Winterizing your Riding.

(not me, but don't they look snuggly warm?)

This past Sunday I not only had the time to ride, but it was warm enough that I actually wanted to be outside. This didn’t strike me as odd until I talked to my mom later in the day; She asked me what I had done earlier and when I told her that I’d been up to the barn she said “To ride? Isn’t it too cold for that?” What? It was 45 degrees outside, and sunny! How on earth is that cold?

Truth is… that is kinda cold for Georgia. But with the recent stretch of consecutive days hovering right around freezing (many nights in a row in the teens, and few days even hitting 30) Sunday was practically bathing suit weather. I wore only a long sleeved t-shirt and a light-weight fleece pull over and I got really warm while riding. But all those other frigid days, what was I wearing?

Duh… jammies and fuzzy socks. I wasn’t about to go outside if I didn’t have to. And yes, I am blessed that Alfie is in the capable and caring hands at a small boarding barn that made sure he was well taken care of. For the record…He was wearing three layers (a fleece, a mid-weight stable blanket, and a heavy-weight turnout with a hood). I am a wuss when it comes to cold weather. Typically, I consider 60 “cold”… not “chilly”… but “cold”. But I have been spotted outside in frigid temperatures before.

I walk my dogs nearly every morning before work, often despite it being 16 degrees. I was on the college crew team (that means rowing) for a few years, and we had a policy that we didn’t cancel practice unless it was 35 degrees and raining. Also note that its always a good 5 degrees colder once you’re on the water. In more recent history (I think last winter) I had what I refer to as the Tundradome Lesson. My guess is that it was right around 30 degrees out; a large enough section of the (outdoor, un-covered) ring wasn’t frozen, so I rode much to my trainer’s chagrin.

So, yes, I have my moments of non-wussiness… but what exactly do I wear so that I don’t lose precious digits while I’m exposed to the elements? I’m so glad you asked!

Starting from top to bottom, these are some of my favorite items for doing anything outside in the winter. Where I may not have a specific brand, I’ll link to something similar. Very little of what I own is “equestrian”. And why should it be? It’s a lot more expensive to buy cold weather gear that is “made for riders” and typically you can find similar items in sporting goods stores or even places like Target. This time of year (when spring is but weeks away) you can get really good deals on winter items, too.

A Neck Gaitor.
No joke, this is one of the best purchases I have ever, ever made. The one I have is actually a plain, navy fleece, with a bit of elastic at each opening, but this one is super snazzy. I L.O.V.E. my neck gaiter. Less bulky than a scarf, more substantial than a turtleneck, and not as weird looking as a balaclava (not to be confused with BAKLAVA, which we love and adore. Amen.). Plus you don’t have to worry about anything under your helmet, taking up what little extra space there is up there.

Typically I layer a long tank (so that I can tuck it into my breeches to keep the draft out), a long sleeved shirt and a coat or some other kind of appropriate outerwear… and the neck gaiter kind of goes “between” the shirt and the coat. If my face starts to get numb, I can pull the neck gaiter up over my nose. Try doing that with a scarf while you’re riding. Not so easy… plus with the wrapping around your neck, you might hurt yourself. We don’t want that.

The JL Long Sleeved Shirt
A leftover from my days on the crew team, this article of clothing is pretty amazing, and I have told many fellow riders about them. And they look way cool with the racing stripes on the sleeves. But the best part is that the design of the shirts is PERFECT for riders!

Who here, by show of hands, has ever had a cold draft run down your breeches because the shirt you had on wasn’t quite long enough, and the waistband of your breeches gapes a bit? Ah… See… I knew I wasn’t the only one. These JL’s are cut nice a long in the back and the “tail” practically covers your entire butt. Well... if you're me. If you're not me, your entire fanny will be covered. They’re cut this way because when a rower is reaching for the “catch” (scroll down a bit for the diagram) they run into a problem many riders face when getting up into two-point (that lovely gaping I referred to earlier). Genius, no?

Similarly constructed, I love the Nike runner’s shirt I found last year (its very similar to this one… but I got it in magenta!). A longer back hem for coverage, the inside of the shirt is sort of “brushed” and really soft and warm against the skin. The cuffs are also turned under on the inside, forming a little pocket to keep your fingers warm. Pretty neat feature.

