Can anyone tell me why

SO THE POOR HORSES AND PONIES HAVE TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF MAN'S [AND WOMAN'S] DESIRES..................................................

If you are going to look at it like that, then perhaps we shouldn't be riding at all? I mean, whomever it was who first rode a horse back in, oo, about 4000BC,must have been the cruelest person alive.

Damn, those Ukranians have a lot to answer for.:p
 
Henry used to be terribly lethargic in the summer and I always thought that he found it too hot. Then I mastered the art of keeping him slim and lo behold! He's got a lot of go in him for the past two summers. I ride about 8am, but that's because the heat makes ME ill. Yesterday I got carried away and was out until 11. He was trotting and cantering of his own accord and the only sweat upon untacking was the girth area. Really, this isn't hot for a horse. Certainly not a fit one.
 
Hot Topic. My own horses are stable during the day out of the way of the flies, then they are out in the paddock at night with fly masks. No work for them until the heat is over, even if it is September. I guess my horses are more fortunate than most.
 
Or more unfortunate depending on what your stables are like because of course they can't find their own spot where they feel comfortable any more as you have taken that choice away from them.
 
do you suggest we compete when its freezing cold or no at all???:confused:

the way i look at it you are behaving like one of tose no-good do-gooders who is convinced that everybody else in the world is abusing their animals unless they are allowing them to get soft, fat and unfit
 
Hot Topic. My own horses are stable during the day out of the way of the flies, then they are out in the paddock at night with fly masks. No work for them until the heat is over, even if it is September. I guess my horses are more fortunate than most.

Why are they fortunate, they will get unfit by doing nothing for months requiring weeks of slow work to get them back to fitness, possibly at risk of laminitis from lack of work and getting fatter. The horses that stay in work through this weather are less at risk of ill health than those doing nothing, if mine stopped working I would have to cut back their feeds, restrict grass and hay which is not going to make them happy or be good for them.

I could continue but it is lovely outside so am going out to feed to my poor horses who were ridden this morning:rolleyes:
 
I brought mine in for half an hour this afternoon to give her a check over. she was dripping in sweat after 20 mins so soon went back out where she can at least keep moving & find a cooler spot ;)
 
I do not agree with, or support in any way, changing a horse's routine and exercise because of the temperature, and as far as I am concerned that is not good horse management and I doubt our horses would favour or prosper from OP's line of thought...
 
If someone could just find that 'Well Done - Horse Owner of the Year' badge and the thread will all end amicably.....

In seriousness OP - think about where horses originate from, think about all those horses on the continent or you know, Arabians and such, and think about whether their heads are all falling off left right and centre?

I think it is far more fair on horses (or dogs, for that matter) to be kept as fit and well groomed as is possible and prepare them to cope with extremes in weather so that they don't suffer when it does happen.

**awaits winter when there will be lots of outrage about horses being outdoors in the rain or cold**
 
It's lovely ... I live for this time of year and the horses are freer thru their backs cos their muscles r warm

I agree about those evil horse flies tho'
 
What a bizarre thread :confused:
op, rather than retiring your horses for the summer, why don't you ride at 6.30 am, when it is a very pleasant working of temperature of about 17 degrees Celsius?
 
So rather than ride them when it's warm, you wait until the nice weather has gone and its cold and wet...

"Who's that trip-trapping over my bridge..."
 
I think your just trying to cause trouble because no normal person would make such a stupid thread. I have horses in France and it was 30 degrees + last week but I was still riding. If YOU don't like the heat, ride early or late. I'm sat with the window open and I'm feeling a bit chilly so you should be fine at about this time
 
I wish I didn't have to work in the summer, if its cruel to horses the surely it's against our human rights? Don't worry boss, I'll be back in October when it snows ;)
 
I really feel for your horses.

Being stuck in a "cage" because you think its to hot.
No work because you think its too hot.

My horse prefers to be out, he doesn't like fly rugs or masks.
He'll happily gallop around the field, or we jump s course, do some dressage.

We just take a few breaks, cool in off, I use fly cream.
If needed he will find a shadey sport bur mostly he will be in the middle of the field, will the full sun beating on his back eating grass and guess what ?!
BEING A HORSE!
 
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