1. Wear warm clothes

Cycling boots and cycling gloves have little insulation; so try wearing them in several layers before going out for a winter ride.

2. Check the horse's feet before going out

If you plan to ride a horse in the snow, you may want to check the horse's feet before considering riding. Snow often accumulates into hooves, forming snowballs on which the horse actually walks.

If your horses wear shoes, they will encounter more problems under their feet. Shoes tend to keep mud and snow in their hooves, making it difficult to get it out. If there is snow on the ground and your horse has shoes, it's better to stay at home rather than go out and ride horses.

Now, imagine putting a cold metal drill bit in your mouth; that must be super uncomfortable! If your reins are left out in uninsulated cold areas, your metal drill bit is likely to freeze. If placed in a horse's mouth, the bite can cause real discomfort.

4. Check the weather before riding

Please check the weather before riding. Being infected in harsh winter weather can be a serious situation; these conditions can easily increase the risk of hypothermia.

Even if the weather forecast looks good, have a plan ready if you are stuck in severe weather while riding. Is there a place nearby to take refuge? If you are trapped, is there any way you can contact anyone? Does anyone know where you are going and when do you plan to come back? Asking yourself these questions in advance will keep you and your horse away from potentially bad situations.

5. If you are riding in the dark, please wear reflective equipment

While riding in the dark can be exciting, it's important to wear reflective gear to learn about your presence, especially when riding on the roadside or in residential areas.

6. Bring a friend

The best way to ride out with friends in winter is for one of you to take the lead and the other to follow. This way, if the leader is in trouble, followers want time to avoid obstacles or dangers and seek help. While this may make you question whether riding in the snow is worth it, it is important to plan for the worst situation you may end up facing so that you don't get caught off guard.

7. Avoid riding on frozen or snowy roads

Asphalt and cement surfaces tend to become slippery when wet and often freeze when covered with snow. If you plan to ride out in this situation, it's best to avoid the road. Not only does your horse have less traction in the snow, but the snow can also hide the ice asphalt on the road below, which can be bad for your horse.

8. Prepare your horse

You may have noticed before that a horse's energy level can sometimes be determined by the weather. On cold, light and windy days, I always notice that my horse becomes more energetic in his footsteps, or tends to be more afraid. Although it's a fun ride, it's something to pay attention to before you take the horse out.

9. Please note that cold air can affect the horse's lungs

Have you ever run in the cold? If this is the case, then you may know that this will leave a burning sensation in your lungs; it will cause you to cough uncontrollably. Horse lungs are similar to ours, so cold air will have the same effect on them.

If you plan to ride a horse on particularly cold days, it is best to keep your horse's exercise to a minimum. The stronger the horse gets, the harder it breathes, which means it must breathe more cold air into its lungs. This can damage tissue and cause discomfort to the horse.

10. Don't let your horse overheat

In winter, horses grow thick, fluffy fur to keep warm in cold weather. Although this is good for them living in nature, if they work hard, it can cause the horse to overheat. Thick winter coats insulate the horses 'bodies, so their body temperatures rise due to exercise and the coat retains the heat rather than letting it escape.

Because a horse's winter coat is heavy and cannot dissipate heat, it can become very overheated. Keep this in mind when riding and make sure you allow a lot of rest between each workout. This will give Ma a chance to calm down.

11. Consider pruning your horse

Trimming the body is one way to prevent them from overheating due to thick coats and hard workouts. Body trimming refers to shaving the horse's body or part of its body to release the most heat.

If you avoid riding hard in winter, there is no need to trim your horse. Wear thick winter coats to protect them from the cold. However, horses that continue to work hard in the winter require horse clothing; horses should wear a winter blanket because they do not have a full coat.

12. Allow slow, gradual warm-up and cooling

Training horses without heating their muscles can be dangerous for your horse, especially when it's cold outside. The muscles must be warmed to make them more elastic and supple; however, if you don't warm up your horse properly, then your horse will work with cold, stiff muscles. This makes the risk of injury inevitable.

Similarly, when muscles change too quickly, they feel pain. This is a danger in winter because your horse's warm muscles can cool down quickly due to the cold outdoor temperatures. Therefore, it is important to let your horse slowly calm down.

Allow 15-20 minutes to properly warm up and cool your horse. This will allow your horse's muscles to reach the temperature they need and get the horse accustomed to breathing strong air.