Too Hot To Ride

[ANN H]

Hi All,

What does everybody think about riding in this heat (approx 85 degrees). I have homework off my instructor and was hoping to ride between 4.30 and 5.30 for half an hour maybe. Misty will have been out grazing from 8.30 this morning and, if its anything like yesterday afternoon, she'll be hot, bothered and covered in flies when I bring her in. What does everybody else do?

Thanks
Ann

[BeachRiding]

I hate hot weather don't get me wrong,but I do have a nice shaded arena!! The heat isn't bothering me much! it is around 90-105 around here! :eek: The flies are driving my horse mad though! He tried to kill me today because a fly got stuck under his mask! :rolleyes:

[eventerbabe]

My lad gets ridden heat or no heat. but i tend to take it easy and only walk and then give him a good hosing down when we get home. the flies are a damn nuisance just now. even using his full face fly mask, he was still being tormented by them the other day so we cut our ride short. i'm sure misty would be fine for a short hack or something like that :)

[BeachRiding]

Gosh I use way too many exclamation marks! Oops! I did it again! Hey......

[ANN H]

Me too - it all adds to the dramatic effect!!!

[DavidH]

There is a tendancy these days to wrap horses up in cotton wool.
The UK never gets too hot to work a horse that is reasonably fit. Just watch the ground during dry spells but areana's are fine.
Make sure the horse has access to water immediately after the exercise and any water used to cool it off is scraped off thoroughly. If left on it can trap heat in the horse
The biggest problem is the horse may be more sluggish so the rider has to work harder. Real bummer in hot weather :(

[cvb]

The UK never gets too hot to work a horse that is reasonably fit. .....

Ah, but does it get too hot for a rider that is not reasonably fit ;)

(p.s. rode both days this weekend....but then, AM in Scotland :rolleyes: )

[MeMe]

I work mine, if I personally cant peform to well because its to hot then I will lunge.

Agree with David really, just watch the ground, our school isent a very good school but one thing it is is quite cool :D

[mad mare1]

My arab mare is coping with the heat pretty well, she did an hours work the other day, and wasn't even slightly sweaty, but my welsh cob mare is a different matter!! Even in the field she is hot, and if you ask her to work, well talk about temper tantrums. So they are ok, but me on the other hand.... I am hot,sweaty, and sunburnt, sothe horses are fine, but the rider is not!!!!!

[DavidH]

So they are ok, but me on the other hand.... I am hot,sweaty, and sunburnt, sothe horses are fine, but the rider is not!!!!!
And there I think we have the real truth of the matter. The riders can't handle the heat. ;)

[angelfben]

I have to admit I don't work them unless they really need it i.e. they've already had a couple of days off or I know I won't be able to ride much over the next few days. But that's purely because I'm soft and I feel sorry for them with the heat and the flies, I'm sure they would be quite capable of it :o

[BeachRiding]

Yep DavidH it's the truth! ;) unfortunately!! I worked my horse up in the shaded arena for 3 hours today, walk/trot and a bunch of cantering he seemed fine.he actually enjoyed the hard canter work, which is odd because my horse hates to do anything that involves moving! maybe he is motivated to lose weight! :rolleyes:

[Trewsers]

Well, I must be lazy or something, cos I just cannot be arsed to ride in this heat :p I cannot face working in the school - either indoor or out!!! Instead, have done nothing but half hour lazy hacks....tee hee, thats what summers all about :D (Hope Storm hasn't forgotten how to work though - its been 3 days worth of slacking :D ) I'm not a summer person though, have always preferred spring and autumn and winter :)

[Bebe]

I ride, try to do it in the early morning or late evening if I can purely because it's more comfortable for me then (and must be for my horse too). If I can't ride at these times I will ride whenever but try to take things steady, usually the ground is too hard to do much more than walk & trot anyway.

Yesterday I hacked up to a local show (took about 90 mins as we were dawdling and I had to get off twice to replace hoof boots), rode in 1 class and then hacked back. Bebe was absolutely fine, she got sponged off when we got to the showground, again after her class and then the same when we got back home. She's none the worse for wear today, same can't be said for me.

[Yann]

Put it this way, every day it's been hot and I've been into the field my horse has been out grazing in full sun rather than dozing in the shade, so she can't mind it that much:) I enjoy being out and about in this glorious weather but do draw the line if it starts heading up towards 30 degrees and there's no breeze because I'm not that comfortable.

