What to wear??

[Carol]

Hi all -

This is my first day here at the BB, I have read about 90% of the posts and am loving it. I am a true novice (I know which leg goes on which side) so keep this in mind and please forgive my ignorance.

Let me take a few sentence to introduce myself and then I'll get to my delima. My name is Carol and I live in Virgina, USA just outside of Washington DC. I have been around horses for about a year now as my husband had a T-Bred that he was riding for awhile (he lost interest and I got very interested). I was helping out with the ground manners, lounging, grooming, tacking and such - but no saddle time. I asked for and finally got my own horse - he'll be here tomorrow - a 5yr dapple grey Paso Fino gelding, Dante. We'll be working on all of the ground stuff and manners before I get a chance to ride him (my choice - would rather know more and take it slow than jump into saddle and hit the dirt immediately following). BUT I just couldn't end the year without SOME ridding so....

I am going on a 3 day riding trip in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee and have no clue as to what to wear for pants. I have my sweaters, duster, hat, gloves etc - but jeans seem like they would be a tad uncomfortable - especially with that inseem. The weather is suppose to be between 30 and 70 degrees (sorry don't know the Celcius equivalent) but ranging from really cold to nice and warm. What can I wear to stay warm, save my back side additional wear and tear and be as comfortable as possible for the 60 mile trip?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[summer]

Hi and welcome to the site! My parents live in Waterford; I don't know if that's near you, but it's lovely there (I'm in England now...). You don't say if you'll be riding English or Western. If it's english, try to get some jods or breeches with cotton lining. They keep you cool in summer and warm in winter, and will protect your leg from the stirrup leathers. I used to do endurance rides in the Appalachians, and rode western, and I wore cotton longjohns uderneath military trousers (you know, the green baggy ones with lots of pockets). They're very comfortable, have useful pockets for everything, wash easily and dry quickly. If you get the ones with ties at the bottom, you can keep them from slipping up by crossing the lace under your boot (just make sure you tuck the ends under or tape them so they don't get caught on the stirrup or on any bushes). Sounds like a fun trip, so enjoy yourself and let us know how you get on!

[Allie]

Hi Carol- that ride sounds like fun! I went on a 2 day ride in Kansas in early September( I don't know if anyone here has ever heard this, but the saying in Kansas is: "If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes and it will change"). Saturday was 70 degrees and sunny, then come Sunday and it was 40 degrees and absolutely pouring down rain- so much so that they cancelled the rest of the trip for the people riding in wagons, and they went back on a bus. Of course people who had brought their horses(myself included) got to ride back as we couldn't just throw them on the bus. Anyways, now that I have rambled long enough, I will get to the point.

I luckily was prepared for the weather changes, and this is what I would reccomend you take. Get some long johns that are meant to keep you warm even when they are wet- I don't know what they are called, but you can get them from camping stores or catalogs. On top of these, wear regular sweatpants or jeans(with this extra layer underneath, the jeans really are not uncomfortable). For the upper half of your body, once again the water resistant long johns, and then a t-shirt of some sort, bring both a sweatshirt and a jacket so you have many options for layers.

If there is even the slightest chance of rain, the best thing you will ever invest in is a rain suit, not a poncho. You need the kind that has pants and a jacket, and make sure they are large even to go over your layers. You will also probably want gloves and some sort of head (or at least ear) cover. Take either a hat or sunglasses to keep the glare out of your eyes. Make sure you take extra pairs of socks, as I guarantee you will find some way to get your feet wet. You might consider taking an extra pair of boots- wrap them in a plastic grocery bag and pack them with your clothes. That way if you get your feet REALLY wet they won't freeze. While we are on the subject of feet, take a pair of wool socks to wear at night, and make sure you have a warm sleeping bag. If nothing else, take two light-weight sleeping bags and stick one inside the other. If you can bear another story, here goes, if not, sorry in advance: Last winter I took a winter survival training. To make a long story short, it was FREEZING cold at night. I took 2 sleeping bags, both rated to below 0 temperatures, and needed them both. That was about the coldest I have ever been in my life!

