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​Mental Skills, Confidence Building, Motivation, Horse Life Tips, Chevy's Adventure Stories and more for Gritty Cowgirls (and Cowboys!).
Photo by Lynn Raguse

Are You and Your Horse Ready for Winter Riding?

11/23/2022

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Wondering when is it too cold to ride? 
Winter has arrived here in WI. My horses are fluffy with their winter hair, there is snow on the ground, and a chill in the air. 

Some riders pack up their riding tack, and turn their horses out for the winter. 

Others get gritty. They have big horse dreams, and they know if they want to achieve them, they need to at a minimum keep their horse legged up over the winter. 

Yet the second most common reason I hear from riders as to why they don't go out and work with their horse over the winter is that they get too cold. And much of the time this is because they do not have the right gear! After all, there is no such thing as bad weather, just improper clothing!

To help you be prepared for riding in cold, snowy weather, I've put together this list of the products I use to stay warm while riding in the winter in Wisconsin. As an Amazon Associate, these are affiliate links and I do earn from qualifying purchases.

For your Feet

A good pair of boots that are warm yet can fit into a stirrup and have a heel are hard to find. My husband bought me a pair of Kenetrek Cowgirl Insulated Pac boots a few years ago, and they quickly have become my favorite winter riding boots!

Also necessary is a boot dryer. Having a dry pair of boots everyday keeps your feet warmer! I really like this PEET boot dryer because it also has the gloves attachment. 

And of course, good socks! I borrowed a pair of Minus 33 wool socks from my husband. They are warm without being bulky. 

for your head

A good hat to keep your head warm is key! 
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I really like my TrailHeads hat. It has a ponytail hole in the back, the traditional baseball hat brim, and fleece fold down ear flaps. On super cold days, I put a beanie on over top of it. 

I bought my husband a Stormy Kromer Trapper hat last year. He wears it all the time in the winter, and says it is really warm.  

It can be hard to keep your ears warm when wearing a helmet, and trying to wear a winter hat under a riding helmet isn't safe as it affects the proper fit. I bought this helmet cover years ago, it stretches over the helmet, with fleece ear flaps that velcro under your chin. 

For Your Hands

Honestly, I still haven't found the perfect winter riding glove that is warm and allows precise finger movement for handling reins. These are what I use. On cold days I keep a packet of hot hands in my pocket to warm up my fingers. 

under layers

I love my Hot Chilis base layers!

For Your Horse

Sometimes our horses get sweaty during winter rides.

Having a cooler on hand to make sure your horse is completely dry before you turn them out so they don't catch a chill is necessary.

On really cold and windy days I'll use a quarter sheet to keep my horse warmer while we ride. 

Coat Defense Powder also works to help absorb moisture and dry your horse quicker if your horse gets sweaty. 
What are some of your favorite cold weather must have items? I'd love to hear from you-please share in the comments!
P.S. For those of you who are curious, the most common reason for not getting out and riding in the winter is a lack of motivation. It is hard to psych yourself up to going out and working with your horse when the weather is crummy! If you want some motivation, inspiration, and accountability to keep riding over the winter, then my get gritty winter horsemanship challenge is for you!


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Pressure is a Privilege: Reframing Jitters before a big show

10/17/2022

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Rocky and I with a Top 10 Finish in Senior Ranch Rail Pleasure at Appaloosa Nationals in July. I'm looking forward to showing this great horse in Fort Worth at the Appaloosa World Show!
Next week, I'll be headed to Texas for the Appaloosa World Show. And let me tell you, I am not immune to the pre-show jitters! 

​For me, I am a very achievement oriented person. I have high expectations for myself, and along with that I tend to be highly self-critical. As such, when I start to feel pressure before a show, my internal critical gremlin starts chattering and nerves start to kick in.

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Come on a Trail Ride with Us!

10/16/2022

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Colton has been working hard in the arena learning to guide and steer Mustang Reva. To test his skills, we hauled out to a local park for a trail ride. Ride along with us in this video!
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How Do I Know If I Am A Gritty Rider?

7/24/2022

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At a horse show a few weeks ago a rider came up to me and said, "Chevy, I love your work, but how do I become a gritty rider? I'm not confident. I don't feel like I am skilled enough as a horsewoman, so I don't feel like I can be a gritty rider. What does being a gritty rider really mean?"

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How Full Is Your Cup?

7/6/2022

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​Self-care has been a buzzword for awhile. If you've been introduced to this concept, you've probably also heard about taking time to do activities that "refill your cup."

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The Warm Up Pen

4/2/2022

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​Oh, the pressure of the warm up pen!
It is so easy to get off track when we see what our competition is doing with their horses.
Are they spinning faster? Loping more collected? Stopping harder? Oh look, they are flexing and bending their horse, maybe I should do that!
If we do not have a set warm up plan of our own, if we do not stay focused on our plan, it is easy to caught up in trying the “win in the warm up pen.” And doing things different or asking for more in the warm up is not going to help you and your horse perform at your best!
So if you feel pressure in the warm up pen, pause.
Take a deep breath.
Stick to what you do on a normal day to warm up your horse.
You can’t win in the warm up pen, but you certainly can lose there!
Get Gritty,
Chevy
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Procrastination

3/27/2022

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​Procrastination is defined as "delaying or postponing something."

We generally procrastinate and delay doing something that we know we need to do.

When it comes to our horsemanship, the root cause of the procrastination often comes down to fear.

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Gritty Rider's Gift Guide

12/5/2021

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Having trouble holiday shopping for the rider in your life? Here are a few of my favorite things to fill those stockings! (Contains affiliate links).

1. Save time, money, and hay with Hay Chix Nets! I've been using these nets for a few years now, they are durable and work great! And get 20% of with my referral code at http://682haychix.refr.cc/chevy1


2. Great gift for rider's with little kids, the Booma Rein keeps kids from losing their reins. I think this is a key piece of safety equipment that should be on all kids saddles: https://boomarein.com/

3. Riding in the winter snow? Whether I'm out checking cattle, pulling the calf sled, or breaking ice in the creek, these Kenetrek Cowgirl Pac Boots keep my toes toasty!  https://kenetrek.com/products/cowgirl

4. Give the gift of mental toughness with my 10 Things Gritty Rider’s Don’t Do Book. Get a signed paperback on my website at https://www.getgrittywithchevy.com/my-book.html

5. Give the gift of Coach Chevy to help your favorite rider set goals and track their progress with my new Gritty Rider's Goal Planner & Horsemanship Journal! Learn more at https://amzn.to/3p081GE

Merry Christmas!

​Chevy Allen


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Make Your Horse Dreams Come True with The Gritty Rider's Goal Planner & Horsemanship Journal!

12/2/2021

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Click here to learn more!
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When is it too cold to ride?

12/1/2021

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When is it too cold to ride?

Well, if it is so cold that your nostrils clog shut as soon as you step outside, it might be too cold to ride.

The truth is that most of us use the cold as an excuse. 

In this video I share some tips and considerations for winter riding-so that you can keep making progress towards your horse goals even during wintry weather! 


Do you ride in the winter?

​If you are looking for inspiration, motivation, coaching, support and more, consider joining the my Winter Horsemanship Challenge! Learn more here.
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