Winter essentials!

[Countrygirl40]

As the above says…hit me with your winter essentials! Everything from keeping warm to making life easier!

 

[BSL2]

Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today. It will be colder wetter and windier if you leave the job. ( obviously sun will shine if you do it). Loads of head torches (charged). Fill hay nets in bulk. Put filled water canisters under cover, when freezing temperatures arrive. Use old rugs to insulate. Try to have a few coats for yourself, dont have to be posh, one to wear one to dry. Loads of gloves and warm hats. Remember its only for a few months then sun and fun begins edited to add, watch the forecast, get hay and bedding in before snow etc, so you dont worry about deliveries.

 

[teapot]

Layers, layers, layers and that includes your legs - you lose a lot of body heat off your thighs!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Fleece lined leggings the best things to wear under riding tights and jeans.

Rubber gardening gloves great for when everything is wet and cold.

Cuppa soups.

 

[TGM]

Plenty of hard standing and Mud Control Mats in strategic areas. Second the suggestion above to have plenty of spare coats and gloves to allow them to dry out!

 

[JenJ]

Head torch

 

[Fieldlife]

Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today. It will be colder wetter and windier if you leave the job. ( obviously sun will shine if you do it). Loads of head torches (charged). Fill hay nets in bulk. Put filled water canisters under cover, when freezing temperatures arrive. Use old rugs to insulate. Try to have a few coats for yourself, dont have to be posh, one to wear one to dry. Loads of gloves and warm hats. Remember it’s only for a few months then sun and fun begins edited to add, watch the forecast, get hay and bedding in before snow etc, so you dont worry about deliveries.

I’d say make really good use of dry days / frosty days. And over do the jobs. Do bare essentials on the very wet days!

For example my set up I can easily put out 3-4 days of hay at once etc

 

[blitznbobs]

Plane ticket to Portugal is always a good start

 

[gallopingby]

Enough waterproof coats / trousers really are key. They don’t have to be smart but they do have to be waterproof. If it’s wet and windy four is the minimum number unless you’ve fabulous drying facilities or only need to visit once a day. Think one to wear in the morning and one to wear at night plus one drying and a spare.

 

[LEC]

Workgloves website is your friend…. Waterproof gloves for every occasion with different thermal levels at a fair price

 

[Countrygirl40]

Thanks so far all! Anyone recommend a good pair of waterproof over trousers that dont make you sweat?

 

[Spotherisk]

Never put off riding. If you can get out for a 20 minute hack before or after work with half a dozen canter strides on a grass verge it will be worth it. Never worry about having an immaculate horse - so long as the saddle and bridle area doesn’t have dried mud under them the horse will be fine. If you’re short of time on certain days then do a more basic muck out and a better one tomorrow. And keep your waterproof trousers permanently attached to your wellies, it’s just quicker.

Edited to say I saw your question about waterproof trousers - my Berghaus goretex ones have lasted for years. I don’t ride now but when I did I’d just wear thermal long johns underneath them, the system worked well.

 

[Albus15]

A snood to pull up over my face when riding in the rain!

 

[MuddyMonster]

For me:

Daylight alarm clock
Sealskinz gloves
Thinmedical type gloves for yard jobs and keeping hands clean
Equicoat/Reincoat
Waterproof riding tights
Thermal lined riding boots/yard boots
Snoods
A good moisturiser & bold nail colours to hide the dirt
Gin

For horse:

Good quality waterproof turn out rugs
I'm now swearing by Eqwax for their mud repellent stuff and Red Horse Stronghorn for hoof hardener
Biothane bridle (and synthetic girth/saddle if possible)
Waterproof cover for saddle

 

[dorsetladette]

Make good use of the dry days.

Prioritise riding over jobs where you can (if it's your own place or rules allow). The poo picking will still be there tomorrow!

A bucket full of gloves - preferably pairs!

Good water proof boots and lots of warm socks!

wrap taps and padlocks up so they don't freeze.

I have no electric so I have battery powered lights for early mornings.

Sieve for fishing ice out of water buckets.

Spare rugs for really wet weather/babies that like to destroy rugs.

 

[Identityincrisis]

I second riding whenever the weather allows.

Several pairs of gloves which I keep in the house overnight, it makes a difference!

Snoods, your neck lets in a lot of draughts

I have a pair of mountain warehouse over trousers which are lined so don’t get sticky

A truly waterproof coat

 

[Sealine]

You can't have too many coats, hats, fleece neck tubes, waterproof gloves and thermal base layers. My Musto Suffolk coat (bought second hand) is a god send in wet weather to do yard jobs and for riding as it keeps the saddle dry. For cold weather I love my Weatherbeeta Kyla coat. I also have some old Equetech warm, waterproof overtrousers that are great for yard work in cold weather although I'm not keen on riding in them.

I bought these gloves last year after a recommendation on a similar thread - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08PDQN6D5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I usually soak my hay but if a really cold spell is expected I switch to haylage for a few days.

