Keeping warm on the yard in winter

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lauren123

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Feb 3, 2007
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East Yorkshire
Im currently at yard in the tea room waiting for the kettle to boil, while trying to keep warm next to YO heater.. she doesnt know it still works!

It got me thinking about winter,more winter riding. I am very slight in build and a right cold arse! Its not uncommon for me to have 4 layers on in the winter and still feel cold!!

Previously i found having... 3 layers on my legs ( normally tights, old trousers and waterproofs work. But its more my feet and fingers that suffer. So anyone got any ideas or tricks on keeping warm on the yard when you only weigh 50kg?
 
I’m sure there are hand and foot warmer inserts you can get for boots. I know someone on here uses them. I get cold feet too but not so much living up here as the winter temps are never that bad. Where we used to live I had chilblains galore. Nice to see you @lauren123 how is Soxabeast doing?
 
What boots so you wear? I'm all in favour of anything with a neoprene lining - game-changers for me. If I wear too many pairs of socks, my boots get tight and then the blood doesn't circulate as well so my feet get even more cold. Neoprene-lined wellies and one pair of thick socks works for me. I wear fleece-lined work gloves for stable jobs and always wear gloves when riding too. Those microwaveable hand-warmers hold their heat for a while, so stick some in your pockets for a quick boost.
 
Feet? I ride and live in my MOuntain Horse sheepskin lined ankle boots. They are the only warm boot ever. I even wore them around Norway in sub-zero temperatures all day.

www.ardmoor.co.uk

Mountain Horse

Mountain Horse premium quality riding jackets, riding shirts, riding breeches, leather riding boots & leather horse tack with free delivery over £100.
www.ardmoor.co.uk www.ardmoor.co.uk

Hands - someone told me about deerskin thinsulate lined gloves. I have a pair and, if looked after properly (I neatsfoot oil them regularly), they last for work and riding in.

GEIER GLOVE CO.

Geier Glove Company takes pride in making some of the worldâs finest quality leather gloves. This website has been designed to introduce you to Geier gloves.
geierglove.com

They are the 204 ES ones - I am having pair sent from US this year as a treat to myself. I have large hands and can't find any in UK. It is money well spent imho.

So that's how I keep warm.

Edited to add, Expensive, I know but my boots are at least 5 years old and my gloves the same. Everything lasts and works just the same as they did when purchased.
 
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I love my Aigle Parcour ISO 2 wellies, so warm and incredibly comfortable too. I know safety wise riding in wellies isn't great, but I have been known to ride in these rather than change into cold boots. Which brings me to another thing, keep your boots and gloves somewhere they won't be cold and damp when you put them on. Can you swap your tights for thermal leggings? I find the warmer I can keep my legs the warmer my feet stay. And thin latex gloves inside your normal gloves will give you a waterproof windproof layer.

Other tips are keep the back of your neck warm, keep a change of clothes handy in case you get wet, and keep moving. If you start getting really cold riding would it be possible to get off and lead for a while? Or at least wiggle your toes in your boots.
 
I ride in my countryboots and they keep my feet warm. Otherwise its wellies. When really cold i will put on two pairs of socks. But i agree they do restrict.

I have one of those little hand warmers you can put in a pan of boiling water. You snap the metal disk to warm it up again when your outside.

You can get disposable foot insoles and the disposable hand warmers.

Im lucky i have a little heat lamp in the tack room, and a dehumidifier which definitely warms it, to stop the tack getting mouldy. Its not mega hot in the tack room, but it makes a difference when you come back from a ride freezing. I disappear in there very quickly to warm up and prepare there grub.
 
I normlly wear thin legging and a pair of jeans to ride in when cold.
Currently trying thin leggings and a pair of thermal leggings over the top. I brought my thermal ones from lidl last year. Very resonable price. Works well. I havent been cold on my legs recently. As soon as i get inside i have to get my thermal leggings off as it do feel too claustrophobic wearing too many layers in the house.
 
chunky monkey said:
I normlly wear thin legging and a pair of jeans to ride in when cold.
Currently trying thin leggings and a pair of thermal leggings over the top. I brought my thermal ones from lidl last year. Very resonable price. Works well. I havent been cold on my legs recently. As soon as i get inside i have to get my thermal leggings off as it do feel too claustrophobic wearing too many layers in the house.
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Are your jeans quite a loose fit? I'd never be able to get mine on over the top of leggings.?
 
