With winter knocking at the barn door, we asked seven intrepid horse trail riders how they bundle up to face the cold weather. Scattered across the country, horse trail riders face a wide variety of winter conditions, from moderate weather in central California to the deep freeze in upstate New York. Here, these horse trail riders describe what they wear on the trail and around the barn when winter hits. They also share their favorite winter trail rides, their top keep-warm tips, the cold-beating items on their holiday wish lists, and their post-ride routines.

Bonnie Davis, The Trail Rider’s consulting editor, runs Two Horse Enterprises (www­.twohorseenterprises.com), an online resource geared to trail riders.

Around her home in central California, she enjoys a moderate winter, with sunny skies most days and temperatures averaging around 50 degrees.

Typical winter conditions: "Lots of wind and rain! Here in wine country, the wind blows across the vineyards in gusts up to 30 or 40 miles per hour. Typically, rain falls in sheets. At night, it’s cold, sometimes freezing."

Favorite winter trail ride: "Once winter rains begin to fall, I stay off public trails so my horse’s hooves won’t ‘pot hole’ the soil. Instead, I ride in a large roping arena that has a sand base and offers good footing year round. I also ride around the pastures."

Favorite winter wear: "I layer a T-shirt, a plaid flannel shirt (from Sheplers, Wooluck, or Wrangler), and a High Sierra Sport Company vest. If I need to, I’ll wear my waterproof, windproof Tri-Mountain jacket over the vest. I love this jacket, because it has lots of pockets. My Double H Packer boots keep my feet warm and dry. I wear leather gloves. If it’s raining, I’ll wear a Wrangler baseball cap, because cowboy hats tend to blow away. On windy, dry days, I ride without a hat. I like feeling the wind blow in my hair and face. It’s cold, my horse feels good, and we’re facing the elements."

Top keep-warm tips: "Keep your hands and feet warm, and you’ll stay warm all over. When your hands get cold, tuck them into your pockets, or push them up under the saddle pad for a few minutes to let your horse’s body heat warm them."

On my holiday wish list: "I can always use more socks — lots of socks."

Post-ride routine: "I make sure my horse is dry and clean, then I put hay in his manger. He’s bedded down with lots of shavings, so he can lie down and be warm, dry, and clean. Then I’ll sit on a bale of hay, drink a cup of steaming hot coffee, and listen to him chew. I love to hear a horse sigh with contentment. When my horse is happy, I’m happy. Listening to the sounds of the barn is heaven."

Shawn Hamilton
As the owner of Clix Photography (www.clixphotography.com), Shawn Hamilton travels worldwide to cover equestrian events and capture images that appear in top magazines, including The Trail Rider. Home to Hamilton, her husband, four children, and five horses is a farm in Ontario, Canada, where winter comes early and stays late.

"Take your feet out of the stirrups often to increase circulation," advises photographer Shawn Hamilton of Ontario, Canada.

Typical winter conditions: "Snow and ice. We tend to get ice first, then loads of snow by February. I try to ride on trails right after it snows to pack down the fresh snowfall. If I miss a storm or two, it just gets too deep."

Favorite winter trail ride: "In the fall, I ride in the Ganaraska Forest, a 13,000-acre forested park with riding trails, a five-minute trailer ride from home. Once winter arrives, I ride around my home in farmers’ fields, through apple orchards, and on public rights of way on private land. Two years ago, I took a nasty wipe out on ice, and my face was badly torn on gravel and ice. Now, I stay on snowy trails, if possible."

Favorite winter wear: "I have tall winter-riding boots by Mountain Horse, which I cannot imagine doing without. I also pile on wool socks, a down vest by Outback Trading Company, a neck cover big enough to pull over my face, and, if it’s really cold, a down jacket. I also wear corduroy breeches by Equesport and chaps. I tried wearing ski pants, but found them to be too slippery. I always wear a helmet with an ear warmer over it."

Top keep-warm tips: "Take your feet out of the stirrups often to increase circulation. If your hands get cold, put them under your horse’s mane. Ride in wooded areas to cut down on wind chill."

On my holiday wish list: "The perfect winter gloves. I haven’t been able to find them: If they’re warm enough, they’re too bulky, and if they aren’t bulky, they aren’t warm enough. Help!"

Post-ride routine: "If the horses are sweaty, I keep them inside to dry before turning them out, and give them a handful or two of sweet feed. My horses are out all winter, so they grow a thick coat. For me, two things: hot tub and Baileys!"

