When we see the first snowfall in November, we're mesmerized. Nothing is prettier than the first snowfall. Even at the second snowfall, we're still tolerating winter. After all, the holiday season is coming, and what is Christmas without snow? We ring in the New Year's, hopeful that the new year will be prosperous, adventurous, romantic, or a time of change.
And then we enter January.
By this time, we're all tired of the cold. I know I am. We want the snow to disappear into the ground, the ice to melt into mud, and the sun to come back out so we can hop back on our horses and ride.
In fact, we can ride right now. The horses aren't usually the ones that get cold. We are.
If the hairs in your nose don't freeze, you have the thumbs-up to ride, according to a post on Facebook by Julie Goodnight. There are, however, some extra precautions to take.
-Riding on ice is a very bad idea. Shoes or not, horses are very liable to slip. We all know that person that slipped on ice, fell, and broke something. The same exact thing could happen to you or your horse. If it's icy, DON'T RIDE.
-Know where you're going and let someone know. Letting someone know where you're going is actually always a good idea, even if it's in the dead heat of summer. Because the weather can turn pretty quick and because the temperatures drop steadily once the sun goes under, make sure that you have an idea of your whereabouts at all times so you don't freeze to death out in the wilderness.
-Dress for warmth. Layering is always a great option. Make sure whatever you are wearing will be nice and toasty for the length of your ride. If you start to sweat, take off a layer. The sweat can give you a chill, like it does for a horse that wears a blanket on a warmer day. Thick socks, thick gloves, and even a hat or earmuffs should be considered. You can put warmers in your gloves and boots for extra protection. Long underwear is also very beneficial.
-Bring water and food for a long ride. This is a given in any situation, but both are also important in cold weather.
-Know the signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Both can set in very quickly and are serious matters. If any part of your body starts going numb and becomes red and painful, this can be the onset. The skin can then progress to a gray color. To reverse frostbite, you can use other parts of your body like the armpit to warm a frostbitten finger up, put affected areas in warm water, and get inside to a warm room. Be careful not to burn yourself because of the numbness that has set in. Getting warmth is also important to people suffering from hypothermia. Hypothermia sufferers may be shaking, have slurred speech or impaired motor skills, be confused, and/or feel exhausted. Wet clothing should be taken off the victim and the core of the body should be warmed before the extremities.
-Check your trailer and truck. Winter seems to be the time for vehicles to have problems. Make sure your tires are full and that everything is working properly. An oil change or tire rotation may not be a bad idea, either, if the vehicle hasn't been serviced in a while.
-Cool off properly. Before you load the horse back onto a trailer to go home, make sure he is cooled down properly. Winter makes horses take longer to warm up and cool down. A blanket is also recommended for the ride home so the horse does not become chilled.
See? You don't have to wait until spring to hit the trails! You can start right now. In fact, the first trail of the new year will be covered sometime next week after I take a President's Day ride in Ames, IA at Peterson Pits. Pictures and information will come.
And these guys are coming along: Knight, my little Arab, and Mylie, my Pug/Terrier mix. Of course, Rusty will be along for the ride as well, but I will be loaning him out for one of my friends to use.
So long, folks! Happy New Year,
Kelsey
And then we enter January.
By this time, we're all tired of the cold. I know I am. We want the snow to disappear into the ground, the ice to melt into mud, and the sun to come back out so we can hop back on our horses and ride.
In fact, we can ride right now. The horses aren't usually the ones that get cold. We are.
If the hairs in your nose don't freeze, you have the thumbs-up to ride, according to a post on Facebook by Julie Goodnight. There are, however, some extra precautions to take.
-Riding on ice is a very bad idea. Shoes or not, horses are very liable to slip. We all know that person that slipped on ice, fell, and broke something. The same exact thing could happen to you or your horse. If it's icy, DON'T RIDE.
-Know where you're going and let someone know. Letting someone know where you're going is actually always a good idea, even if it's in the dead heat of summer. Because the weather can turn pretty quick and because the temperatures drop steadily once the sun goes under, make sure that you have an idea of your whereabouts at all times so you don't freeze to death out in the wilderness.
-Dress for warmth. Layering is always a great option. Make sure whatever you are wearing will be nice and toasty for the length of your ride. If you start to sweat, take off a layer. The sweat can give you a chill, like it does for a horse that wears a blanket on a warmer day. Thick socks, thick gloves, and even a hat or earmuffs should be considered. You can put warmers in your gloves and boots for extra protection. Long underwear is also very beneficial.
-Bring water and food for a long ride. This is a given in any situation, but both are also important in cold weather.
-Know the signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Both can set in very quickly and are serious matters. If any part of your body starts going numb and becomes red and painful, this can be the onset. The skin can then progress to a gray color. To reverse frostbite, you can use other parts of your body like the armpit to warm a frostbitten finger up, put affected areas in warm water, and get inside to a warm room. Be careful not to burn yourself because of the numbness that has set in. Getting warmth is also important to people suffering from hypothermia. Hypothermia sufferers may be shaking, have slurred speech or impaired motor skills, be confused, and/or feel exhausted. Wet clothing should be taken off the victim and the core of the body should be warmed before the extremities.
-Check your trailer and truck. Winter seems to be the time for vehicles to have problems. Make sure your tires are full and that everything is working properly. An oil change or tire rotation may not be a bad idea, either, if the vehicle hasn't been serviced in a while.
-Cool off properly. Before you load the horse back onto a trailer to go home, make sure he is cooled down properly. Winter makes horses take longer to warm up and cool down. A blanket is also recommended for the ride home so the horse does not become chilled.
See? You don't have to wait until spring to hit the trails! You can start right now. In fact, the first trail of the new year will be covered sometime next week after I take a President's Day ride in Ames, IA at Peterson Pits. Pictures and information will come.
And these guys are coming along: Knight, my little Arab, and Mylie, my Pug/Terrier mix. Of course, Rusty will be along for the ride as well, but I will be loaning him out for one of my friends to use.
So long, folks! Happy New Year,
Kelsey