I am always cold, but I’ve got a few tricks, my winter boots are a half or full size bigger to accommodate more socks (if you cut your circulation by jamming feet into normal size boots with 3 pairs of socks they’ll never stay warm), 1 thin pair and 1 thick, plus sheepskin insoles or toe warmers if I’ll be out all day. I also have stirrup covers, they look a bit silly but cutting the wind chill makes a huge difference when riding and they have little pockets to add toe warmers into.
Fleece/merino leggings under jods, or fleece jods, then I add thermal over trousers if it’s really cold.
On top it’s bamboo cotton or merino wool base layer, then T-shirt, jumper and jacket plus a body warmer if it’s really cold.
Keeping your head warm is vital so when the riding hat comes off something else needs to go on.
The last thing if you start getting warm mucking out/tacking up before riding you must strip layers off immediately before you sweat, if you sweat your clothes get damp and as soon as you stop you will get cold fast as it sucks the heat out of you.
 
Trewsers said:
Are your jeans quite a loose fit? I'd never be able to get mine on over the top of leggings.?
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No or I would feel uncomfortable. Ive got the slim leg ones. Baggy legs dont fit into my boots or chaps very well, so have to be slim leg ones. Its also all about getting the right fit for the bottom too. I have the odd pair of jeans that chaff in saddle if too tight. Jeans must be long enough in the leg too as this helps prevent them riding up to the knee at the bottom.
 
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Trewsers said:
I’m sure there are hand and foot warmer inserts you can get for boots. I know someone on here uses them. I get cold feet too but not so much living up here as the winter temps are never that bad. Where we used to live I had chilblains galore. Nice to see you @lauren123 how is Soxabeast doing?
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It’s me Trewsers, I could not survive winter without my foot warmers, hand warmers are used too on the coldest days.
A hat is very helpful too, as are thermal base layers and with my winter jods I’ve found I don’t need anything under them.
 
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I have loads of *Buffs..... I absolutely hate having a cold neck.

*obvs the cheap Aldi equivalents ?.... I wouldn't actually pay Buff prices
 
When's someone going to invent a heated saddle cover, imagine how nice that would be! In winter for riding I try and keep moving. Choose routes ideally where I can trot regularly. Or if I'm in the school I make the sessions shorter but more fast work. Find my hands and feet get colder quicker if my body isn't warm enough, maybe invest in some thermals for a base layer. Neoprene boots with thick socks and waterproof cycling gloves. Problem is with all these you then can't feel the reins or anything.
 
Ale said:
When's someone going to invent a heated saddle cover, imagine how nice that would be! In winter for riding I try and keep moving. Choose routes ideally where I can trot regularly. Or if I'm in the school I make the sessions shorter but more fast work. Find my hands and feet get colder quicker if my body isn't warm enough, maybe invest in some thermals for a base layer. Neoprene boots with thick socks and waterproof cycling gloves. Problem is with all these you then can't feel the reins or anything.
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If they are anything like heated car seats then they’d make me need a wee lol
 
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So, I'm awful with feeling the cold.

I can recommend

• Base layers under normal riding clothes
• Heating on high in my car when travelling
• Selection of hats and headbands
• Thermal socks and waterproof gloves for the yard

When I get to the yard its neoprene lined yard boots on, coat on and I just keep moving where possible. As lovely as it is to stop and chat I get too cold so I just have to keep going ;)

When it gets much colder I have a long quilted coat which goes to my knees for the yard which is just divine. It was fairly expensive but worth every penny.

I second hand warmers to and sometimes a hot water bottle between my clothes and coat.

I'm debating an electrical gilet which sounds delightful!
 
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Pete's Mum said:
So, I'm awful with feeling the cold.

I can recommend

• Base layers under normal riding clothes
• Heating on high in my car when travelling
• Selection of hats and headbands
• Thermal socks and waterproof gloves for the yard

When I get to the yard its neoprene lined yard boots on, coat on and I just keep moving where possible. As lovely as it is to stop and chat I get too cold so I just have to keep going ;)

When it gets much colder I have a long quilted coat which goes to my knees for the yard which is just divine. It was fairly expensive but worth every penny.

I second hand warmers to and sometimes a hot water bottle between my clothes and coat.

I'm debating an electrical gilet which sounds delightful!
Click to expand...
Ooh an electrical gilet!!!
 
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