It’s cold again here in Wisconsin and knowing how to stay warm is an essential part of being a horse person. It seems like it’s cold for half the year around here so learning how to dress for the weather is important. After all you can’t just stop riding and wait for it to get warmer. Around here that would mean not riding for several months!
Winter wear for people is an often overlooked topic. Some people who are not used to working outside in these temperatures struggle will what to wear during winter so we decided to put together this guide. Hopefully it can help make those bitter cold days a little more bearable for you this year!
Thermal underwear
A couple sets of thermal underwear are a must have on any equestrian’s winter list. They typically aren’t that bulky but can add a lot of warmth. Thermal underwear can be worn under jeans or riding pants easily. Check out Amazon for a ton of different options. We even found some for our 15 month old to wear!
Fleece breeches
There are several different brands that make fleece breeches for cold weather riding. They fit like regular breeches but are quite a bit warmer. On colder days throw a pair of thermals underneath and you’re good to go! I personally love the comfort and durability of the Irideon brand.
Layers
Removable layers are a necessity at the barn in the winter. You want to be able to easily remove layers as you warm up and add them as it gets colder.
Wool Socks
Wool socks are a must have to prevent cold feet. These keep your feet warm while also wicking away moisture.
Gloves
Look for something warm, yet not too bulky so that you are still able to do buckles, handle the reins, etc.
Winter Boots
Let’s face it, regular riding boots just aren’t going to cut it during the colder months even with warm socks. There are several brands that make winter riding boots that are insulated. If you are on a budget, regular winter boots are fine as well as long as they have a minimum of a 1/2″ heel to prevent them from getting stuck in the stirrup iron. Make sure that the boot is large enough for your foot to move around comfortably even with thick socks on. Boots should be water proof and come up at least mid calf for those days when you have to trek through a foot of snow or sloppy mud to get your horse.
Snow Pants
On those really cold days even fleece riding pants won’t do the job. That’s where these wonderful equestrian snow pants from Mountain Horse come in. The inner leg is lined so they aren’t slippery when you are riding and they are so very warm! They are more expensive than regular snow pants but I’ve had mine for over ten years and they are still going strong! I wear them nearly daily from December to March.
On a budget or have young kids that will out grow them by next year? Regular snow pants are fine as well. They just don’t have the added perk of the lined leg and they may not hold up as long.
Heated vest/jacket
My early Christmas present last year from my amazing wife was a Milwaukee heated vest. This vest has heating elements inside of it that are powered by a small battery that fits in a special pocket in the vest. Bonus is that the batteries are the same size as the ones for their regular hand held power tools so if you use Milwaukee tools you probably already have a few extra batteries. I used the vest all winter and I love it. It has three different power settings and gives off quite a bit of heat. It seems to last about 3 hours on high power- plenty of time to get a good ride in. It’s right up there with the riding snow pants on the list of my favorite winter items. They do also have full jackets and gloves. The jacket looks really nice. Without having tried the jacket one benefit to the vest is that if you have a coat on over it but need a bit more flexibility, say to pick out hooves, the vest minimizes the restriction of your arms as you move around. This means you won’t end up like Ralpie’s brother from A Christmas Story. The gloves look a bit too bulky for riding.
Hand/Toe Warmers
Hands and feet still cold even with all the layers? Throw a couple hand warmers in your pockets and some toe warmers in your boots. Toe warmers are made thin so they stick right onto the bottom of your foot. These little packets give off quite a bit of heat and last for several hours.
Helmet Cover
Keeping ears warm can be a challenge when wearing a helmet. Ski masks generally fit underneath or you can get a nifty cover to go over your helmet.
Your thoughts
We hope these tips help keep you warm this winter! If you have other things that help you make it through the winter share them with us in the comments! If you have a product that you love for staying warm let us know!
Learn more
To learn more about how to achieve a better relationship with your horse, visit our website or blog, where we feature information about French Classical Dressage training, as well as care and maintenance of the horse! Or contact us to schedule your own lesson or clinic!
Tuskey Dressage is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program and may earn a small commission for our endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support our work in bringing you real information about classical horse training. All products recommended are products we have personally used and loved.
