How Cold Is Too Cold to Ride a Horse?

You’ve got your hand warmers, fleece-lined riding pants, and a heavy winter jacket so you can ride all winter.  

But how cold is too cold for horses during winter riding? It depends on where you live, your horse’s health and fitness level, and the weather conditions. But Michelle Singer, VMD, a staff veterinarian at Mid-Hudson Veterinary Practice in Carmel, New York, generally recommends a cutoff of 20 F. In warmer areas, if your horse does not have a full winter coat or has an underlying respiratory condition, 32 F may be a safer guideline.  

Horses are generally well adapted—much better than people—to cold weather, but it’s important to prepare for winter and plan winter rides for optimal comfort and safety. 

Do Horses Get Cold?

Healthy horses with access to shelter or a windbreak can tolerate much colder temperatures than you think. You’ll likely get cold during a ride before your horse does.  

When a horse grows a winter coat, he has a built-in heating mechanism. Muscles on the end of each hair follicle trigger the hair to stand on end and “fluff” up the coat. That pocket of space traps air and heat, acting as an insulator.  

Blankets offer an added layer of insulation for older horses, horses with health issues affecting their hair coat, and clipped/short-haired horses. Be sure to measure your horse to get the proper blanket fit for safety and comfort.  

Horses living in colder climates have time to adjust to changing temperatures gradually as the seasons change. Shorter daylight hours and cooler temperatures trigger them to grow a coat, while horses living in warmer climates naturally maintain shorter coats. 

“Horses that come from the south and have little to no hair may need have to live inside the barn” if they move to a cooler area, says Trevor DeRudder, a colt starter in Parkland County, Alberta, Canada. “They get turned out during the day [with blankets] but are in at night.” 

Dr. Singer says horses that have not had the chance to adapt to colder temperatures should be outfitted in properly fitted sheets and blankets until they can acclimate. 

How Cold Is Too Cold for Horses?

Remember the last time you ran outside in cold air, or skied in sub-freezing temperatures? You might have struggled to catch your breath at first. The same is true for horses. 

“Riding in cold temperatures is harder for the horse to warm air in the lungs,” Dr. Singer says.  

While there is limited research about how cold weather affects a horse’s lungs during exercise, a handful of studies have found that when the temperature is about 20 degrees F, intense exercise for 20 minutes can cause inflammation in the airways.

Cold, dry air can dry out the respiratory tract, potentially increasing the risk of bronchoconstriction (airway narrowing) and irritation. Horses with heaves or asthma also experience more symptoms in winter. 

“Their performance may also change as they get more playful and friskier/energetic in the cold,” Dr. Singer adds. This may be frequent on mild winter days earlier in the season, but truly cold temperatures cause a horse’s muscles to tense and shiver, so they may be stiff and less likely to exercise on their own during these times. 

While DeRudder continues riding and training horses in colder temperatures, he slows down his activity level when it’s especially frigid.  

“Those are good days to slow it all down and not work them up too much,” he said. “Slow days are good for their mind too.” 

Riding indoors can keep you riding longer during the season because the building reduces the wind chill factor, and the footing remains good with proper maintenance. 

“Wind is also a big factor,” says DeRudder. “Sometimes, it’s only -15 C [5 F], but a windchill of -25 C [-13 F]… that’s worse in my opinion. I salt my arena every fall to help it not to freeze.”  

If you plan to trail ride often, ask your farrier if they think your horse needs shoes with caulks or borium to prevent slipping, or pads or snow rims to prevent snowballs from forming in the hooves. Hoof boots may also provide similar protection for barefoot horses. 

Winter Riding Temperature Guide

Tips for Riding in Cold Weather

Winter trail riding, lessons, and regular riding sessions can help maintain your horse’s fitness level but require additional preparation during cold weather. Keep the following tips in mind when you ride during chilly weather: 

1. Before riding, you may need to lunge your horse so he has time to burn off pent-up energy.  

2. When your horse is ready to ride, warm up the bit with your hands or a bit warmer.   

3. Spend 10–20 minutes walking and slow trotting while incorporating gentle bending and stretching exercises to give your horse’s muscles and joints time to loosen up.  

4. Warming up with a cooler can help keep a horse’s body warm until they acclimate, especially if they are body clipped or maintained with a short coat. 

5. Horses that are clipped or ridden on trails with short coats may also benefit from riding with a quarter sheet. As a bonus, some cover the rider’s legs, offering added warmth for you!  

How hard your horse works will determine a cool-down routine. If your ride was an easy walkabout, your horse is likely ready to resume his regular post-ride routine. If he worked harder, spend 10–15 minutes walking under saddle or hand walking to give your horse time to catch his breath and stretch his muscles. 

A thorough cooling out is especially important when a horse is sweaty. Whenever a horse is wet post-ride, they need time to dry off. Blanketing a horse while still damp can create a chill and create an environment for bacteria to cause skin infections.  

Hand-toweling the horse’s coat can start the drying process, and a cooler helps wick away moisture until the horse’s coat dries completely. Once your horse is dry, resume his normal routine.