don't have to think about it.
Pretty sure I'd be in hibernation for several months each year if I lived up north! I made the mistake of hibernating last winter and only rode a few times. I sure paid for it this spring when my horse was a fresh hot mess from not getting ridden regularly! Decided I better go back to my old ways and keep him rode down this coming winter!
Oh I hear ya on the hot mess! We used to clip our warmbloods back in Europe when it got colder, and they were sooo much fun when you took of their blankets to ride.... 
Good thing we are staying down here, and even then I look like the Michelin (wo)man when the winter hits here in TX.... those whole 2 weeks.... 
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I bought the heat lamps from walmart a few years ago for my round pen and used to keep him legged up like that. Works really well and puts off heat if you get enough of them LOL. I just clipped them to the top of the panel and angled them down so they weren't in my eyes. I also bought a fleece cooler for like $20 on sale at the store so if he does sweat I put his cooler on him until he gets back to normal temp and then let him loose or blanket deoending on my mood and level of numbness my hands are at. I plan on legging him up this winter. His ulcers always act up in the summer because of the heat and he's usually fatter than a tick in the winter. My theory is to get him back in shape this winter, prepare for summer with ulcer meds and preventatives and finally get to run again this year. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 509
| I'm impressed most around here quit till spring! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 582
Location: Wherever They Send Me | When I lived in Alaska, I was lucky enough to have access to an indoor arena. I didnt do much riding during the week, mainly just brought them in to roll, switch blankets out, and they went back out...but on the weekends I rode more (I had more time to dry them off), mainly just walk/trot.
I find it humorous that my riding seasons have flipped. I used to ride in the Summer and take time off in the Winter...nope, not in Louisiana...bring on the cooler temps, "Winter" is coming...  |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | I moved to a barn with an indoor so I could ride or work with my horse no matter the weather. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 509
| An update on my winter riding, I didn't get home till dusk so I strapped on my new headlight for my head and hit the backroad with little traffic, we've had rain so my pen was not an option, a pickup about ran over me and my very quiet five year old lol, I'm not ready to give up yet though you die hards have really inspired me! |
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| I have to ask those of you saying you ride down the road... what kind of roads do u have? I'd love to do this but our roads around here are chip and oil. I'm too scared to go any faster than a walk on it because horses with shoes tend to slide all over it. I usually tend to quit riding November and let the horses get fat and sassy and start back up come spring. But if I could find a way to ride outside in the winter I would! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 509
| I live by a park to get to the trail head I have to ride about a mile to get on it,tonite the neighbors three great pyrineese guard dogs left there sheep to follow me, this is the only thing that bothers my horse! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | IRunOnFaith - 2016-10-03 2:58 PM
I bought the heat lamps from walmart a few years ago for my round pen and used to keep him legged up like that. Works really well and puts off heat if you get enough of them LOL. I just clipped them to the top of the panel and angled them down so they weren't in my eyes. I also bought a fleece cooler for like $20 on sale at the store so if he does sweat I put his cooler on him until he gets back to normal temp and then let him loose or blanket deoending on my mood and level of numbness my hands are at. I plan on legging him up this winter. His ulcers always act up in the summer because of the heat and he's usually fatter than a tick in the winter. My theory is to get him back in shape this winter, prepare for summer with ulcer meds and preventatives and finally get to run again this year.
What type of heat lamps? Can you attach a link? Sounds like a good idea!
I just ride outside in the dark and deal with it. I figure my mare can see better than me anyway, and I can see enough to keep us out of trouble like holes. We trail ride all winter long (places I know well) , there are some places around here that the ground stays pretty good so I go there. After a winter of walking and trotting (mostly walking) hills she is so much fitter than months of arena time.
I also keep her blanketed starting about mid October with a sheet at night and then moving into a full blanket with a neck cover in the actual winter. Her mane is down past her shoulder a good 6 inches so I mostly neck cover to keep that clean and organized. She has 2 winter blankets so I can change them out if we get a lot of rain or snow, she also has 3 coolers. If we haul to an indoor arena, one cooler to cool out in, one cooler to ride home in the trailer in, and one cooler to wear once we get home (potentially under a blanket) for about another hour until I know she's totally dry, then back into her normal winter attire. For trails she wears one cooler on the way home, and one once we get home. I don't get her super sweaty but she's always damp under her saddle pad. This year I want to get or make her a quarter sheet to wear when trail riding when it's super cold to help keep her hind quarters warm and also me warm.
For me, I invested in some stickyseat winter breeches (don't laugh) but they are wind and water proof and so warm that unless its 15 below freezing or so I'll actually sweat if we are doing more than walking. When trail riding I wear those with a pair of sweats over them and invested in some under armor shirts and jackets to help lock in my own body heat. I have winter snow boots that are heeled for riding and lace up, and i wear good wool socks. I have a helmet liner for under my helmet and a wild rag for my face. All areas are fully covered
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 509
| I've been looking for some heeled winter boots could you share what kind. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| I ride in regular boots for safety reasons but I put those disposable handwarmers down in them. I also put them in my gloves. They are the ticket!! I also live In ND so can't get much colder. |
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Life Saver
Posts: 10477
Location: MT | I have some Cashel Cozy Toes that I like. You can stick those heat packet things in them. They just attach to your stirrup. |
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Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | tin can - 2016-10-05 4:11 AM
I've been looking for some heeled winter boots could you share what kind.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/KEEN-WOMENS-WAPATO-TALL-BOOT/1842572...
These are what I wear. they fit well in a stirrup have a good heel, the only thing that took some getting used to is the sole is a bit thick compared to what my normal boots are but by a few rides in I'm over it with warm toes. |
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