Conference noted::equitation

    You could probably get by with a bit less bundling in MA than we had to
    do in NH...but here's what we did:
    
    	1. Hard hat with "ear muffs" attached to the harness. You can buy
    these in tack shops or mail order. The ear muffs snap around the
    harness.
    	2. Silk glove liners under regular riding gloves or, in *bitter*
    weather, under wool gloves with leather palms
    	3. Duofold(2-layer) long underwear (tops & bottoms) or a cotton
    turtleneck & long underwear bottoms
    	4. sweater
    	5. regular breeches or wool pants
    	6. Silk sock liners under wool socks
    	7. Regular boots or insulated leather hiking boots with a flat 
    sole(i.e. no "waffle stompers" ;-)
    
    The worst part of cold weather riding is that the stirrups reduce 
    circulation to your toes. So, your toes get cold even if you post the trot.
    Dismount gently after your ride or your cold toes will sting! The first
    time I rode in really cold weather, I just jumped off like usual and
    boy did I regret it! My toes stung and "sparkled" for about 5 minutes!
    Kinda like when your leg "falls asleep" or you bang your "funny
    bone"(i.e. the back & inside part of the elbow).
    
    You can get fuzzy stirrup covers which help keep your feet warmer but
    they make it hard to run the stirrups up on an English saddle.

I may be an oddity, but since I tend to get warm when I work my horse, my 
winter wear consists of

- nylon running tights under my breeches
- regular (tube), maybe wool ones if it's *really* cold
- insulated LLBean-type boots 
- 1/2 chaps
- ear muffs on helmet  (I also have a really ugly (clashes with my red-roan 
  horse) multi-color knit hat (made with that rainbow-colored yarn) that I 
  put on over my caliente and pull it down to cover the ear edges that the 
  muffs don't quite protect.)
- depending on the outside temps (and my mood, and what's handy in my car), 
  my top half will be covered by 
	a turtleneck  \ or / t-shirt 
	a sweatshirt  /    \ flannel shirt
	(a polar fleece vest & a windbreaker) or (dad's old parka)
	
  If I'm having a lesson, I'm more apt to do the t-shirt version since I will
  probably peel down to that layer by the end of the lesson.  If I'm going 
  trail riding, it's the turtle and sweatshirt (I mostly walk on the trail)
  If I'm working in the (indoor, but not heated) arena, the decision depends
  on the outside temps.

If I'm going on the trail, I'll probably ride without my stirrups most of the 
time (so I can let my toes drop down and slow their rate of freezing.

My horse wears a (wool) 1/4 sheet (he gets a pretty minimal coat)

Our barn stays pretty warm (it's insulated, and the buckets never freeze), so 
my jacket is usually off until I go outside.

Kathy

    Here in Missouri it gets kinda cold, but that doesn't stop me from
    riding all day!  I rode one day when it was 15 degrees about a week ago
    after an ice storm.  Just knocked the ice off of my mare and melted the
    rest off with a saddle blanket.  I think the most important thing is to
    keep your head warm with a hat or hood that pulls down over your ears,
    and zip your jacket up as high as it will go so that you can hide your
    nose and mouth in it if they start getting numb.  I am in the process
    of making a full length wool coat with a big hood and a split up the
    back (a duster?) so that I can cover my legs while I ride.  I can't
    seem to find one in a store that is split high enough in the back to
    make it suitable for riding.  Hopefully it will be done by the
    weekend!!

    re "a full length wool coat with a big hood and a split up the back"
    
    Such coats are commercially made although I've never seen them in the
    U.S. A friend of mine who spent some time in Germany bought such a coat
    while there. She said it was made for riding.
    
    P.S. Will you take commissions after you finish your coat? ;-)

    I ride as much as possible thru the winter, on trails only because I
    cant' talk hubby into having the plow guy do the ring :-). I am a real
    cold wimp, and wear rather unconventional garb:
    
    Ear muffs under my helmet
    a turtleneck, flannel shirt, *and* sweatshirt 
    thermal long johns
    heavy weight socks over men's sweat socks (women socks are useless!)
    jeans
    all this topped by an old, heavy nylon one-piece ski-mobiling suit 
    *and* a pair of felt lined ski-mobile boots 
    I also wear silk gloves under boy's thinsulates 
    if it's not unbearably cold I'll sometimes trade the full suit for
    chaps and a heavy jacket
    
    Most unconvential riding attire I suppose, but Im warm....and I also
    ride bareback most of the winter, which is considerably warmer, and I
    don't have to worry about my heavy ski-mobile boots not fitting into
    my stirrups!
    
    

    Most trail riding I do bareback in a one piece tow truck driver's
    winter coveralls (it was free, and it's real attractive!).  My thinsulate 
    Bean boots, fleece headband and neck gaitor, heavy duty hooded
    sweatshirt (for when I'm so cold I have to put something on the top of
    my head, and if it's real cold I have an attractive down vest to stuff
    underneath the jumpsuit.
    
