How much snow can you ride in?

Question

I board at a barn that doesn't have an indoor, and i live in Massachusetts so we get up to two feet of snow at a time. I want to ride my horse during the winter, but up to how much snow can we ride in? and what gaits can we do? as for leg protection, do i use any? sometimes when its really cold the top layer of the snow will freeze overnight and there will be a very thin layer of ice, is it okay to break through this while riding him?

Also, my horse hasn't been ridden in the snow before (just bought him). Any suggestions on how to get him to walk into the snow from the plowed driveway?

I cant plow the ring, i just have to leave it natural. any answers will be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

I'm also from Massachusetts and have no indoor. Winter sucks huh?

You can ride in 2 feet of snow without breaking a trail first as long as its light an fluffy. Don't use boots and break a path through at the walk and trot before you start cantering but you can do all three gates if your horse is in good shape. Just remember that every step is a lot more work and adjust your ride accordingly. My horse just loved bounding through the snow. It's a lot of fun.

If the snow is crusty on top, you shouldn't ride in it. It can cut your horses legs and boots won't protect them (in fluffy snow don't bother with boots, they just get wet and make your horses legs cold). For days like that I'll go out in snow shoes and break up the paths and then reevaluate whether the conditions are safe enough to ride in. I do the same thing after snow storms that pile up so much snow my horse refuses to break the trail (I'm sure you remember the horrible snow from last year...) Sooner or later though, winter riding is over and your ring turns to ice. Then it's time to groom and do groundwork. I hand walk my horses up and down the driveway to keep them sane

Answer 2

You can ride safely at walk, with caution in trot - I would give up on the canter. Before you take the horse out or turn it out into the paddock I would take a good handful of motor grease and smear it thickly inside each hoof to prevent the snow from balling up in the feet.



Know where you are going. If you know there are ruts underneath the snow (which might be frozen) then avoid these areas to prevent strains. Better to go on roads or flat areas. If the horse does start to slip, sit up tall and give him or her the reins to find his own way and balance. He is not slipping out of laziness. It is just the nature of the snow. And if you feel him start to go down or do the splits, bail out. Though it will be a soft landing you do not want to risk being underneath the horse. And if you have got off and he is down then let him get up in his own time - but do not let him have a roll while he is down there!



There is little risk of him hurting himself while breaking ice on top of snow. I would avoid boots and definitely NO bandages as these would get tighter as they get wet, so can cut of blood supply to the tendons. Better to let him go "au naturelle" and dry his legs off when you come back. Riding can be fun in the snow and is good exercise as he has to use his hindquarters more.

Answer 3

you can ride him just do it on plowed roads, I mean he could go through 2 feet of snow but he would probly like to stay on plowed roads. As for Ice you can get Horse shoes that are specific for Winter they Have Traction bumps on them.

Answer 4

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