Just remember, if you take all this stuff, it will be 70 degrees all weekend long, but if you don't, it will be 10 degrees and you will wish you had brought it all. It's always better to overpack than it is to underpack.

Good luck with the weather and have fun on your trip!

Allie

[This message has been edited by Allie (edited 29 October 1999).]

[Janice Morley]

Hi, Carol:

I *live* in Miller's Super-Stretch EquiJeans,
available from State Line Tack. They're stretchy and comfortable for any kind of riding, and they make a nice fashion statement, too. I wear them to the office every day--clean jeans, that is :-). They're versatile enough to wear for either English or Western riding. You might want to try a pair; they're $39.90.

PS--I just discovered this site today! What a great place. I look forward to learning from all of you.

[fran]

Hi Carol - welcome! There's some great advice about what to wear here, but I just wanted to mention something for wear and tear of the backside...when I started going for very long hacks (2-4 hours) I found that I used to skin my tail end, making it really painful to sit properly. After much trial and error (involving all sorts of extraordinary methods of padding) I found that what worked was putting a little smear of Vaseline (patroleum jelly) on my tail bone to stop the friction between skin and cloth. It may be that you're riding Western, so the saddle will be comfier for trail riding. Anyway, have a great time, and let us know how it goes.

[Judith]

Does anyone have any thoughts about sleeveless down gilets? I want something cosy for winter riding when it's chilly but dry but I find it more comfortable if my arms are free. Will I end up rather hot with cold arms?!!

Rather a silly post but any experience welcomed.

[Ingrid W]

I would never buy another vest as my fancy "Eddy Bauer" down vest turned out to be quite useless. It keeps the chest and back quite warm while the wind blows right through the arms. To compensate I wear a heavy sweater for my arms but end up with sweat running down my back and chest. Worse, the open arm holes let in cold wind. Not a nice combination.

For the week end trail ride I would recommend English riding breeches with a pair of chaps on top. That way if everyone is in western gear, it will blend right in while being flexible and comfortable as well as protected from hedges and thorns.

Also, suncreen no matter what the temperature!!

[Anne]

Hello Fran ... forgive me if I'm wrong, but are your Fran who goes to Somerset with Judith?

Anne

[Judith]

And are you Anne of 'Anne and Peter'???

If you are, Hi Anne! See you for New Year?

[Anne]

Hi Judith! ....

Yes I am Anne of Anne and Peter (g) ...

Sad to say we can't go to Porlock for New Year after all .... a long story .... but I hope You have a great time, and please have a drink or 10 on us! .... ;-)

Anne

[fran]

Hi Anne - yes!! Great to hear from you. do email me privately for a porlock chat.
love
fran

[Judith]

Hi Anne! That's really sad about New Year!
We'll miss you. Are you going down at all before then?

Anyway no doubt see you soon. Sorry to carry this on publicly but you don't have an e-mail address.

[Carol]

Hi again -
I'm back from my trip. First thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it - I did get a chance to look, but not to post before I went running out the door with 3 huge suitcases full of all kinds of clothes, enough to handle anything - or so I thought.
First day I ended up riding in jeans - never ever again will I do this!!! The weather was perfect so I had nothing to wear for "good weather" :) Caught a break (so to speak) the next day as the temp dropped to 30 degrees and it poured down rain. I wore a pair of old ski pants that I happened to have, with longjohns underneath. A Duster, 2 sweatshirts , hat and gloves completed the outfit.
Just to clarify - we moved our departure date up one day so I had no time to go clothes shopping before we left. I had planned on a pair of "army pants" and longjohns.
Ammazingly I was warm and comfortable, even when the temp kept dropping. Best part was with the duster and ski pants I never got wet.
The ridding was wonderful - 3 days of nothing but trails and horses. Didn't see people, phones, TV's, computers, electricity - nothing. :) Had a great time.
Carol
PS I have placed my order with Stateline for streatch jeans and riding pants. I am NOT wearing 501 jeans and sit on a horse, ever again. :)