    Basicially I look real attractive when trailriding in the
    winter.....but I'm warm!  Oh, and Dr. Magillicutti's snake bite
    remedy helps too!
    
    When schooling in the ring, I can't deal with the bulk, and I get real
    hot anyway, so I just wear long johns under my breeches, bean boots, wool
    socks and my wool lined barn coat with the same head coverings.
    
    I haven't found a good solutions for hands though....suggestions?????
                          

    I just bought a replacement for the coat I riding the last few years.

    They used to be Wearguard and are now something like Work & Wear.
    They have stores in eastern MA, and southern NH.

    Lot's of outdoor work clothes like you'd use on construction work.

    They often carry alot of stuff into the XL, XXL, & XXXL sizes 
    for those of you who like you riding clothes alittle loose !

    Bill

    A few of the past replies mentioned silk gloves. Do they make a
    difference? I have real problems finding gloves that keep my hands warm
    (here in England)...I now resort to wearing thermal gloves underneath
    riding gloves (I lose a bit of feel for the horse but that's better
    than losing all feel of my hands!), but if it's cold, my fingers
    still go totally numb...
    
    Ellen

    Re "are silk gloves warm?"
    
    Not by themselves but they do make a difference when used as a layer
    under other gloves. Here in WA state where the climate is mild and
    rainy, silk gloves under riding gloves is about all we need in winter.
    
    
    Oh...I left out a layer for NH winters! I used to wear a wool shirt
    under a wool sweater over long underwear and a cotton turtleneck!
    
    John

    Also you may want to get one of those neck warmers (looks like a
    turtleneck without the shirt). They are great to keep the wind from
    your neck and can be pulled up over your mouth like a scarf if need 
    be. A scarf without the hassle.
    
    sharon

Sharon,  I think they are called tubes... basically they can be worn round the 

	 neck, as a skirt if your small enough or as a boob tube !!!!!!

         I have 2 and they are brilliant .....





	I also suffer with very cold feet .... the rest of me fine ,I try 

	to ride along with my feet out of the stirrups doing the circle 

	movements to try and keep my feet on the go but no amount of ski socks

	or layers can keep them warm ...... Does anyone know of something 

	that could possible keep my feet warm ..... I usually ride for a couple 

	of hours when its cold  !....:-)))

    You could always try using those heated socks!  I've seen things that
    look like mini-heating pads that you insert in your sock.  Try an
    outdoor store/camping store.
    
    And thanks to everyone for all their suggestions.  I went riding the
    other day (of course it was only 45 and not very cold), but I layered
    and it was perfect.  The horses really do like the cooler weather,
    don't they?  My guy just wanted to MOVE..had a hard time keeping him at
    a walk for the cool-down.
    
    Gita
    

    I bought riding sneakers last year and they really helped for at least
    my riding lessons indoors.  If you really look at your leather boots
    they aren't much more than shells and don't have much ability to
    insulate.  When I used to ride outdoors (for pleasure not lessons) I
    rode in snowmobile boots.  Nothing beats that felt liner (wool) for
    keeping your feet warm.  To do this, I had to ride my hunter in a
    western saddle so my boots would fit into the stirrups, but I could
    ride for hours and my feet didn't feel the cold.

	Are the pads loose in your socks or do they have a little pocket 

	that you insert them into ????


	As I would imagine that something slipping around in your socks could

	make your feet sore or rub them sore ????



Racheal

There are socks that have a pad built into them.  There are also heating
pads that are separate (sold by REI and LL Bean and probably others...
run in the $140 range).  The foot pad is connected to a small battery
pack.  The battery pack is rechargeable and there are usually two
packs so you can use one while charging the second pack.
Batteries/heat will last up to 6 hours.

Ski stores also sell inexpensive heat packets.  For $3-5 a pop, you 
insert the packet into your boot and the heat properties can last up 
to 6 hours.

    
    I got to EMS sports and I buy the hand-warmers!  They are little
    packs that skiiers use to put in there gloves and boots.  They
    are little packs and you just scruch them w/ your hands and they
    get warm.  I put once in each boot and one in each glove.. you can
    ride for hrs like that.
    
    lou

    
    	do they ever get too warm? I've been tempted to use them in 
    	my boots but I have visions of frantically trying to peel my
    	boots and socks off because my feet are burning [no, my imagination
    	is not quite that active - the packets list a warning against
    	putting them in your shoes!]
    
    	Sherry
    

    
    No, I've never had a problem with them getting to warm in my feet.
    Espally in this 0 degree weather.  My hands allwasy get warm so
    sometimes they are to warm for my hands...and when it is, I put
    them in my coat pockets and stick my hands in my pockets when I
    get cold.  But, it's no bother taking them out of my gloves..but
    I've never had a problem w/them in my feet....like a previous noter
    said.. there is no circulation going to your feet when you ride.
    
    I love em'  I just keep running out and dont make it to EMS.  I'm
    due to go this weekend again.
    
    Lou