article on dressing to trim in cold weather

appellativo · article on dressing to trim in cold weather

Just sharing...probably a little late, as we go into spring...

This was a cool article and I snagged the names of a couple products I want to try.

http://web.mac.com/brucenock/Site...Winter%20Clothing%20Article_1.pdf

becky b

Spring?? Where? Is it spring at your house? If so, I am on my way. I have had enough cold weather and rain and mud.

appellativo

LOL neener neener boo boo, we had temps in the mid sixties, sunshine, didn't even need a jacket when I trimmed today! :D

Do you flush the toilet after you go? If it's yellow, let it mellow if it's brown flush it down. that's our only rule, let me know when you're showing up so I can clear off the couch

cheerios

Pyrgirl · Re: article on dressing to trim in cold weather

jackspark

Can't get the article to come up. I sure would like to look like something other than the Pillsbury Dough Boy when I go outside. Winter is not over here. Nancy

appellativo

I'll employ my handy copy and paste skills, gimme a minute.

Forgive format errors.

"Trimming feet, as with any other occupation, is easier to do when you are
well dressed for the job. This job involves working in all kinds of
weather and under many different conditions. I have trimmed horses in
100° weather, and I have trimmed outdoors when it was -10. I have
trimmed outdoors in hot sun, rain and in snow. It makes the job go much more smoothly
when you are prepared for the conditions.
Warm weather is pretty simple to accommodate. The biggest issue is usually heat.
The solution to this is simple and well known; wear cotton. Cotton washes easily and
helps to keep you cool. I know people that will wear shorts under their trimming apron,
and who will wear a short-sleeved shirt. I always wear long cotton jeans and long sleeved
shirts. I think the long jeans and the long sleeves help to protect the skin on my arms and
legs from sunburn, cuts and scrapes as well as from bug bites and dirt from the hoof.
6
Dre s s i n g To Tr i m
T
Sturdy boots of some kind are also an absolute requirement. In addition, a trimmer needs
to be sure that her hair will stay out of her face with a hat or headband.
Fall and winter are the seasons that make dressing for comfort and warmth difficult
when working in a very physical job that may be done in a wide variety of environments.
I trim in the far north of Minnesota, and in the Black Hills of South Dakota and sometimes
it gets pretty cold when I don’t have the option of rescheduling an appointment. I have
had the experience of starting the day trimming at 50° and finishing it at 9°.
So, what are the requirements for warm clothing while trimming a horse? Well, my
muscles are cold at the start, so I need to be warm at the start of the trimming session. Yet,
as the session goes on I will be warmer and warmer, so I need to have layers that I can
remove as the trimming goes on. In addition, I will be getting into and out of a vehicle,
and trimming in a variety of environments that range from open outdoor sheds to heated
barns, which makes the layers even more necessary. I will be bending and stretching
while trimming so I need clothing that will give me freedom of movement and will keep
my lower back covered when I bend over. That means that my clothing can’t be terribly
bulky, which will usually rule out most of the heavy-duty winter chore clothing. At the
same time, this job is very hard on clothing so a lot of the cold weather clothing designed
for running, hiking and skiing are not rugged enough to last, and cost too much to be
wearing it out as quickly as I would. And last, the job will result in getting dirty so the
clothing must be washable.
7
Well then, what does work?
In moderate summer weather, I
generally trim horses while wearing a
chambray work shirt with long tails, blue
jeans that are not too tight, cotton socks and
some kind of work boots. The first article of
warmer clothing that I add is a wool vest
that is long enough in the back to cover all
the way down below my jeans waistband
when I am bending over. I generally wear a
wool vest to start the day any time the
morning temperature is 70° or below. I may
not need the vest first thing in the morning, but after a day of work when I am warm and
sweaty, I will need to put that vest on to keep me from getting chilled on the drive home
or sometimes even between client appointments.
The next article of clothing I add is a cotton jean jacket. This will be as much jacket
as I need while the temp is between 60° and 45° in the morning. When the morning
temps dip below 45° I will switch to a 3-season jacket that reaches well below my waist
and that is as much jacket as I will wear all winter. Anything more will be too restrictive.
When the morning temp drops below 45° I will also add a “toque” style hat. A toque is a
8
Fall gear with wool vest, carrying a
cotton jean jacket
knit hat, usually wool, and is lined with
polar fleece. A toque won’t pop off the
top of my head like a watch cap, and it
does not shade my eyes as the lighting
fades in the winter months or trimming
