How do we cope with the cold? I use the Bag Lady technique; lots and lots of layers. My body stays pretty comfortable, but my hands and feet get cold. I pre-heat my gloves and socks by the fireplace, and I keep my boots on a boot warmer/dryer.
The horses' winter coats range from extremely dense to barely there. Zan is a wooly bear. He is comfortable in a medium/heavy blanket at -13 degrees. Reggie and Boomer have average coats. In extreme cold, we double-blanket them with a blanket covered by a medium sheet. Delicate Paj has almost no coat. He wears a wool blanket liner, a blanket, and a breathable Gore-Tex sheet. Geez.
Paj and Reggie
triple and double-blanketed
We are very careful about how long we let them out on these cold days, trying to balance the need to move against the danger of getting too cold.