Good quality rugs to keep my horse warm and dry.

ETA: Pig oil spray to keep my horses legs and tail mud free and easy to brush.

 

[MrsMozartleto]

Boot and gloves dryer thingy!
Hot air dryer - sorts out the soggy (human) coats.
Sealskinz hats - wind and water proof. Get a couple as the outer gets wet.
Thermo boot insoles.
Heated gloves - just bliss.
Snood - get that neck area protected.
Waterproof overtrouers - basically stay dry and the cold won't be so bad.

We have Berghaus goretex and down coats. They cope with everything a Scottish winter can throw at us . We have a retirement livery yard so out in all weather's and times.

 

[Shoei]

I have a pair of waterproof overalls I purchased off Amazon! Amazing for those wet days!
I also like a baseball hat for rainy days to keep some of the rain off my face!
I mix a weeks worth of feed up in advance and do a weeks worth of hay nets!
Giant wheelbarrows! Years of thinking they are too expensive I now have two! One for dirty and one for hay etc!
I have a box of medical gloves for doing fiddly jobs I don't want to get wet/muddy for!
I good waterproof riding coat, I got a Stierna last year and it makes riding in the wet slightly more appealing.
Stock up as much as you can... and please from someone who has sold hay... don't expect your supplier to come today/tomorrow!!!
Multiple good rugs for those that needs it!
First aid kit handy.... tool box handy!

 

[JGC]

My Stierna Stella, my Lemieux Drytex jodhs, gloves and waterproof seat cover and my BR Greenland fleecy/waterproof boots! Finally dry and warm over the winters after years of struggling. I am also liking my Ariat H2O boots so far, but it's only been a few weeks.

Excruciating amounts of money to spend on myself, but we are in the Alps with no indoor school and I'm sick of getting soaked through!

 

[Countrygirl40]

Boot and gloves dryer thingy!
Hot air dryer - sorts out the soggy (human) coats.
Sealskinz hats - wind and water proof. Get a couple as the outer gets wet.
Thermo boot insoles.
Heated gloves - just bliss.
Snood - get that neck area protected.
Waterproof overtrouers - basically stay dry and the cold won't be so bad.

We have Berghaus goretex and down coats. They cope with everything a Scottish winter can throw at us . We have a retirement livery yard so out in all weather's and times.

Can you recommend heated gloves? I’ve been looking at loads!!

 

[MrsMozartleto]

Can you recommend heated gloves? I’ve been looking at loads!!

Sealskinz. Expensive but worth it. I usually take off for the very fiddly jobs, but then straight back on and my hands much appreciate.

 

[Spotherisk]

Oh and use old socks as padlock covers. Double up if long and slide over chain or simply onto padlock, generally stops them freezing.

Use an old insulated picnic box for soaking sugarbeet.

Make sure your head torch has an Infrared setting, really good for checking spooky horses in the field, they don’t react so much.

 

[Peglo]

My only tip is rugs with hi vis strips so you can find horses easier.

Since I have very little of everyone else’s suggestions it seems I am of no further use here

 

[MissMay]

Dryer or plug in heater for your backroom is the most amazing game changer.

Good quality thermos mug that actually keeps coffee hot

 

[Sealine]

Good quality thermos mug that actually keeps coffee hot

These are brilliant. Keeps a drink hot for hours and you could juggle with it and it wouldn't leak.

TRAVEL MUG 0.36L BLACK

Leakproof travel mug with 360 drinking edge for easy drinking on the go – hot or cold!

www.tefal.co.uk

 

[scats]

My rain hat is my most recent purchase that I’m loving.
£20 from Amazon. Waterproof and has a little drawstring thing so won’t fly off in the wind.

 

[asmp]

My rain hat is my most recent purchase that I’m loving.
£20 from Amazon. Waterproof and has a little drawstring thing so won’t fly off in the wind.

I was about to say a waterproof hat. If my head gets wet I’m miserable. Looking forward to using my new neoprene lined wellies this winter (cold toes are another thing I hate).

I would also suggest a clean spare wheelbarrow to take hay and change of rugs, etc to take up to the field.

 

[Molly22]

Can you recommend heated gloves? I’ve been looking at loads!!

Me too. I have heated boot socks which are great but I really need heated gloves this year. My fingers are freezing in cold weather what ever gloves I wear.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Enough waterproof coats / trousers really are key. They don’t have to be smart but they do have to be waterproof. If it’s wet and windy four is the minimum number unless you’ve fabulous drying facilities or only need to visit once a day. Think one to wear in the morning and one to wear at night plus one drying and a spare.

I have 3 drying from this morning!
Mr P says I have too many coats but he’s very wrong!

I love my hot horse shower in winter. Agree if you have 5 mins spare don’t waste it.
Full nets, do anything that will help the following day. You will never regret that!