moves under artificial light. That hat
goes on and off as needed to help keep
me from getting sweaty or chilled.
When the temp drops below
freezing is when I bring out my warm leg
wear. I have found that insulated chore bib
overalls put pressure on my shoulders that will become very uncomfortable as the day
goes on. They are also hard to keep clean. I like the Wrangler Rugged-Wear thinsulate
lined jeans for winter trimming. I go through about two pairs per year. When combined
with other warm clothing, this is all I wear for jeans even if I have to trim at -10. I don’t
even have to wear long underwear beneath these jeans to stay comfortable. When the
temperature hits freezing is when I switch to thinsulate insulated boots as well. There are
many brands available at this point, but it is very important to be sure that the boot you
finally find does not have steel toes or a steel last. Both will transport extreme cold from
the ground directly to your feet. For those who like to wear toe protection, there are some
9
Three season jacket and toque style hat
for weather below 45° in the morning
very good boots available with composition toes and there are boots available with
composition lasts. Look for them. This is also the time to add a pair of Smart-Wool socks.
They wick sweat away from your skin and help to prevent cold feet.
When the temperature drops below 15° I add a couple more pieces of clothing. I find
that a very fine, thin, wool undershirt makes a big difference in keeping you warm.
Adding a silk scarf to your neck area will also help to keep you warmer. For your boots,
there are foil insoles. These will reflect the cold from a frozen floor back to the floor and
the heat from your feet back to your feet. I don’t have a pair yet this year, but in the past I
10
Dressed for temperatures below 15° with thinsulate lined jeans (note
red lining on jeans), thinsulate lined boots, silk scarf and wool
undershirt (shown on right).
have ordered them from a number of different Horse Supply catalogs. They do require
that your boots don’t fit too tightly. I may switch my chambray shirt for a cotton flannel
shirt or a cotton turtleneck.
And then there are gloves. Most trimmers wear gloves while trimming. At 10° you
MUST wear gloves. I wear the same kinds of gloves in both summer and winter. They
are Atlas Therma Fit gloves. This is a snug fitting glove that has a rubberized grip surface
that lets me handle my tools confidently. It also has a thick cotton-like liner that is an
insulating layer. In the summer this insulating layer will absorb sweat and keep my joints
warm and loose. In cold weather it is an insulator that is effective even when my hands
get wet. Yes, when I begin my trim at -8°, my hands will be cold for the first two feet.
Then the movement will warm my hands enough so that they actually feel warm for the
rest of that trimming appointment. Carry at least two pair so that you can put on a dry
pair for each trimming
appointment. Carry a pair of
chopper mitts or polar fleece
mittens for driving. It is
important to realize that at -8°
you will fatigue much faster
than you will at 70° so you must
rest and rehydrate frequently.
11
The gloves I wear year round.
Summary Of Temperature/Clothing Recommendations
70° Plus:
Jeans, cotton long-sleeved shirt, ball cap or headband, Therma Fit gloves, cotton socks
and sturdy boots.
60° – 70° Add:
Wool vest
45° – 60° Add:
Jean jacket or other light jacket that washes easily
32° – 45° Add:
3 season jacket instead of the jean jacket and a “toque” style knit hat
15° – 32° Add:
Thinsulate lined jeans, thinsulate lined boots and “Smart-Wool” socks
15° and Below:
Fine wool undershirt, silk neck scarf, foil insoles, may switch to a cotton flannel shirt or
cotton turtleneck.
And as a final note, if you don’t warm up as you proceed with the trimming, stop
trimming. The horse will interpret your shivering or muscle tightness as anxiety and
begin to look for bogeymen. The same thing is true if the owner is handling the horse.
Monitor the horse handler’s comfort. When your horse handler tenses up due to cold, the
horse will tense up as well. Trimming in extreme cold weather will slow your reflexes
and normal reaction time. If you have the choice, it may be a good idea to reschedule that
appointment.
12

jackspark

appellativo

I just invested in woolblend socks. they are your friend! If anyone knows of some good, comfortable mudboots that are insultated AND you can ride in them, do share!

One more thing, I read in a different article that amongst expedition people (in snowy weather), there is a saying 'cotton kills.' So don't wear anything cotton as your base layer if you're going to be in extremely cold weather and sweating! The cotton holds the cold sweat right next to your skin and robs you of heat.

jackspark

Lovin the wool socks! I've worn them for a couple of years. Can't ride in them but I sure do like my last year's Valentine gift of some MUCK CHORE boots. Rod is sooooo romanticle! Nancy

article on dressing to trim in cold weather

Re: article on dressing to trim in cold weather