Help with Winter Riding

So I am from the sunny Carolinas where the low is in the 30's, but this winter (September to March) I am going to be doing an internship with a barn in Minnesota where it gets VERY cold, or so I have been told numerous times. So my question is, what is best to wear when your riding and working around the barn in the cold? I want to know everything from Boots to Gloves, Pants to Hats.

The people that I'm staying with have recomended for me to get Carhartt Overalls cause they are very warm but don't restrict your arms and shoulders when your riding or working with young horses. (P.S. I'm working with Weanlings, Yearlings, and breaking Two year olds. So being able to move freely is a must.)

If you can provide a pic and a rough price, that would be wonderful!! If not, that's ok, I will still apreciate the help!

Under Armour Cold Gear. Pricey, but definitely worth it. It is sweat wicking, which is a bonus for someone like me who sweats even in the middle of winter.

They have pants and shirts. Buy the mens shirts though, because the womens seem to be really short, and its annoying to pull it down what seems like every 5 seconds.

I can give you a great recommendation on boots. I have a pair of Ariat Terrains H2Os and I absolutely LOVE them! They are waterproof, so you won't have to worry about wet feet. Last winter, we had some serious drainage problems at the barn my friend leases. I went to get some horses out of the turnout and had to cross a 50ft long by 15ft wide "lake" to get to the turnouts. At the deepest part, it was about mid-calf deep. I walked through that lake in my Terrains a total of ten times and my feet never got wet, even when the water was almost to the tops of my boots. The other thing I love about them is that they are built on a tennis shoe platform (think the old Justin Horseshoes, only WAY more comfortable), so I can literally wear them all day and my feet never complain. In fact, they are arguably the most comfortable pair of shoes I own, my Adidas crosstrainers included! Also, being built on a tennis shoe platform means they have a treaded sole, so if I have to dismount and hike around somewhere, I'm not slipping and sliding everywhere with a sole that's slick, like on a lot of riding or cowboy boots.

They are a wee bit pricey, averaging around $80 (I got mine brand new at a local thrift store for $10), but WELL worth it in my view. As soon as I have the money, I'm buying another pair.
Here is the link to the various styles on DoverSaddlery.com (cheapest place I've found):
Dover Saddlery - Search Results for ariat terrain boots[[SLI_IDC]]&ids=421369549

Maybe the barn will be heated?

Sorry, couldn't resist. Odds are slim but maybe she'll get lucky. I love my Mountain Horse fleece lined tall boots. They are soooo warm. Can't find a pic of the ones I have, but the ones with fleece lining are the way to go.

I recently moved to Canada, where the winters are EXTREME.... so I know what you're going through. Anyways, mountain horse boots work really well. I got a pair and I can't live without them in the winter. The only problem I ran into is that they took a while to break in, they're stiff plastic and the first month or so it wasn't all that fun to walk in them. However, after the first month or so they were wonderful! I also invested in winter-riding pants. Mine look like snow pants, except with zippers going down the whole length and sticky rubber full seat, like the breeches. I love the zippers and the pants have saved my butt in so many snowstorms. When buying winter pants get the type that have a strap for under the shoe, it'll keep your pants in place for riding. If your barn is semi-heated there are also fleece-lined riding pants. I have pull-ons and I love them too! You can wear the fleece breeches with the winter boots under the winter pants and you'll be fine up to -30 or -40 C.

For top layers go with MANY layers. Start off with something tight (like body armor), I have basic shirts from costco, works just as well. Then add some fleece layers or something. I highly suggest a fleece vest. Then you can throw on your winter coat. Always buy one that will accommodate your extra layers. I got a big winter jacket for cheap at the hardware store. Workman's winter jackets tend to hold up better and if you can find a good deal, don't cost as much. If you get one that's baggy then you can also escape some horse biting or nibbling through all those layers! If you keep the clothes tight for the inside layers and more baggy for outside your movement shouldn't be too restricted, just make sure your first layer is super comfortable and doesn't chafe!

Other than that, always remember your hat! Get a fleece-lined hat, but one WITHOUT those poof thingys on them... horses LOVE to chew and grab them, so cut them off if your hat comes with them. Don't wear scarves, horses could pull on them or they could get stuck. Make sure your fleece and outer layers go up to your chin. If it's windy, invest in a face mask or thick bandanna. If there's snow glare get some sunglasses.

The most important part is the layers. Heated barns aren't always the very best because you always have to put on or take off layers. Most barns here keep it to around 0*c of they can afford it, but NEVER higher. If the building is insulated it will be about 5-10 degrees warmer than outside, if not insulated it could be the same as outdoors or colder. I wish you the best of luck, and hopefully this helps =)

September to March? You all 6 months of winter then, eh? Haha. I agree with layers and layers. You'll figure out pretty quick how many you'll need. I always have about 5 shirts under my winter coat, leggings under my jeans, about 2 or 3 pairs of socks (I like one thin pair, then wool over), and my awesome mittens I got for Christmas. I waddle because my upper body is so fluffed up and my boots are so stuffed with socks that I can hardly bend my feet. This winter, I may have to invest in Under Armour. I want some so badly, but it's spendy.

Good luck though. You'll be missing SC when you're standing thigh high in snow..I can't imagine winter any other way. Ha.

Thought of another thing: if you wear a helmate get ear muffs or a thin hat to go under it, it'll save your ears. I dunno how cold it gets, but here there are some days where you need toe/hand warmers no matter what you wear, so maybe invest in those just in case. Keep some in your car for emergency use!

Also, beware of different types of snow. If you have wet snow that packs you always need a waterproof layer, but if you have dry, non-packing snow you can get away with non-waterproof. It'll brush right off as long as your clothes are relatively smooth. Also, most rain pants are not really waterproof, so be careful what you buy =)

We have 8-9 months of winter, so count yourself lucky!

Where in Canada do you live Indigo? I've lived here my whole life, and never seen 8-9 months of winter.

Snow in October random years, yes, but it doesn't stick. Snow in as late as April/May random years, but not cold, and it doesn't stick.


My grandparents, myself, and my coaches all wear scarves just fine around horses and in the barn. I make sure it is long enough to go around my throat once (loosely because I hate the choking feeling), and then cross the two ends, and zip my coat over it.

Velvets, I'm coming to join you in Canada then! North Dakota, most years, gets a good chunk of snow that stays in mid-October and is there until around the middle of March, sometimes later..like this year.