Are you riding? Hard ground/heat/flies?

Overcast on and off here today but still v hot. Have been riding as usual, did a jump clinic on Saturday (was on at 9am) no issues there as a bit cooler in the morning due to being cloudy (early 20s temp wise). Schooled yesterday and hacked this morning, am usually on by 7.45am during the week. Horse and I were sweaty but no issues otherwise! Have noticed more horseflies out in the last week, have managed to swat a few, which is oddly satisfying...
 
Not ridden since Saturday , Saturday was warm but went out early , got hounded by horse flies who ate me and horse. Not bothered since, way too hot and humid I can’t face the thought of wearing a hat.
 
I haven’t ridden since Wednesday last week, even though it wasn’t terrible last week. Erin, my lovely new happy hacker, is just settling in and she’s a bit unfit so I’ve stuck to groundwork and pampering. It’s a good excuse to avoid the heat and horseflies. 🙈
 
I ride but I have the beach to ride on when the ground is hard and the sea to splash in when its hot. I'm also lucky as the woods are cool and there are various soft paths we can use.
 
Urrrrggghhhh the flies!!!!

Just been out as it was cool enough with a nice breeze, but we were bombarded by the effin flies!! Not so many horse flies today but loads of others which were fast enough to avoid being splattered. They kept disappearing, giving us a false sense of security, and then they turned up like a mob and harassed us for a few minutes before disappearing again.
Fly spray is flippin useless and my cob would get too hot in a full riding fly rug thing. Need some minions to walk around us flapping the flies away.....
 
We have a massive heatwave coming from Thursday 31c for 10 days which is as far as weather forecast goe. Not sure what I am going to do as Bert needs to loose weight. He has been taking it very easy due to his liver problem and needing a new saddle. Liver problem is improving.

www.bbc.co.uk

Slough - BBC Weather

14-day weather forecast for Slough.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
 
We’ve now stopped doing anything that isn’t on a soft surface now, we hack of course but only walk and trot out hacking now. Continuing with jumping but in an arena only…shame really as we wanted to do some XC things but no way the ground is concrete.

Our local PC eventing qualifier has moved venues to hopefully better ground as entries are so low at present but I suspect a lot will not bother going.

Flies are a total pain too but just having to deal with it sadly! Trying to avoid the hottest days where the horse flies love to come out!
 
Rode today but only in walk and trot. Had some rain over the weekend which softened the ground up a little thankfully, but it's set to be another 30°+ heatwave again here from Wednesday so won't be riding then
 
Mine suffers from Hayfever so I am avoiding the High pollen days - went out last night for a gentle pootle and got totally covered in the big horseflies - so one very very grumpy pony and I look very much like the Elephant Man this morning - give me a nice icy winters day any time!
 
Hazzelnutt said:
So this is a bit of a strange one 🤣 I’ve been feeding all my horses Equell Gut Food for the last 9months and this is the first year I’ve not had to use fly rugs/masks etc. They are all out naked. I wondered if maybe this was just coincidence and we had less flies (as have seen everyone moaning about them) but one mare has recently started on a course of antibiotics for an infection and since that…. She’s absolutely plagued with flies!! None of the rest are - just her. Really got me thinking is the health of their hindgut impacting on their “attractiveness” to flies?! Like I’d it a sign of being somewhat toxic inside? Antibiotics are known to whack the hind gut so it would make sense that the mare on that course is now being plagued by flies?! It’s quite interesting!!
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We went out yesterday for a long ride and didn't see many flies at all - I started him on garlic last week so wonder if it's had an impact? Will keep going with it and see what happens
 
Omg the flies, I eat a lot of garlic and they were even biting my bleedin face the other day. Does anyone know if anything that works?
 
Heatwave stretching for next 16 days which is as far as the BBC weather forecast goes. It is still 29C at 9.00pm at night which is when yard closes. I can't exercise before work as I would need to be at the yard at 5am to do that as don't live near yard and yard doesn't open till 6.30am.

Not sure how will manage exercise during heatwave as Bert's liver condition is still being treated and don't want to put too much pressure on him in hot weather but same time need some exercise due to weight. Riding in walk in the evenings as late as possible before yard closes is probably the best option.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday over 30C then it drops to high 20Cs.
 
I’m giving up on riding till it’s back to an ok temperature , still 28 here at this time and 27/33 for as long as I can see. Last thing I want to do is where riding clothes/hat , horse sweaty and sleepy doing nothing !
 
I have just finished riding this evening still quite hot but as Bert's fat he needs some exercise most days. We just did 25 minutes mainly in walk because of his liver/saddle issue. One of the yard staff is hopefully going to lunge him tomorrow morning before it gets hot.
 
canteron said:
I am finding it really difficult. The school is so dry she coughs all the time, the paddocks are so hard it’s only possible to walk and riding out is a battle with horse flies (for both of us) and the hot hot weather here doesn’t help.

Please tell me I’m not alone in thinking of giving her a holiday until it cools down as it is really no fun and I can’t even keep her ticking over with any enthusiasm from either of us.

But then I see the professionals still taking their horses out and about to compete …. It makes me feel as I’m being too wimpy.
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No not riding or anything as mare still recovering from RVC maybe next week.
 
Spanish pony doesn’t care about heat or flies (so long as she wears her ride on rug). Did a two hour hack today. Husband and Highland pony not impressed. Highland will get the rest of the weekend off. Husband will have to man up.
 
Yes I am but with no real routine atm. Riding very early or late, and more hacking on shady routes. Also using recovery mash and having lots of showers. But we're ticking over. I think the horse is probably benefitting from the lighter workload at the moment
 
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