I do tend to take it more steady though and try and pick routes with a bit of shade as my horse tends to be a bit sweaty at the best of times, but she always gets a nice wash down and some extra salt in her dinner when she gets home. I don't stress about nice weather, god knows we'll be dreaming of it in 6 months time:D

[**Krista**]

Well.... and i thought people in the UK were turning into fair-weather riders!! Clearly not!! Must admit that i will ride rain and shine on almost every occassion! In the winter people cant be bothered to ride because its too cold or its raining and then the second the sun shines.. its too hot!! What are we like :o Every horse should be able to cope with a nice slow hack whatever the heat.. just because a horse is walking and trotting doent mean its not 'working' as long as you ask it to. You can work hard in walk if you want!!

ok rant over... am ready for my slaying :D

[KarinUS]

Around here we take heat seriously. People and pets die because of heat stroke. I would be much more inclined to ride when it is freezing cold than when it is super hot.
Even 'hardy' horses will know when to preserve energy and when to rest.
I prefer to ride in the early morning since the heta kind of sticks around once it's built up until about sun down.
I usually ride around 8am when it is still pretty cool- like around 80-85 ;).
85 would be considered very nice around here but I could imagine that for somebody whos body isn't used to it it can seem high already?

[Bebe]

Put it this way, every day it's been hot and I've been into the field my horse has been out grazing in full sun rather than dozing in the shade, so she can't mind it that much

Yesterday morning most of the horses in our field were cantering around playing tag! I'm guessing they can't have been too bothered by the heat though Bebe and Rio (and a couple of others) were standing under the trees like sensible horses should.

[KarinUS]

Yesterday morning most of the horses in our field were cantering around playing tag! I'm guessing they can't have been too bothered by the heat though Bebe and Rio (and a couple of others) were standing under the trees like sensible horses should.

Ours run around in the morning as well. I think they still want to move but morning is really the only time when it is still comfortable enough to play.

[Peace]

85 would be considered very nice around here but I could imagine that for somebody who's body isn't used to it it can seem high already?

And humidity has so much to do with it, too. :) It was only 85 here Saturday morning, but the humidity was probably 80% or so and it felt pretty jungle-like. I did ride (because Bram's waistline is beginning to expand, what with all the time he's had off lately due to the heat :o ), but just for thirty minutes down the shady creek bank mostly in walk.

Like Karin, I try to confine riding to early morning or late evening and content myself with thoughts of fall. :)

[chev]

Mine are all spending the hotter parts of the day immobile in the shade, foals and babies included. Flies are making riding in the heat hell, Willow plainly didn't think much of the idea given the way she plodded along grumbling, so I don't bother unless it's later in the day when it's cooled.

There's no reason not to ride as long as you do make sure you don't overdo it - natives can overheat fairly quickly especially if they're not that fit or a bit on the podgy side - and cool down properly at the end. And, obviously, offer water.

Biggest problem we have right now is the ground. It's like concrete. Andy's lame this morning and it's more than likely hooleying around on hard ground that's caused it.

[chickflick1066]

I love it when English people moan constantly about the weather! It's either too cold, too wet, too hot etc and no one is happy! Saying that though, I am a right moaner when it comes to weather!

I find, being fat and unfit - both me and Stumpy, it can get really uncomfy when riding in the heat but I dont mind plodding in the shade. Its just the flies have to ruin everything.

[chickflick1066]

Just a quick question! What clothes can I ride when riding to keep as sweat free and cool as possible, especially socks!? Thanks.

[angelfben]

Loose clothing made of light-coloured, natural fabrics such as cotton and linen is best. Clothing made of synthetic 'sports' fabrics that wick away perspiration is also good. Avoid polyester like the plague!

As far as feet go I would just wear thin cotton socks, but you can get specials sports socks for hot weather... though I'm not sure how well they would work with riding boots??

[Drummers mum]

What about on your legs? Jods are just sooo hot but when I tried shorts I got stuck to the saddle! Yuk! :p

[herbyhorse]

Shorts, flip-flops and bikini top oh and lashings of sun-lard!

not very BHS I know, but then I'm not sweating in my tweed hacking jacket. DId feel sorry for those competinng yesterday, it was sweltering by 8.30am and non of the horses chose to go out after breakfast, sadly I had no choice as I flailed in the sun-shine teaching.

Ground is atrocious... boot wearers , do they help?

hydration v.important!

