How cold is too cold to ride?

horsegirl777 · 03-08-2009, 02:05 PM

I live in Alberta where the winters are COLD! We have been having a lot of -20 or -30 C temps lately and I was wondering how cold is too cold to ride. If its under -10 I usually don't ride with a bit in the horse's mouth, as I don't want to put a frosty, freezing bit in it's mouth and I just ride with a halter and lead ropes. I generally don't ride under -20 either - just too cold for me but do you think it does any harm to the horse? I don't do anything faster than light trotting either in the winter typically, so its not like they are working very hard.

Dixiefordgurl · 03-08-2009, 02:07 PM

If I would not jog up the road and back, I will not ride my horse. That's my simple answer to that LOL.

horsegirl777 · 03-08-2009, 02:09 PM

It's not because I wouldn't canter them but I don't want them tripping in the snow - its deep! But I do like going for rides each day if possible.

EQRider · 03-08-2009, 02:12 PM

Nothing below 10 degrees for me, it's simply not worth it. It helps when it's sunny and there's no wind too.

In my "younger" days (aka when I was 14 and younger, LOL) I used to ride through ANYTHING. Now I'm not sure my toes will unthaw as well as they used too, best not chance it

PinkHooves · 03-08-2009, 02:45 PM

For me, nothing below 15 degrees. I live in Ill and it gets pretty cold here too!

I'm afraid I'll hurt my horse....the cold doesnt bother me. =P

horsegirl777 · 03-08-2009, 02:56 PM

Thats the same with me. I don't mind the cold but I don't want to hurt the horse. Extra weight on their back, plus having to trot or canter has to be hard in real cold temperatures.

PinkHooves · 03-08-2009, 03:00 PM

The place I used to ride at told me that a horse could burn their lungs from working too hard in the cold. I wonder if this is actually true?

horsegirl777 · 03-08-2009, 03:12 PM

Really? That is interesting! I have never heard that before but I don't think it could be very good for them to work too hard when it is cold. I'm sure it would at least put a strain on the lungs.

PinkHooves · 03-08-2009, 03:16 PM

I agree. I wonder if its possible to burn their lungs? Either way I don't want to take a chance. If I ride in anything below 25 I won't do more than walk/trot. I personally wouldn't go running in that weather so I'm not going to make my horse!

horsegirl777 · 03-08-2009, 04:05 PM

Yah, thats me too! One of the horses I ride just stops and looks at up at me like "you want me to carry you around in this weather?!" She hates wind the most so I don't ride her when its very windy either. I'm sure it is very possible that it could burn their lungs - it would be an interesting thing to research into.

03-08-2009, 02:05 PM	#1
horsegirl777 Full Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 216 Images: 40	How cold is too cold to ride? I live in Alberta where the winters are COLD! We have been having a lot of -20 or -30 C temps lately and I was wondering how cold is too cold to ride. If its under -10 I usually don't ride with a bit in the horse's mouth, as I don't want to put a frosty, freezing bit in it's mouth and I just ride with a halter and lead ropes. I generally don't ride under -20 either - just too cold for me but do you think it does any harm to the horse? I don't do anything faster than light trotting either in the winter typically, so its not like they are working very hard.

03-08-2009, 02:07 PM	#2
Dixiefordgurl Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oakfield, Wi Posts: 1,064	If I would not jog up the road and back, I will not ride my horse. That's my simple answer to that LOL. __________________ Proud Mommy of Taz, Sable, and Ginger, baby Khaluah, Slim, Romeo, baby Wrangler and caretaker of Comet and Chubby!!

03-08-2009, 02:12 PM	#4
EQRider Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New York Posts: 1,463 Images: 146	Nothing below 10 degrees for me, it's simply not worth it. It helps when it's sunny and there's no wind too. In my "younger" days (aka when I was 14 and younger, LOL) I used to ride through ANYTHING. Now I'm not sure my toes will unthaw as well as they used too, best not chance it __________________ Proud owner of Texahoma Joe Two and Apache Summer

03-08-2009, 02:45 PM	#5
PinkHooves Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 316 Images: 16	For me, nothing below 15 degrees. I live in Ill and it gets pretty cold here too! I'm afraid I'll hurt my horse....the cold doesnt bother me. =P __________________ L U N A - 3 yr old Araloosa Mare && i dont think you're beautiful ;; i think you're beyond it

03-08-2009, 03:00 PM	#7
PinkHooves Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 316 Images: 16	The place I used to ride at told me that a horse could burn their lungs from working too hard in the cold. I wonder if this is actually true? __________________ L U N A - 3 yr old Araloosa Mare && i dont think you're beautiful ;; i think you're beyond it

03-08-2009, 02:09 PM	#3
horsegirl777 Full Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 216 Images: 40	It's not because I wouldn't canter them but I don't want them tripping in the snow - its deep! But I do like going for rides each day if possible.

03-08-2009, 02:56 PM	#6
horsegirl777 Full Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 216 Images: 40	Thats the same with me. I don't mind the cold but I don't want to hurt the horse. Extra weight on their back, plus having to trot or canter has to be hard in real cold temperatures.

03-08-2009, 03:12 PM	#8
horsegirl777 Full Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 216 Images: 40	Really? That is interesting! I have never heard that before but I don't think it could be very good for them to work too hard when it is cold. I'm sure it would at least put a strain on the lungs.

03-08-2009, 03:16 PM	#9
PinkHooves Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 316 Images: 16	I agree. I wonder if its possible to burn their lungs? Either way I don't want to take a chance. If I ride in anything below 25 I won't do more than walk/trot. I personally wouldn't go running in that weather so I'm not going to make my horse! __________________ L U N A - 3 yr old Araloosa Mare && i dont think you're beautiful ;; i think you're beyond it

03-08-2009, 04:05 PM	#10
horsegirl777 Full Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 216 Images: 40	Yah, thats me too! One of the horses I ride just stops and looks at up at me like "you want me to carry you around in this weather?!" She hates wind the most so I don't ride her when its very windy either. I'm sure it is very possible that it could burn their lungs - it would be an interesting thing to research into.

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