Cob Jockey

Appropriately, the first time I had a Reynauds episode was right after a long, cold winter trail ride.  Specifically, it was after SMWC's 2009 Senior Holiday Ride, a tradition in which outgoing seniors, college of equine studies faculty, and special guests ride horses all through the college campus, singing Christmas carols as we go.  Decorating the horses is optional, but highly encouraged:

We were riding in 30 degree weather for over an hour and a half, some of us choosing to be festive rather than warm, and when I got back to the barn and began untacking Flash, I suddenly felt "it."  That familiar feeling of tunnel vision, clamminess and general malaise that precedes a fainting episode, none of which had ever been triggered by cold before in my life.  As quickly as I could, I walked Flash back to his stall, put him in with the halter and lead still on, shut the door and collapsed onto the hard concrete floor, willing and ready to lose consciousness.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, as it felt at the time), Mary raced over to me and talked me through it, not letting me just pass out like I wanted to by that point.  It's so much easier to let go, pass out for a few seconds and come to again rather than trying to hang on and fight those feelings.

This happened several more times that winter, always after my fingers and toes went numb while I was riding.  Usually it happened after I got off and started walking around, but once I stuck my fingers in my armpits while waiting in a group lesson and had to get off because I was afraid of passing out on the horse.  Finally, I was fed up enough to do a little research, and found out that my fingers and toes going numb were symptoms of Reynauds, a disorder that normally has an onset in women in their early twenties (oh, hi!).  The passing out thing was undocumented anywhere I've seen, but I have heard anecdotal stories from other Reynauds sufferers who complain about passing out after their fingers and toes "come back."

So now that I know I have it, I have to manage it.  Most doctors will tell sufferers to just avoid the cold, but hello, I'm not giving up riding between the months of November and March.  Fortunately, mine is not as severe as some people who have episodes at temperatures as high as 70 degrees, but it is triggered at temperatures as high as 50 if there's some pressure on my extremities (another trigger for me, in addition to cold temperatures, is pressure, such as the pressure from the stirrups or from too many socks or from socks and a HotPocket in my boot) and I've been foolish enough to underdress.

So far, I've managed it with:
1. Decent gloves
2. Lined Carhartt bibs and good coats that keep my core warm.
3. Drinking lots of hot tea
4. Smartwool socks
5. Mountain Horse base layers

This winter, in addition to the above items, I'll be trying:
1. Underarmour Cold Gear base layers
2. Winter tall boots
3. Even better gloves, as well as glove liners
4. Red wine (don't laugh!  It's a vasodilator, so supposedly a glass before you go outside helps reduce the chance of an episode.  My husband asked if we could start referring to the liquor store as the pharmacy.)
5. To avoid putting myself in situations where I have to take my gloves off, ever.
6. Possibly a battery operated coat/gloves set.
7. And, if things get real bad, doctors will prescribe Viagra (increases blood flow to extremities...ha.  ha.  ha.)

Anyone have any winter products they live and die by at the barn?  I am always open to suggestions!