Alberta winters, complete with snow, wind, freezing rain and icy temperatures can make being outdoors challenging for even the hardiest Canadian. So how do horsemen keep warm when riding or doing chores in prairie winters?
Barry Lammle of Lammles Western Wear and Tack offers three suggestions for keeping warm during inclement weather: “First of all, to keep warm you must keep dry — all clothing should be water-proof but breathable,” he says. “Next, use layers. Many jackets have zip-outs that you can add and remove as necessary, and if it’s really cold you might want to use a vest underneath everything. Layers help hold in your body’s warmth, plus they allow you to easily remove clothing if you overheat when you get out of the cold and into your truck. And third, it’s essential to keep your feet, head and hands warm.”
Lammles Western Wear sells a number of different winter boots, with one of its most popular brands being Muck Boots. These one-piece, 100 per cent waterproof boots come in mens and ladies sizes and in a variety of fashionable colours including black, blue, turquoise and pink. “There are different types of Muck Boots,” Barry explains. “Some are rated for -20 C weather, others are rated as cold as -40 C.” Muck Boots’ Brit Colt model is stirrup-friendly, and has toe protection. These might come in handy if your horse steps on your foot this winter!
Leanne Irvine of Irvine Tack and Trailers agrees that dressing in layers is essential for winter horsemen. “We carry a lot of Carhartt outerwear,” she says. “You can buy Carhartt vests, jackets and bib overalls, which are perfect for chores or riding.” Carhartt outerwear is made of heavy duty duck cotton, which is difficult to damage. Arctic-style Carhartt clothing is rated for -40 to -50 C temperatures, making them popular with ranchers and guys that work on the rigs. “What many people don’t realize is that Carhartt is now fashionable — we sell a whole line of ladies outerwear in pinks, purples, blues and browns, in sizes ranging from 0 to 20.”
Leanne notes that many people ride indoors in the winter, requiring different types of clothing. Because they are inside, out of the wind and snow, these riders often dress in hoodies and vests, being careful to avoid any clothing that could catch on the horn, especially if they’re involved in roping. “But most indoor riders still appreciate insulated boots,” Irvine says. “We carry Boulet boots, which are Canadian made and stirrup-friendly. We have a lace-up model and a pull-on boot which look very similar to regular cowboy boots but are lined and warm. The lace-up model is rated for -40 C weather, so it’s perfect for ranch riding or working in the feedlot.”
Trevor Jones of Jones Boys Saddlery and Western Wear says his store also sells a lot of Carhartt products for men, women and youth, especially at the Ponoka location, which caters to farmers and ranchers. “Carhartt outerwear is really durable,” he says. “The material is wind and snag resistant, so bumping against a barb-wire fence probably won’t ruin the clothing. And many people ride in Carhartt insulated pants. Nylon ski pants can be dangerous in the saddle because they’re so slippery; in Carhartts you’re much more secure.”
Trevor explains that Carhartt also makes a variety of hoodies, shirts, pants, scarves and toques as well as its popular outerwear. “Carhartt also produces an excellent set of long underwear in both tops and bottoms,” he says. “Its ‘work-dry base layer’ underwear is light-weight, functional and very comfortable. It keeps you warm, manages moisture, and — believe it or not — also resists odours so you don’t stink after wearing it all day!”
Jones Boys Saddlery also sells a number of winter gloves, many lined with thinsulate. “We have gloves that are rated to -20 C,” Trevor says. “But remember, my hands may feel very different in a pair of gloves compared to yours, so it’s important you experiment to see which types suit you best.” Once it gets extremely cold, horsemen may need mitts instead of gloves. One of the warmest types of mitts is the gauntlet mitt, which has a long cuff to keep out wind and snow. Motorcycle riders use gauntlet mitts because they are so wind resistant. While these would be comfortable for chores, they likely wouldn’t work well for holding reins while riding.
As a quick after-thought Lammle reminds equestrians that their horses also suffer in extreme cold and wind. “If your horse doesn’t have shelter, then he needs a wind-proof, water-proof blanket,” Barry says. “You can actually dress your horse cheaper than you can dress yourself — many of our winter blankets start at $100, and can be found in every imaginable colour including zebra, turtle and cheetah patterns. I would recommend you buy blankets with at least 300 to 400 grams of fibrefill, and in at least 1,200 denier for turn-out.”