[chickflick1066]

Ahh shorts!! Drummers Mum - step away from the shorts! :p

Oooh thanks Anglefben :)

[angelfben]

:D I backed Gem in shorts! :D It was a boiling hot day and she looked so hot and lazy and 1/2 asleep I though it would be a good time but I was up at the yard in shorts and trainers so had a very sticky, chaffing first sit on Gem :o

I know what you mean about legs, after a ride in this weather my legs (and bum!) are so hot and sticky it's horrible, the only thing I can recommend it lightweight, summer, breathable jods. Shorts are hopeless and jeans much much worse!!! I also wear short boots and 1/2 chaps instead of long boots which turn into mini leg-ovens in no time :rolleyes:

[chickflick1066]

I know what you mean about legs, after a ride in this weather my legs (and bum!) are so hot and sticky it's horrible, the only thing I can recommend it lightweight, summer, breathable jods.
Oh thats how I felt today after riding - and i only rode for 40mins at walk! Ooh i like the sound of the breathable jods, where can I purchase them from then, and any online retailers??

Cheers :)

[*Rachel_George*]

Well I was planning to have a slow ride yesterday as of the heat and Willow hasnt been doing that much but even she had other ideas :rolleyes:
I even rode in a jumper yesterday and wasnt hot for some reason...hmmm think it was just me though :eek:

xxxx

[angelfben]

Just look out for any jods that are made up of a high percentage of cotton, any that mention "lightweight", "summer" etc. are also a good bet. :)

It might be worth a look on ebay or else www.rideaway.com, or www.robinsons-uk.com (the 'summerweight cotton jods' were the sort of thing I was on about but they're out of stock :rolleyes: )

x

[Big Ears]

I think if I even suggested to Rosie cob to go out in the heat she would keel over, poor love is sweating just standing still

If I go out in this weather, it tends to be later in the evening as it cools down. She would not appreciate going out when it is hot, and while she is restricted to walking only, where we are on the downs there are some killer hills, and I just would not even contemplate asking her to tackle them.

Sorry I may be soft, but if I take her out it will be later on and on a flat track only at walk.

[Just.Jump]

We ride from -30 C to however hot it gets around here- not over 35 C.

So that means anywhere from -22F to 95F

[Black_Topaz]

Here in Canada (not even in the far boonies either!) we will end up riding in negative 20 C (inside!). So when it gets to the heat, we also ride into the very high ranges like 30-35 C but always make sure the horses get a good long cooling out and a hose down. The other day there was a show at my barn and it was 40 C with the humidex!
Kya

[amylou_84]

Id watch your dogs more than your horses. We had a dog in today with hyperthermia. His temperature was 42 degrees celcius. Its sposed to be about 38 - 39 i think. He was rushed in because he collapsed in the heat. Didnt help he was a bull dog. They cant breath at the best of times. The heat doesnt help.

Amy :D

[eventerbabe]

chickflick, try the Saxon Warm Up jods, they are really thin cotton and great in this weather. far better than my Harry Hall Atlanta ones which baked me to death the other day. i used to ride in shorts and flip flops a few years back but i had a synthetic saddle then so didn't stick to it ;)

must admit mine had the day off today as they were both very hot. toby, being dark, absorbs heat really badly. i've been hosing him down every evening to make him more comfortable.

[PromiseMe]

I absolutely cannot ride like this! And I feel so bad for the horses too...some of them are sweating even just standing there (before we even get on)
But try riding when the sun is going down...it makes a huge difference!

[Izod1360]

i ride 9:30 in the morning for my lessons and it is still cool outside but hot enough to make both horse and rider sweat!!

[kedwards]

I wouldn't avoid riding if the temp was 85, just as a matter of course. That's pretty average Summer temps around here. If my horse wasn't fit and capable of schooling in it, he certainly wouldn't be capable of competing in it.

However, it really depends on the horse and the situation. If it was particularly unseasonable and my horse wasn't acclimated to it, I would take it easy or take the day off. Also, any time the temp is high (even if it isn't unseasonable), I pay careful attention to how well the horse is tolerating it and whether he is adequately hydrated.

For example, today was a pretty hot day here, but not so hot that it was dangerous to ride, in general. Had my Bud not been scheduled with the farrier, I would have worked him. However, I scheduled a lesson on a school horse and, when I got there, I found the horse already sweated up in his stall and showing signs of dehydration. I showed the instructor and we rescheduled the lesson for another day.

[E-J]

85 degrees?!!!! :eek:
Wow thats hot. In Ireland the hottest it gets here is about 45-50 degrees.
Its 29 at the moment and I think thats very hot. Wow I'd never be able to stick 85 degrees.

[kedwards]

E-J, those who are saying 85 are most certainly referring to degrees Fahrenheit. 85 degrees Fahrenheit is about 29 degrees Centigrade.

45-50 Centrigrade would be MUCH hotter than it gets where I live.