Tuesday, May 31, 2016

How To Choose The Right Cold Weather Riding Gear For Your Needs

By Rebecca Miller


If you love to ride you likely want to do so every chance you get. Unless you are fortunate to live where the climate is very warm all year long, you know that there are times where you will be out on your horse when the temperature drops. In this case, the right cold weather riding gear is essential to making sure you are safe and comfortable no matter what kind of weather you will be working in.

Buying gear for yourself is easy but choosing gear for others may not be so straightforward. If you are getting gear together for riders who are very young you need to make sure that they are properly protected. Older riders or those dealing with medical conditions may also have impaired circulation that can lead to them becoming uncomfortable much more quickly.

You should pay attention to the kind of weather that will be accompanying the cold as well. Some areas may have a lot of precipitation even in cooler weather. If you or another rider will be out in the ring or on a trail when snow or rain are expected you need to ensure your gear is also water proof. Wet gear can allow you to get cold much more quickly and can lead to hypothermia which is often life threatening.

While you may be focusing on how warm your core is, you need to also think about other areas of your body. Feet can cool down quite quickly and hands can as well. While you may think it is simply a matter of comfort it is actually a safety issue as well. Individuals have lost toes to frost bite or had serious accidents if cold hands were no longer able to hang on to the reins. If you are researching a new pair of gloves or boots make sure you check how warm they are at the temperatures you expect to be riding in.

Riding is much like other sports and dressing in layers is always a good idea. Riders often sweat quite a bit especially if their horse is moving quickly or they are navigating different obstacles while they are on the trail. If you dress in synthetic layers that pull sweat and moisture away from your skin you will stay warm and comfortable even if the temperature is chilly.

If you normally wear a helmet when you ride you may not think that you need something else to keep you warm. Some helmets may be very good at keeping you warm but others that are designed for ventilation may not. A toque or other soft hat or scarf underneath may help prevent heat loss.

If you want to keep your legs and feet warm when you are in the saddle you may want to look for boots that have a cold-weather rating on them. Often these will be insulated so that they keep you comfortable even when you are in the saddle for extended periods. If you cannot afford boots like this, consider putting liners in your footwear and even consider a heated insert.

There are many different riding supply stores that can give you good advice on which gear will work best for riding in cold conditions. You may find that even if you cannot afford new gear they may be able to help you modify your existing wardrobe so that colder temperatures are no longer an issue.




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