Forget the horses, how are you looking after after yourself in the cold?

Inthesticks

Inthesticks

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 January 2011
Messages
315
Visit site
We are all chatting away about how we are leaving horses in, putting out more hay, rugging up etc but how about us...??

How are you taking care of yourself during this weather? Thermals..tonnes of your favorite hand cream... how about hair....?

Any tips you can pass on to everyone?

I use my night cream during the day for some better protection for my face but could do with any tips for my hands...
 
Um, I'm wearing an extra layer and keeping my gloves on for all tasks. Last night I wore a hat for the first time in yonks.

That is all. It isn't really cold enough to need special precautions. When I go hiking at the weekend I will take an ice axe and leave an extra flask of coffee in the truck for when we get back.

Oh and I put the fan heater on in the bathroom for 10 minutes before I had my shower this morning.
 
im fine and dandy...but just for those with elderly people close by..please pop in and ask if they need anything. My 84 year old neighbour would jump in his car and drive off if i did nt drop his paper and fags off for him :-) He is under strict orders to stay at home and ring me if he needs anything... just take the time out to check on the oldies and clear paths or stop for a chat. It makes all the difference when they know someone cares .
 
luckyoldme said:
just take the time out to check on the oldies and clear paths or stop for a chat.
Click to expand...

If we cleared our elderly neighbour's path he'd be furious. He is out there doing it several times a day, he loves it. We can see him watching for more to snow so he can whizz back out and clear it. The other year he did a few of the other neighbours too, just for fun! :D
 
thermals, ear thingy on, gloves on all the time, ear phones in so i can bop along to music so dont get too cold and a nice cup of tea as soon as i get back in!!!
 
tights under jods, two pairs of socks, going everywhere in insulated Ariat Bromonts, lots and lots of layers, hat, furry snood, gloves, giant coat plus hood.

Surgically attached to my lip balm and drinking endless cups of tea in an insulated mug for additional warmth.

When hacking fleecy exercise sheet goes over my legs rather than under saddle flaps.
 
Plasters on three of my fingers where they've split with the cold. I'm probably bemusing my new yard with the fact that I wear bright yellow rubber gloves for most tasks but splits are painfully, especially at night. Blathering on hand cream seems to make no difference but the plasters work!
I had to laugh on Sunday when I was cooking and it was hot in the kitchen. I started peeling off and my OH asked me how many layers I'd actually got on. Er, six, but I hadn't been cold all day...
The wind has got up here (North Yorkshire) so I might try seven layers when I go to bring my ned in. On the bonus side, his new heavyweight rug has been worth the expense as he's been toasty both in the field and in his box.
 
Hat with ear flaps, thermal vest under layers, body warmer if needed, cycling arm warmers as my tops are short sleeved, thermal running leggings, thermal thick socks, sealskinz gloves on all the time and use my battery operated heated gloves as needed (have Raynaulds), scarf, cramp-ons over wellies for walking down the lane when it is sheet ice.

Sounds a lot but I do feel the cold and do not see any point at all in suffering from the cold when out in it twice a day for an hour at a time.

I have also this year started using a sieve to take out the broken ice from water buckets to save my hands and gloves.

Just in case things get real bad and I am near freezing...I have a couple of whisky minitures in the spare stable too!!!!!
 
Usual winter uniform, jeans, overalls or ski pants. Polo neck, sweater, padded shirt or jacket over overalls. Neck warmer and hat. Deerskin gloves with thermal lining. Wool socks and workboots.

I do have the distinct advantage over some in that if I start to feel cold then I simply down tools and walk across the garden back into the house.
 
Have temp stopped smoking :eek: as cannot get out of the house on crutches - and I dont smoke in the house :rolleyes: :o
Its chilly as am sitting round, but have layered up as dont want to turn heating up too much till later tonight.

Am more worried about the fuzzies 4 miles away tho
 
No real change from general winter gear. Gloves and hat are standard for me, as are long boots. I've got the fire lit and the cat is hibernating, but other than that, nothing!

Not sure whether there's any point clearing the in-laws path, next door. Don't think they're going out anywhere (she won't walk beyond the drive in sunny weather, nevermind this!) and I'll go and shut the chooks up for them, later.

Wooo just caught sight of the whiskey miniatures comment! Don't like whiskey, but got some grand marnier. Not sure it would be a good idea to stock that away from home, though... ;)
 
Moleskinmum- if you have those splits near your finger nails, & they seem to constantly start healing only to painfully re-split, use dermobion on them, put on just before bed, it really works.
I just eat even more than usual, which takes some doing. I also have some quilted ski pants that were originally my friends husbands. As he is more than twice as wide as me, they fit over lots of other pants. And also an equally too big very thick puffa jacket, worn over several layers, body warmer & my usual thick winter coat. And my beloved musto hat.
 
moleskinsmum said:
I had to laugh on Sunday when I was cooking and it was hot in the kitchen. I started peeling off and my OH asked me how many layers I'd actually got on. Er, six, but I hadn't been cold all day...
The wind has got up here (North Yorkshire) so I might try seven layers when I go to bring my ned in.
Click to expand...