Author Janet St. Jacques buys flannel-lined jeans one size larger than usual to make room for silk long johns and thick socks.

Janet St. Jacques
Author Janet St. Jacques and her husband, Will, live in Loveland, Colorado, which despite its proximity to the Rocky Mountains, has a relatively light winter snowfall. St. Jacques — aboard her 21-year-old Quarter Horse, Gem — constantly explores new trails. She’s presently collecting more information for her fourth book in her series, Horse Trails of "Colorful" Colorado (due in 2008; to order, visit www.horseback trails.com).

Typical winter conditions: "Despite what you imagine about Colorado, in Loveland we typically get very little snow. If we do, it’s usually gone in two or three days. We have low humidity and it’s rarely below zero degrees, but it can get windy."

Favorite winter trail ride: "I ride all winter — not in the mountains, but in the 193,000-acre Pawnee National Grassland located in northeastern Colorado. The Pawnee Buttes Trail, which leads to sandstone bluffs, is spectacular. There’s private land interspersed with public, so before you go, pick up a map."

Favorite winter wear: My very favorite things are my flannel-lined jeans from Carhartt’s women’s line. I buy them long, because I like them to cover my ankles when I’m in the saddle. Also indispensable: Roper riding sneakers worn with ski socks (cotton, wool, or synthetic). And I love my Cabela’s cotton-flannel shirts. I have half a dozen. I’ve also just found the perfect winter jacket. Made by Outback Trading Company, it’s built with a waist drawstring, side flaps that unsnap to prevent bunching when riding, and a yoke and dropped shoulders for wide range of movement. I don’t wear hoods or hats, but I always wear my Trail Rider baseball cap!

Top keep-warm tips: "I buy flannel-lined jeans one size larger than usual so I can layer silk long johns and thick socks under them. Don’t worry about looking like the Pillsbury Doughboy!"

On my holiday wish list: "Water resistant, insulated gloves."

Post-ride routine: "Gem loves peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, so if we’re out for the day, I always pack a half-sandwich for her. When we get home, she gets crispy baby carrots and Golden Delicious apples. For me, there’s a big bowl of homemade chili with hot corn bread awaiting, washed down by spicy hot-apple cider with a cinnamon stick. Ahhh!"

Kent & Charlene Krone
Kent and Charlene Krone ride some of the most picturesque and historic trails in the United States and Western Canada, and regularly share their experiences with The Trail Rider readers. Home for the Krones is in the hills of northern Idaho, so their last trail ride for the year is usually in November, just before they pull their horses’ shoes and hunker down for the winter.

Typical winter conditions: "We usually receive one to two feet of snow, with temperatures in the 20s. It can get into the 30s, and we frequently have a one- to three-week period in January with temps around zero to five degrees Fahrenheit. Chilly!"

Favorite winter trail ride: "We like a spot near Haugan, in western Montana, not far from our home. We like the color of the Western Larch Pine tree, one of the few pines whose needles turn yellow in the fall. The color is usually at its peak around November 1. We might be greeted by patches of snow as we work our way through a delightful landscape. Our ride is a 12- to 14-mile loop going up old roads on the east side of Savenac Creek, connecting to trails the Civilian Conservation Corps boys built back in the 1930s, and continuing on old roads and cross country to return on the west side of the creek."

Favorite winter wear: "SmartWool socks or battery-powered heated socks, available from any sporting-goods store. If the weather is really cold, we wear either insulated riding boots or Sorel boots. The Sorels are toasty and rugged, but don’t fit well into stirrups. Over our long underwear, we wear ski pants with ski-type jackets. We also wear Mountain Horse Extreme Line coats. They’re very warm and well-built. Warm stocking hats top our heads; add a pair of insulated ski gloves, and we’re ready to ride!"

Our top tips for keeping warm: "Don’t get overheated. Drink plenty of water. And keep your head covered to hold in the heat."

On our holiday wish list: "Charlene needs a new pair of insulated boots. Kent needs new insulated gloves with liners."

Post-ride routine: "First, the horses get hay and grain. Then, we go to our outdoor hot tub where we watch snowflakes effortlessly fall to the ground while we toast the day’s adventures with a glass of cold wine.’"

Endurance rider Jennifer Nice wears a canvas carhartt jumpsuit over her riding clothes until she hops in the saddle.

Jennifer Nice
Endurance rider, award-winning equine journalist, and The Trail Rider contributor Jennifer Nice owns Ride Media Group (www.ridemediagroup.com). She’s just relocated from Weatherford, Texas, to San Francisco, California. Although the Bay Area offers a moderate clime, winter competition exposes her to a variety of conditions.

