Can a hairy/native horse or pony cope with working on hot days?

[cp1980]

I had a thought that hit me today. Quite random, but none-the-less, a thought.

Can horses which are noted for their cold weather hardniess, such as native breeds, or similar stock such as Freisians and such like cope with working hard on hot days?

My definition of cope is to not have any drop in performance level during the work and not suffer any ill-effects after. And my definition of hard work is competition that requires some endurance, such as cross-country or driving trials or something like that.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Hairy natives are not so hairy in the summer and as long as they are fit for the work that is expected of them and are managed properly, I can't see a problem. They might need electrolytes after work but I think excited TBs can sweat as much!

 

[LuanneCat]

In my experience, they certainly can. All the riding club Horses here do day rides up the mountains in the summer at +38 degrees. They are very fit and not overly hairy at this time though. They are exceptionally happy to do so too!. When the thicker saddle cloths with the saddle bags come out of the tack room the effect is amazing and quite comical. They know they're off

.

 

[Kermie]

Must admit my Fells can sometimes struggle a bit in really hot weather. They still perform but they do become sweaty - more so my black than my brown ones though.

 

[StarFell]

My fell pony copes but does get very sweaty, hes as enthusiastic as always though! I sometimes plait his mane up to keep it off his neck as its over 2ft long and does make him sweat up.

 

[Donkeymad]

Ours have always coped well.

 

[rara007]

Yes! OK ours are not hairy, but they are native.

In denmark in the summer, after 1 day of dresage and 20Km

And england, again after about 20Km at the fast trot/canter and dressage a cones the day before

 

[mrdarcy]

The 2007 British Endurance champion is a native (Connemara) - proof that the natives can compete favorably with arabs and other hot blooded horses in all conditions.

 

[cp1980]

[ QUOTE ]
The 2007 British Endurance champion is a native (Connemara) - proof that the natives can compete favorably with arabs and other hot blooded horses in all conditions.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow that's interesting news.

I've experienced at first hand how much stamina our natives have in driving trials, but I've just wondered whether this will continue to be the case if we have hotter summers in future. Maybe I'm just getting a bit hysterical