If you need 6 or 7 layers in the UK in the current conditions your clothing is probably inadequate or inappropriate. It must be so uncomfortable too.

I never wear more than 4 layers on my core and I am always warm enough, I'm not a warm type of person either, it is just about buying good kit and using it sensibly.

On wednesday it was -7 at our yard (peak district). I wore normal mountain horse long boots with two pairs of socks, decathlon cotton jodhs, a baselayer/fleece (it is a funny weight somewhere between the two), my coat (made by montane and insulated with primaloft), a buff and a pair of ordinary pimple palm gloves for yard work which I changed for riding. Plus normal underwear. I wished I'd worn my chaps but wasn't too cold, my feet felt chilly but not seriously cold. My body and hands were fine.

Last night I had been chilly at work (office) despite it being warmer at -4 so I layered up more for the stables. I wore baselayer, fleece, coat, thermal leggins/long johns, jeans, two pairs of socks, muckers, pimple palm gloves, buff and thinsulate hat. To be honest I felt a bit too warm and I was only filling nets, water buckets and mixing feeds as DH mucked out.
 
Thanks LL - I haven't got any and don't think you can get it any more but will ask around on the yard.
They are in the middle of the pads of my thumbs and on the side of my finger joints so make everything awkward so am happy to try anything! Duck for dinner tonight so maybe I'll try duck fat!

Kat - no budget at the moment for new "good kit". Bottom half was also Decathlon cotton breeches, two pairs of socks and Mountain Horse boots but my top half was thermal vest, long sleeved t-shirt, polo shirt, thin fleece jumper, thin fleece jacket and then heavy fleece over the top, removed for heavier work. It works for me as I can add and remove layers depending on the amount of work I'm doing. When I'm flush with money, I'll buy a proper base layer but until then I'll keep wearing OH's old t-shirts.
 
Last edited:
moleskinsmum said:
Thanks LL - I haven't got any and don't think you can get it any more but will ask around on the yard.
They are in the middle of the pads of my thumbs and on the side of my finger joints so make everything awkward so am happy to try anything! Duck for dinner tonight so maybe I'll try duck fat!

Kat - no budget at the moment for new "good kit". Bottom half was also Decathlon cotton breeches, two pairs of socks and Mountain Horse boots but my top half was thermal vest, long sleeved t-shirt, polo shirt, thin fleece jumper, thin fleece jacket and then heavy fleece over the top, removed for heavier work. It works for me as I can add and remove layers depending on the amount of work I'm doing. When I'm flush with money, I'll buy a proper base layer but until then I'll keep wearing OH's old t-shirts.
Click to expand...

:eek: no coat! :eek:

When you have a spare few bob buy a decent coat. Look for down or primaloft for warmth. Goretex for waterproofness. Or look at the paramo range it is pricey but good and you can often get really good sale bargains via their ebay shop.

You can get a primaloft duvet type jacket for less than £100 and it will last you years and keep you VERY warm. I put mine under a waterproof on really horrid days :D

Even if you don't have a "good" coat, wearing one to keep the wind out will still help you keep warm. I have a very thin light windproof jacket that I got for £40 on ebay and it amazes me how much warmer I am if I put it on over a fleece. Windchill can be a major factor in how cold you feel.
 
Still wearing track suit pants, Croc boots, Tshirt and hoody at yard.

I've added gloves and keeping my hair down to keep me warm.

No coat needed yet :)
 
Kat said:
:eek: no coat! :eek:

When you have a spare few bob buy a decent coat. Look for down or primaloft for warmth. Goretex for waterproofness. Or look at the paramo range it is pricey but good and you can often get really good sale bargains via their ebay shop.

You can get a primaloft duvet type jacket for less than £100 and it will last you years and keep you VERY warm. I put mine under a waterproof on really horrid days :D

Even if you don't have a "good" coat, wearing one to keep the wind out will still help you keep warm. I have a very thin light windproof jacket that I got for £40 on ebay and it amazes me how much warmer I am if I put it on over a fleece. Windchill can be a major factor in how cold you feel.
Click to expand...

