Cold horse under saddle- what to do?

[ex-racer owner]

My dilemma: my OTTB gets very cold and "active";) when I ride in temps under 40 degrees- give or take. I ride him with a quarter sheet, so he is at least partially covered, but its not enough. I waited to begin blanketing this fall so he could grow some coat, but he just doesn't get much of a coat. The barn where I board him at does not have an indoor, so we have to be outside. The additional activity (prancing, jigging, etc.) that he engages in is most likely in an attempt to warm himself up,because he doesn't do those things during the other three seasons, but he ends up getting himself sweaty, so then he is cold and wet :mad:. Anyone have any suggestions on how to keep him warm while riding? All I want is to quietly trailride around the fields at a walk- and maybe a trot if footing is safe enough. Oh, he has to be blanketed because I am trying to maintain his weight and he enjoys a good roll in the mud!

Poor Florida-bred horse that used to winter in Florida before he became mine....

[Melyni]

Also try a magnesium supplement for added calmness, might work, might not, but worth a try.
Foxden Equine (540-337-5450) will send you a free sample if call and ask.
MW

[ex-racer owner]

He's been on Quiessence for the last few years, but thanks for the suggestion! It is good stuff :)

[jn4jenny]

The additional activity (prancing, jigging, etc.) that he engages in is most likely in an attempt to warm himself up,because he doesn't do those things during the other three seasons, but he ends up getting himself sweaty, so then he is cold and wet :mad:.

Are you sure that's not just his general reaction to winter time and being fresh? Some horses get pretty "up" in the winter whether they're cold or not.

Another thought is to consider what kind of quarter sheet you're using and how warm it is. Maybe he just wants something warmer, like wool or Thermatex or something with windproofing?

The only other thing I can think of is to ride him with a full fitted cooler with a custom cut-out for the saddle and/or the girth.

[Simbalism]

If I am doing a slow ride with my Tb mare, I leave the sides down on the quarter sheet rather than folding up the front. I have a fleece 1/4 sheet, but if it's really cold I also add a rain 1/4 sheet over top like a wind breaker. I have also ridden with a the above on my horse and add a wool cooler over her back end and tucked around my legs.

[Fitte]

I like the idea of riding in a cooler... making a cutout for the saddle if you had to. Dover is selling a riders brand one with a fitted neck that is affordable enough to cut up a little bit. I know there are such things as neck rugs for exercise, but I dont' know where to purchase such a thing.

If your footing is safe enough, I'd skip the walk and start trotting almost immediately. While that may go against what you know about proper warm ups, its better than leaping around in the air!

[ex-racer owner]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I was thinking about modifying a fleece sheet that I have so that I could put my saddle on over it, but wasn't sure if that was a smart thing to do safety-wise. Does anyone do that or know someone that does?

I was also wondering if I should maybe feed him beforehand? Not like his regular ration of Safe Choice, but maybe some beet pulp made with warm water? I know that eating hay in the winter helps keep horses warm internally, and he does have access to hay while he is turned out during the day, but that doesn't seem to help enough ;)

The issue is not that he starts out like a bat out of hell, but rather as we continue along our way, he becomes less and less tolerant to the cold. I am only attempting to ride for about an hour, so its not like I have him out all day and due to the snow/mud/hilly terrain, I only want to walk for safety's sake. When the temps are above 40, he is fine.

[ex-racer owner]

If your footing is safe enough, I'd skip the walk and start trotting almost immediately. While that may go against what you know about proper warm ups, its better than leaping around in the air!


So you've seen us and our airs above the ground?! :lol:

[vbunny]

Maybe he is bored and wants to do something. Some horses do not like to walk and wander around for that long. It may be his attention span is shorter in winter and he wants to do more.

[rmh_rider]

Use a rump rug, and never body clip.

I use a rump rug (similar to a quarter sheet but more warm) on my endurance horses.

Feed ALOT more hay.

[Highflyer]

My guess is he just gets bored and annoyed. An hour is a long time to walk.

[yellowbritches]

I highly doubt he's cold. Most likely, he's just being a horse.

My very quiet, low key TB gets a little goofy this time of year. I think it is a combination between the cool/cold weather and a reduction of his work load. He's much more likely to be silly and even a little spooky at times. I think the biggest thing is that he's just BORED. He likes his job and he likes to do things, and when his work load is reduced (both for a mental and physical rest and because of the weather), he just decides he needs to make life more exciting. Once his work load increases, he chills right out again.

Another thing is your horse might actually not like the feeling of a quarter sheet. They often hold a lot of static, which some horses hate, and some just don't like the feeling against their coat. I'd suggest trying a ride or two without the sheet and see if he's better. They won't die if they're left uncovered....I have a few clipped horses who survive their rides just fine with naked butts.

Also, be sure his diet matches his calorie output. If his workload is a lot less this time of year but his feed is not, he may just be "feeling his oats." Back off the hard feed and give him as much hay as he'll eat if you're worried about weight. Hay's what stokes their furnaces anyway.

[Soldier06]

For my wild child I prefer wool to fleece, sometimes 2 instead of one. He's body clipped and when I pull the blankets off he's not always happy. I pull his blankets off a good 30 minutes before I ride, so he can adapt to the cold in the barn without me on his back. ;)

Also for the first 2 years off the track he needed to just canter when mounted, there was no walking or trotting until we did so.

Cut as much grain as possible, mine is currently on 3/4 quart Blue Seal Performance 2x daily with as much hay as he can eat. I up fat supplements and cut back grain. I have also started him on U-7 by Finishline and have noticed a HUGE difference in attitude (GG had little effect 1 tube for 8 days no change). He's been on stall rest for the past week and has been relatively sane, only little fits when everyone else gets turned out.

[Auto Be A Storm]

My TB is the same way, I lunge him a bit before I get on. Just to warm him up, Storm seems to calm down a bit once he gets a canter lap or two iin ;)

[starkissed]

I think all thoroughbreds are like that in the winter. Mine become waaaay more frisky- granted they are fit as well.
If he isnt shivering, I doubt he is cold. And I think he might just be getting antsy going at the walk.
Perhaps try doing a little ground work before you get on- not lunging to get him sweaty, just simple ground exercises and maybe some walk trot transitions on the lunge to get him warm and thinking.

[mojo7777]

Something that occurs to me. Many people tend to ride less in the winter for whatever reason, weather, etc, and horses consequently get less exercise and are fresher. I'm careful to stay on my four rides a week schedule with my TB. If I don't he's a handful.

Sorry, repeating yellowbritches point!