Horse Showing in the Cold

For those of you who don't know, I'm a southern girl, born and raised in northern Georgia, and I don't like to be cold.  But, for us IEA or IHSA people, showing in cold weather is simply a fact of life.

I just got back from a super fun, but absolutely freezing weekend at a horse show with my IHSA team, so I decided that this week's blog would discuss tips for handling cold weather horse shows.

Unfortunately there is no miracle cure for dealing with the cold, sometimes you just have to tough it out, but here are a few tips that may make those cold horse shows a little more bearable.

• Dress in layers.  A pair of jeans and some cute shoes may suffice for walking back and forth to class on a school day, but if you're going to spend several hours outside at a horse show, you need to layer up. Most people have plenty of layers for their upper body, but they neglect to layer on their lower body.  My IHSA team has matching "snap-away" pants that they wear over their breeches that are easy to get on and off without removing their boots.  I have also seen IEA teams with matching fleece pants to wear over riding breeches.  I personally prefer coveralls that I can pull on or take off easily depending on how warm or cold I'm feeling.

• Wear a hat. Studies show that up to 30 percent of heat loss occurs through a person's head. A hat helps stop that heat loss.  You should also wear something over your ears, like a fleece head band, beanie, or ear muffs.

• Invest in a good pair of winter boots. You will, of course, wear your riding boots when you show, but the rest of the time you should wear shoes or boots along with thick, quality socks (like wool) that protect your feet from the cold.  I find that if I can keep my feet and my head warm, the rest of my body will be okay. If you're ever at a show where I'm stewarding, ask me to show you my shoes. They're actually snow boots.  Students tell me all the time that their feet are cold and they can't feel their toes, but my feet have never been cold in my boots. Here's the link if anyone is interested: Columbia Women's Bugaboot Plus II Omni Heat.

• Wear gloves.  Just like your head and your feet, you lose body heat through your hands. Mittens actually keep your hands warmer than gloves, but it can be hard to maneuver around horses with mittens.  I have a pair of "glittens," fingerless gloves with a mitten flip top that I use when I'm stewarding so I can use my fingers to write.

• Don't underestimate the warmth of the sun.  If the show is in a covered arena, step out into the sun every now and then to warm up.  At these shows you may want to volunteer to hold a horse just so you can stand in the sun, lol

• Stay hydrated.  Your body needs water in the winter, just like it does in the summer. The problem is, when you're cold, you might not notice that you need to drink. Make a point to drink water or sports beverages (like gatorade or powerade) throughout the show day.

• Eat something!  I know many riders feel that they can't eat before they show due to nerves, but your body needs nourishment to keep you warm.  Try to eat plenty of protein and stay away from sugary snacks like candy and donuts. Warm beverages like hot chocolate can help warm you up from the inside out.

• Have a designated warm space for your team.  Many teams bring tents with side walls to block the wind, lots of blankets, and even portable electric or propane heaters.  Spend time in your team's warm space every so often to warm yourself up (without neglecting your team mates or your responsibilities of course).

• Warm up before you ride.  Take a few moments before you mount up to get warm in your team's designated warm space.  If you don't have a team warm space, you can go to another heated area like a bathroom, or even sit in the car for a few minutes. If none of these options is available, you can move around a bit or even jump up and down to loosen up your arms and legs and get the circulation flowing. 

• Keep your coat on as long as possible. There is no rule against keeping your winter coat on while you are mounted in the horse holding area waiting to go into your flat class or even when jumping your two schooling fences before entering the show ring.  Keep your layers on as long as you can.

UNG rider Mary Rogers wearing her
coat in the holding area while waiting to
go in for her flat class
photo credit:  Amanda Garner

• Make use of your horse's clothing.  While the horse you're holding goes into the show ring, feel free to wrap up in his blanket or cooler, he won't mind :-)

UNG riders Autumn Vetter, Anika Cook, and
Chrissy Crockett all bundled up in Casino's blanket
photo credit:  Amanda Garner

• Keep an eye on yourself and your teammates.  If you don't feel well or notice that a teammate is acting like she may be suffering from cold-related illness, don't hesitate to tell a show official or other adult.  All IEA and IHSA shows have medical personnel on-site that can assist with temperature-related issues or illnesses.

Other than moving to Wellington for the winter (we can all dream, right?), there is no miracle cure to being cold.  Your best defense is to be properly prepared, have the clothing you need, and keep yourself fed and hydrated.  Happy horse showing!

Amanda Garner is an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) steward, schooling show judge, head coach of the University of North Georgia IHSA Equestrian Team, and owner of Epiphany Farm, LLC in Dahlonega, Georgia. She is also the author of "A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association."

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Thanks! -- Amanda