Winter weather brings unique challenges for horseback riders, from keeping tack in good condition to ensuring horses stay warm and dry during rides. In this post, we’ll explore practical, experience-backed strategies for choosing and caring for winter-friendly tack that keeps your horses comfortable and your rides enjoyable. Fall is officially here, and in the Pacific Northwest that means the start of the rainy season (and lots of mud!). While running Little Bird Farm I found several ways to manage both of these elements. I’m hopeful some of them help you (and your students/clients) be best prepared, too. In this 4-part series I’ll be covering clothing, tack, facilities setup, and policies.
Now that we have comfortable riders (and instructors), let's ensure we have comfortable horses. Part 2 of this mini series covers tack.
Synthetic Saddles for Wet Conditions
For teaching lessons, I use mostly synthetic saddles during this time of year. While the quality may not be top notch, there are a decent amount of fit options, especially from Wintec with their easy change gullet system. I also don’t worry about them when they inevitably get wet, as my facilities are outdoors. I will get into it more in part 4 of this series, but my policy is if kids are willing to ride in it, I’ll teach in it. Exceptions include ice, heavy wind, and lighting storms - for safety.
Waterproofing Leather Tack
Both of my personal saddles are leather, as are all of my bridles and other tack accessories. I use Passier Lederbalsam early in the season to waterproof my tack. I find a little goes a long way and when I'm good about caring for my tack, I typically only need to use it once or twice a season.
Quarter Sheets for Warmth and Dryness
Each of my horses also has a waterproof fleece-lined quarter sheet to keep their hind ends warm and dry when it’s wet and cold out. They appreciate not getting soaked (especially Cedar, who is a baby about rain despite spending his entire 18 years of life in the Pacific Northwest) and it means I can put their blankets back on after a lesson without worrying about them being wet and getting cold underneath. After some trial and error, my preferred quarter sheets are made by Harrison Howard. They buckle around billet straps so they're out of the way of your leg, have micro fleece on the inside which helps with general warmth and when warming up muscles in cold weather, and the water beads and runs off the side of the waterproof external sheet in the same way it would a turnout blanket/rug. They are also lightweight, reducing the likelihood that your horse will sweat heavily underneath it during work.
Using Coolers for Post-Ride Care
I do also keep a cooler on hand (in this I'm not particular about brand). I don't shave my horses in the winter, so I don't need it to keep them warm, but it can be incredibly helpful if I have to bathe a horse during the colder months (I do have a palomino and a grey after all) or to speed up the drying time if the horses get rained on and need to be dry to put tack or a blanket on.
With the right tack and accessories, you can keep your horses warm, dry, and comfortable during winter rides while maintaining safety and performance.
Is there anything you would add to this list? Perhaps you like another product better. Share your winter tack tips in the comments below!
Hugs and Happy Riding!
Kristin
More from this Series:
Winter Horseback Riding Tips: Rain and Mud Management at Little Bird Farm (Part 3 of 4 - Facilities)
Winter Horseback Riding Tips: Stay Safe and Prepared This Season (Part 4 of 4 - Cancellation Policy)
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