Cuddl Duds Thermal Leggings
Now, I got my leggings at Target, but I’m sure you can find these elsewhere. I find them a good base layer under schooling tights on the coldest of days, as rare as those days are here in Georgia. I wear them maybe twice or three times a winter, and I feel like the quality is good enough to hold up to that kind of minimal use for several years (so far I’ve been right). If you think you’ll wear them more often, I’d probably go for a higher-end brand. But I’m really happy with the Duds I have (also have a long-sleeved shirt). One tip though… for anyone out there as bothered by bunched seams as I am… pull the thermals through your breeches or schooling tights before you put them on, so that they’re layered they way they would be while you’re wearing them. Then put the two layers on together as one item. I know it sounds odd, but I find this really helps keep things smooth and prevents bunching and twisting of the two layers.

Winter Riding Gloves
I bought these Ovation gloves a few years back on super-sale. Again, these aren’t something I wear too often in the winter… but when you need them they’re great! I do like the grip these give, though the sizes seem to run a teeny bit small. Most days I wear my crochet-back gloves, but if its bitter cold or windy, I tend to bring these out. What I really want to find is a pair of cozy winter gloves with thinsulate.... anyone know of a brand?


Smartwool Socks
And not just any Smartwool socks (though I do love them all) but these socks. I have two pair, and its not nearly enough of a good thing. They’re just… perfect. In so many ways. They’re soft and comfortable. They’re cute. They’re warm… and they’re also not too thick. And they stay up! No kidding! I’ve pulled on a pair with my pj’s before, and when I wake up in the morning, they’re still up on my calf, not bunched up around my ankle. But I don’t find them constricting in the least. They have just the right amount of snugness. I’ve worn them under my field boots and they aren’t too bulky, and I’ve worn them under my half chaps. I think I find them the most comfortable under my half chaps. Even in the warmer months, they’re a great sock. But for winter, they just can’t be beat.
(ps… they’re currently on sale at REI!)

Other Items Worth Mentioning
For not-so-specific items… I find a good polar fleece-type shell is nice for keeping out the wind and cold, and I have a few different brands and like them all pretty well, though I prefer styles with hand-warmer pockets and a half-zip front. I also have a few vests that I like to wear over a long-sleeved shirt when weather is cold, but sunny. I have a “horse brand” vest that I got for around $20, and I also have one I got at Wal-Mart for $8. They both serve the same purpose, and perform about the same. When its cold and damp, it’s a whole other ball game. I hate cold and damp, and that’s mostly what we’ve had so far this winter… and for those days (if I even brave the outdoors) I have a marvelous Lands End rain coat with a zip-out fleece liner. I’ve had it for about a year, and can’t find it on the LE site at the moment… but look for something like that if you want a nice, versatile piece of outerwear. Everone likes a two-in-one!

Other Helpful Things...
You also want to make sure you are drinking plenty of water! I am actually guilty of not following my own advice, here. In the summer, I drink a ton of water. In the winter, I totally forget, but its every bit as important to stay hydrated when you're exposed to winter weather and temperatures. On days that I remember to bring it, I put a bottle of water on my tack trunk so that when I put away my things after my ride, I have to move it. Which means a little light will go off and I'll actually drink the water! Amazing, right?

And then there's the dry skin issue. Its annoying. Its ugly. And sometimes it can even hurt. You can say whatever you want about being a "tough" rider and not caring that you have dry, cracked winter hands... but you should care. And you should use Ahava.

Coinsidentally, Ahava means "love" in Hebrew... and its such an appropriate name. I was first introduced to this a-freaking-mazing hand lotion when a college friend of mine brought some back for me from a trip to Israel, and it changed my life. Yes, hand lotion changed my life. I will never, ever use anything else. Its made with minerals from the Dead Sea, and is incredibly rich and moistureizing... but never heavy or greasy. Buy some. Love it! You can thank me later. I'll be here.

To combat dry lips, my very favorite item is Blistex Complete Moisture. It has a subtle citrus scent and flavor to it, which is really why I prefer it to other "mediciny" type lip balms. I actually ran out of this back in December... and I haven't seen it in any stores recently, so I am a little depressed about it. And my lips aren't very happy either. We're making do with something else... but its just not the same. I miss you, Complete Moisture!

Oh, and I final tidbit... this cuticle cream from Burt's Bees is also worth its weight in gold. I've had the same little tin for over two years. It stays in my purse and I use it year-round. Usually I rub a little in to my cuticles when I'm stopped at a red light during my morning commute. It sometimes pinch-hits for my beloved Blistex, too. Bonus!

So, bundle yourself up and go ride!