Friday, January 23 - LESSONS CANCELLED FOR THE WEEKEND

Hey Raynham Riders,

We can't catch a break this winter! The forecast for the next few days is very cold, and to top it off, we're expecting a big snowstorm on Sunday.  We have decided to cancel lessons from Friday to Sunday and are keeping our fingers and toes crossed that it warms up a bit next week!

Please use the online schedule to rebook your class for this weekend - https://www.raynhamstables.com/make-up-lesson-scheduling.html.  We have added additional spots for make-ups on Monday evenings.  We will be adding additional spots on a few Sundays shortly, and we will continue to add more dates if the current spaces fill.

If you need assistance rescheduling, please send us an email. Stay warm and safe this weekend!

Nikki

Tuesday, January 20th - LESSONS CANCELLED

Good morning, everyone! 

It is very chilly again today, so unfortunately, we have to cancel classes as it is below our -12 °C cutoff. We have added more options for rebooking to the online scheduler and will continue to add more dates as needed. Details on how to reschedule inclement weather cancellations on the website as well - https://www.raynhamstables.com/make-up-lesson-scheduling.html. Please let us know if you have any questions! 

Stay warm today!

Nikki

Thursday, January 15th - LESSONS CANCELLED

Hey Raynham Riders,

As I'm sure you have already guessed, lessons are cancelled today. Not only is it miserably cold, we've already received a ton of snow, and it's still coming down! We will be emailing details about rescheduling shortly!

Stay warm and safe today!

Nikki

Tuesday, January 6th - LESSONS CANCELLED

Hey Raynham Riders,

The weather at the barn is still lovely, but they are calling for some nasty driving conditions this afternoon, so we have decided to cancel classes for this evening. 

We will be offering additional spots on Sundays and Mondays for students to reschedule. Stay tuned for an email blast shortly!

Stay safe today! 

Nikki

Wednesday, December 10th - LESSONS CANCELLED

 Hey Raynham Riders,

We were hoping the snow would stop, but it's still coming down. We don't want anyone to have to drive in messy weather, so we are going to cancel classes for this evening.

Options for make-ups include:

Private Lessons Spots:

• Thursday, Dec 11th: 3:00, 4:30, & 6pm
• Friday, Dec 12th: 7:30pm

Group Lesson Spots:

We'd like to reschedule all of the group lessons from this evening to next Monday, December 15th. We will send an email to see what time(s) work for everyone.

Also Available:

• Thursday, Dec 11th @ 7pm (Youth, Adv Beg/Novice)
• Thursday, Dec 11th @ 8pm (Teen/Adult, Novice)
• Saturday, Dec 13th @10:30am (Youth/Teen, Novice)
• Saturday, Dec 13th @ 12:30pm (Adult, Beginner)

Stay safe and warm tonight!

Nikki

How to Dress for Winter Riding!

Hey Raynham Riders!

Once again, I am posting my winter riding tips! As someone who is ALWAYS cold (think sweatshirts in the summer), it's taken me many years to learn how to dress for winter riding. Here are all of my best tips!

• 
  Dress in layers and make sure your base layers are moisture-wicking. Thermal long underwear designed for skiing is ideal! Once you are riding, you will warm up quickly, so be sure your top layers have zippers that can be easily undone while mounted.
• Staying warm while tacking up is key! Head, hands, and feet lose body heat quickly. Wear winter boots with ski socks, warm gloves or mittens, and a hat when tacking up. Snow pants or sweatpants over your riding pants are also a good idea for chilly days. You can remove the extra layers and switch to riding boots and gloves right before you get on.
• When riding, a thin fleece headband can fit under a helmet to keep your ears warm! A cozy helmet cover is also a great option.
• Winter-specific boots will work as riding boots so long as they have a ½”–1 ½” heel, a not-too-chunky sole, and a narrow enough fit to fit into the stirrup. Ask your instructor to check if you are unsure.
• Winter riding gloves or mittens really help, too, but even non-riding specific gloves are fine, as long as they have some grip.
• Long Johns under your riding pants are a great option. You can also layer sweatpants or snow pants on top, too, if it's really chilly.
• For those really cold days, hot packs (www.littlehottieswarmers.com) are sold at Costco and many other places!) Gloves and boots are a great way to stay warm
• This is a luxury item, but many riders have added a heated vest to their winter apparel arsenal in the past couple of years, and it's been a game-changer! You are unlikely to need it while riding, but it's great while tacking up and untacking. They can be purchased on Amazon.

Horseback riding is a year-round sport, but we do live in Canada, so it's critical to dress appropriately so you can enjoy riding throughout the winter :)

Nikki

Winter Blanketing Tips

Hey Raynham Riders,

Since it appears winter has arrived and is here to stay, most of our horses have winter blankets on. Here are some important things to know:

• If your horse is very sweaty, they need to be cooled out by hand walking them with a cooler on before their blanket is put on. Coolers are available in the tack-up area.
• Blankets are sized and straps are adjusted specifically for each horse. Please ensure you are putting the correct blanket on by checking the name tag on the front of the blanket. If you are unsure, please ask a staff member.
• It is very important that blankets are put on/taken off correctly, for both the safety of the horses and riders and to prevent damage to the blankets. Below are the steps.

As always, if you are ever unsure, please ask one of our friendly staff! Thank you for your help in keeping our horses safe, warm, and blankets in good repair.

Your Raynham Team


HOW TO REMOVE A BLANKET - Watch & Learn: https://youtu.be/B_qJSnjR-Mc

1. Unclip leg straps at the back of the blanket
2. Undo the belly straps
3. Undo the chest clips/buckles
4. Fold the back 1/3 of the blanket forward to ensure the leg straps are not tangled around their hind legs
5. Fold the front 1/3 forward and then slide the blanket off the horse towards you. Please hang up neatly while you are riding on the grooming stall partition.

HOW TO PUT ON A BLANKET - Watch & Learn: https://youtu.be/TjXvmJnblqA

1. Ensure you have the front of the blanket orientated toward the front of the horse and slowly drape the blanket of the horses' back.
2. Do up the chest buckets, ensuring you put the strap back through the buckle (not just the pin) so it is secure. If the blanket has chest clips, please attach them with the opening of the clip towards the horse's chest, so they do not get caught on anything.
3. Do up the belly straps (they cross), and ensure they are lying flat, not twisted
4. Attach the leg straps by passing the strap around the hind leg and attaching at the back of the blanket on the same side. When doing up the second strap, also loop it through the first strap to make the blanket more secure.
5. If any of the straps are missing or the blanket is damaged, please check with staff - it may not be safe for the horse to wear.

Here are some photos:


Chest buckles need to be done up correctly - please 

put the strap through the buckle AND the keeper.

Snaps should be clipped with the opening towards the horse.

Belly straps should be done up diagonally, and 

ensure that they are not twisted.