Please don't worry about me Kat! The thick fleece is replaced by a old and torn Rohan jacket for riding or when it's wet or windy as, despite being on its last legs, it's still completely wind and waterproof. And I did invest £20 in the sales this week in a padded hi-vis jacket for hacking out.
I guess we are all like our horses and have different levels of comfort and need different rugs. Mind you, you have reminded me to hunt out the silk scarf that fits under my hat for when we can finally ride again as I hate having cold ears!
 
luckyoldme said:
im fine and dandy...but just for those with elderly people close by..please pop in and ask if they need anything. My 84 year old neighbour would jump in his car and drive off if i did nt drop his paper and fags off for him :-) He is under strict orders to stay at home and ring me if he needs anything... just take the time out to check on the oldies and clear paths or stop for a chat. It makes all the difference when they know someone cares .
Click to expand...

Great advice. I run a care company and we have 500 wonderful carers out there doing their best to get around to our clients, but they are running late and it's possible there are people out there who haven't had a cup of tea for a few hours.

Please do pop in if you have elderly peeps around; they may well tell you p*ss off but they may be really really grateful to see you :)
 
moleskinsmum said:
Please don't worry about me Kat! The thick fleece is replaced by a old and torn Rohan jacket for riding or when it's wet or windy as, despite being on its last legs, it's still completely wind and waterproof. And I did invest £20 in the sales this week in a padded hi-vis jacket for hacking out.
I guess we are all like our horses and have different levels of comfort and need different rugs. Mind you, you have reminded me to hunt out the silk scarf that fits under my hat for when we can finally ride again as I hate having cold ears!
Click to expand...

I just can't bear the thought of wearing 6 layers. It drove me mad the other night wearing leggins under jeans! Made me want to buy more thermal lined trousers!

The silk scarf under your riding hat is a good suggestion though. I have several that never get worn and I'm sure it would be more comfortable than those headbands, and possibly help avoid minging hat hair...... :cool:
 
Kat said:
:eek: no coat! :eek:

When you have a spare few bob buy a decent coat. Look for down or primaloft for warmth. Goretex for waterproofness. Or look at the paramo range it is pricey but good and you can often get really good sale bargains via their ebay shop.

You can get a primaloft duvet type jacket for less than £100 and it will last you years and keep you VERY warm. I put mine under a waterproof on really horrid days :D

Even if you don't have a "good" coat, wearing one to keep the wind out will still help you keep warm. I have a very thin light windproof jacket that I got for £40 on ebay and it amazes me how much warmer I am if I put it on over a fleece. Windchill can be a major factor in how cold you feel.
Click to expand...
Or pop into your local TKMaxx and grab a ski jacket for £30 :) I'm living in mine at the moment and it's warm, wind proof and water proof.

I'm living in salopettes, fleeces and thermals. Have chucked emergency supplies in the car but apart from that it's business as normal here.
 
I use the elizabeth arden 8 hour face cream with the 50 SPF in this weather (buy it on Amazon, roughly about 1/2 price!) this is a lighter version and then I stick on cheap foundation. Its an extra layer to protect your face. I am using a ski idea which is a neck cover with a thin cotton layer to go over your face leaving only your eyes exposed. I ride in it too and it stops me getting earache. I also bought earlier this year a long padded coat in the sale. Thought it would be useful for dog walking but it has been a complete godsend when I go down the fields or just moving around the yard.. a couple of other people have now bought a similar thing. Waterproof gloves for outside and thinner ones for inside. And am dragging out ski gear and thermal underwear too!
 
I'm always in five or six layers during the winter. And I work in an office but its always freezing! Never bothers me. For the stables/outside stuff I'll have another two or three on.
 
I love ski gear, especially when I have got it cheaply from TKMax. But I find that most of the time, even when it was -11 on Monday just my thick cotton overalls over normal clothes, muck boots, ski gloves, wollen hat with ear flaps and a 'technical' fleece that is wind proof and water proof was fine. If I get too hot when mucking out I sweat then get cold.

My muck boots have cracks in them so I have been doing the carrier bag trick and found my feet have stayed toasty.

Constant lopbalm - but have got very red cheeks, not sure what to try on them
 
Musto thermal jods are FANTASTIC: the problem is you don't wanna take 'em off to go to bed at night :)

Essential item is my "Polopancho" fleece scarf/necklet thingey; doubles up as a hat too! Fantastic things.

The only thing I have real problems with is cold fingers: everything is dripping wet to the touch and this morning I was soooooo cold in my fingers (everywhere else warm tho').

Any ideas anyone for keeping the little pinkies warm??
 
I love my Lowe Alpine hat with ear flaps, neoprene boots and Musto neck warmer in this weather, they make a real difference.

If you are suffering with your hands, try rubbing some Radium-B or similar in before you go outside, it makes your hands toasty!

Also large washing up gloves over normal gloves for mucking out, doing anything with water.

I stick a bodywarmer or fleece under an old fashioned Barbour jacket and I'm never cold.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top