How to Horse Ride in the Winter

Horseback riding is a good form of exercise; it can be exciting and is also lots of fun. However, with dropping temperatures, rain and snow, it becomes more difficult to go riding in the wintertime. If you want to continue your riding into the colder season, there are some tips you should follow to keep both you and your horse safe.

1. Dress warmly and in layers. While you may start out cold, it is easy to become hot during any form of exercise regardless of the temperature. Make sure your layers are easy to get off, as you don’t want to be struggling to get a pullover off over your helmet.


2. Bring a snack for yourself. A granola bar, nuts, or a high energy food will help keep you warm if you start to get cold. 


3. Prep your horse’s hooves. Hooves can form snowballs in them and if not shoed, horses can slip. If you plan on riding in icy conditions, ask your farrier for rim shoes, aluminum shoes and steel keg shoes, which can provide more traction than regular shoes. Removable studs and ice caulks can be good for soft ice and semi-frozen ground conditions. To prevent snow-balling, coat the inside of the hooves with petroleum jelly, grease, or non-stick cooking spray. Full pads made out of plastic, synthetic rubber and leather can also help prevent snow-balling.


4. Warm the bit before putting it in your horse’s mouth. Cup your hands around the bit or apply a heat pack to it.


5. Stick to well-known trails. If there is snow on the ground, it is not a good idea to be in an unfamiliar place as the snow will obscure the vision of both you and your horse.  You may not know where the edge of the trail is or you may not be able to see the hole or pole hidden under the snow.


6. Increase your cool-down session time. It may seem counter-intuitive that horses need more time to cool down in cold weather, but horses still sweat and the cold weather can make them cold in a hurry. Slowing your pace on your rides will help prevent sweat, but you may need to use a horse cooler to keep them warm until their perspiration dries.