Typical winter conditions: "In endurance, nothing is ‘typical.’ We ride in all kinds of weather."

Favorite winter trail ride: "The Death Valley Encounter, a four-day, 200-mile ride in and around Death Valley, California. It can be T-shirt weather one day and snowing the next. We woke one morning to a heavy snowstorm. Fortunately, I’d just come from skiing at Mammoth [California], and I had my ski clothes with me. I rode that day in my powder suit!"

Favorite winter wear: "Most important for me is keeping my hands and feet warm. For really cold weather conditions, I wear Mountain Horse winter-riding boots. Mine are a half-size too big, so I can wear extra thick socks without compromising foot circulation. I wear Gore-Tex gloves, which keep my hands warm but aren’t too bulky. My winter-riding tights are made by Ariat. To keep my torso warm, I wear layers. To keep my head warm, I wear a black Carhartt knit cap under my helmet."

Top keep-warm tip: "Wear breathable layers, because as soon as you start moving around, you’ll warm up. I’ve often started a ride with a turtle neck under a long-sleeved T-shirt under a Polarfleece pullover under a jacket. Several miles into the ride, I’m roasting!"

On my holiday wish list: "Additional pairs of Ariat winter-riding tights."

Post-ride routine: "After an endurance ride, I make sure my horse is warm, and put one or two blankets on him so he can relax. I feed him his grain ration soaked in water with a little electrolytes, then I let him rest. This may sound silly, but I have one of those brown canvas Carhartt jumpsuits. This suit saves me from freezing. Before a ride, I put it over my riding clothes. Then I just unzip it and hop on my horse. After a ride, if it’s cold out, I put it back on. Post-ride, if it’s cold out, you can also find me in my Carhartt knit cap and Ugg boots. I’m toasty!"

Ben Theyre
The Trail Rider columnist Ben Theyre, and his wife, Vanessa, live in upstate New York, known for its cold and snow. However, the intrepid couple continues to hit the trail all winter long. They make their online home at www.bentheyre.com.

Typical winter conditions: "Generally, our average winter temperature is 30 degrees, and there may be anywhere from one inch to three feet of snow on the ground. Ride elevation changes as we ascend the hills; snow can get deep and fall unexpectedly at the upper elevations. Snow on pine-tree limbs adds another dimension of fun: Pull a branch down, and the snow descends on the rider behind you!"

Favorite winter trail ride: "The Finger Lakes Trail System of upstate New York. The area is south of the city of Canandaigua in the Bristol Hills, and in close proximity to a major ski resort, Bristol Mountain. Not all the trails there are open to horses, so make sure horses are approved by the private landowner or public authority having jurisdiction over the trail on which you want to travel. We have a tradition of riding on New Year’s Day, when perfect conditions are clear skies, above-freezing temperatures, and fresh snow on the ground. Our horses love the deep drifts."

Favorite winter wear: "There are few sources of equine-specific winter-riding attire for men, so I model my choices after Vanessa’s. For the most part, she wears Mountain Horse items with Irideon winter breeches. I wear good-fitting long underwear with CoolMax properties that wick moisture away from the body. My winter breeches are full-seat Neddys. A cotton turtleneck and a twill work shirt under a lined cotton ranch coat combine breathing and warmth with ease of movement. In colder weather, I add a sweater.

I wear lightweight SmartWool socks with heavy-weight SmartWool socks over them. Then I slip on Gore-Tex-lined Thinsulate leather shoes. I usually don’t wear ear covers, because hearing is important as I ride. Vanessa has a neat set of ear covers made of sheepskin that attach to her helmet straps, permitting them to slide off the ear if needed.She had them custom-made by a local seamstress, but you can find similar ones on eBay [www.ebay.com]."

Top keep-warm tip: "Cold is an attitude, but I find that Hot Hands heat packs in the palms of my leather riding gloves keep blood circulating in my hands for hours."

On my holiday wish list: "More men’s winter-riding attire in equine catalogs. Santa will take it from there!"

Post-ride routine: "First, we get BeBop and Khan cooled, settled, and happily munching on a 50/50 combination of bran mash with beet pulp, well-soaked in warm water. Then we mull cider and boil ourselves in our hot tub with a handful of Dr. Teal’s Eucalyptus Spearmint essential oils [972/934-9888; www.drteals.us/fragrances.htm]."