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Winter Barn Hacks

January 19, 2016

By Maggie Carty

It’s BAAAACK! The dreaded winter cold – snow, ice, below freezing temps. For most of us across the country, we will experience some of Mother Nature’s wintery impact. For the rest of you, who continue to bask in the sun – we are eternally jealous! To ease some of the winter pain, we offer you the following barn hacks:

Horses need on average about 12 gallons of water daily, regardless of the temperature outside, and unless you enjoy destroying your hands breaking ice you need to invest in a heated bucket. Would you rather spend 50$ or wonder if your horse has frozen water? Even if you break the ice, it will still refreeze – this bucket kicks on automatically when the temperature drops, and the cord tucks away easily on the bottom so your four-legged friend doesn’t find a wire as a snack.
One of the worst parts about tacking up in the winter is putting on a cold bridle. Wear yours under your jacket while grooming and tacking to warm your bit up.
Dedicate one jacket as “barn coat.” Keep your “human” clothes clean and buy one warm, water repellent, breathable coat for riding and working in the barn. This one from Horseware opens in the back to sit comfortably in the saddle and has a striking diagonal zipper and red trim.
Wear panty hose or Under Armour beneath your breeches. It is an insulating layer that doesn’t add any bulk.
Spend extra time warming up before any intense flatwork or jumping, the cold temperatures can make muscles stiff and minor injuries or arthritis more painful.
Upgrade your horse’s turnout blanket to keep her warm and clean during the cold season. Weatherbeeta has many different color, pattern, and weight options.
Use old mate less socks as tail bags to keep mud and ice balls out of your horse’s tail.
The frigid temperatures put your tack at risk for cracking if it is not oiled properly, Fiebings Neatsfoot Oil keeps your leather soft and supple.
Finally – when you are frustrated and frozen, think about where you would like to be sixth months from now with your riding progress. Use this winter to finesse your skillset and set your summertime horse show goals!

About our guest blogger: Maggie Carty is a Senior at Seton Hill University, studying Communications. She is a member of their IHSA team, competing in the Intermediate division. Maggie is the Social Media Intern for The Carousel Horse.