Events running today in the heat!

[ihatework]

I wasn't due to be doing anything this weekend but if I was, I wouldn't have gone. I suspect the horse would be fine but I would have been a sweaty, red, probably pukey, possibly fainty mess.

We went to watch the cricket with some friends on Saturday. Our seats were in blazing sun for the whole 7 hours. Luckily for the women's game it wasn't full so we could pick some seats in the shade but we had to be in our seats for the men's game as it was busier and even though that started at 6 it was still well over 30 degrees. Just sitting still was quite an ordeal for me, I could never have ridden or done anything more strenuous.

Whereas I was out in the sun at Hartpury 9-2.30 on Saturday and played an hour of tennis on Sunday midday. Yes it was warm but tolerable.

I have a bit of a theory that our individual human tolerance to heat/cold impacts how we perceive our horse can cope. We probably see examples of this on this thread relating to heat - some are averse, some a little more gung-ho.
You see the same in winter with rugging, often there is a correlation with those of us who really feel the cold and the volume of rugging their horses are subject to!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

What colour is yours? Mine was parked in full sun throughout the event and stayed cooler inside than outside so even if we’d been static in traffic we would have been ok!

Mine too. Lottie was tied up next to the trailer in shade from the Neighbour’s lorry till the sun was overhead, then it was cooler in the trailer which was in full sun with all doors open for the breeze

 

[sport horse]

This is the up to day regulation regarding travelling horses in the heat. It applies to commercial opertors but that is no reason to suppose that others should not use it as a guideline.

It is illegal for commercial transporters to transport horses in the UK in temperatures above 30 degrees unless they have fans or air-conditioning and can keep their lorries below 30 degrees.12 Jul 2022

 

[The Xmas Furry]

During the v hot days I've had thermometers placed in the cab and in the horse section of my box when its just parked at the yard
At its worst with cab windows closed and grooms window to back closed, the temp inside the cab was 49 degrees. The thermometer was on the floor out of direct sun. Cab was facing into direct sun at 2pm.

Outside temp was 36 at the time.

The thermometer in the back was placed on the partition. it read 29. Box was static, not been moved.
I was happy enough with that as no windows or doors were open in the back at that point.

It dropped another 3 degrees in the back when the top ramp door was opened and the 3 x small windows were opened, taking 15 mins to drop

Half hour later it dropped again another 2 degrees when I drove the box up the track (hateful as the cab was boiling!).
Horse section was 24 degrees, cab was 38 degrees and outside 36.

I have an older coachbuilt 3.5 (2012 build on an 08) with insulated roof. When i park up anywhere, i aim to park (in hot weather) nose into the sun, means when its beating down in early afternoon, its hitting the drivers side and not streaming in the open passenger side ramp.

 

[milliepops]

Whereas I was out in the sun at Hartpury 9-2.30 on Saturday and played an hour of tennis on Sunday midday. Yes it was warm but tolerable.

I have a bit of a theory that our individual human tolerance to heat/cold impacts how we perceive our horse can cope. We probably see examples of this on this thread relating to heat - some are averse, some a little more gung-ho.

definitely this. I am really heat-intolerant if I have do to anything vaguely physical, leaving aside the heat rash, i did 2 hours poo picking around midday and spent the rest of the afternoon feeling sick with a throbbing head. Whereas the horses have been sunbathing for weeks, and cuboid welshie coped as well working in hot weather as the KWPN i'm riding now. It's frustrating because I know my horse could do with the work but the sun beating off the arena is too punishing for me

 

[Ample Prosecco]

This is the up to day regulation regarding travelling horses in the heat. It applies to commercial opertors but that is no reason to suppose that others should not use it as a guideline.

It is illegal for commercial transporters to transport horses in the UK in temperatures above 30 degrees unless they have fans or air-conditioning and can keep their lorries below 30 degrees.12 Jul 2022

Commercial transporters may have multiple horses on board and be travelling for very long journeys in varying styles of vehicle. So yes it's a useful guidline, but does not mean it is always unsafe to travel at over 30 degrees under different conditions. Eg a 45 minute journey with one horse on board on a trailer that stays cool inside in direct sun- as my trip was.

Whereas I was out in the sun at Hartpury 9-2.30 on Saturday and played an hour of tennis on Sunday midday. Yes it was warm but tolerable.

I have a bit of a theory that our individual human tolerance to heat/cold impacts how we perceive our horse can cope. We probably see examples of this on this thread relating to heat - some are averse, some a little more gung-ho.
You see the same in winter with rugging, often there is a correlation with those of us who really feel the cold and the volume of rugging their horses are subject to!

Totally this! I grew up in HK where 30+ days in 90%+ humidity were perfectly normal in summer. Yesterday felt lovely to me! Whereas I have to force myself to leave them unrugged when I'm shivering in my big coat at 15 degrees!

 

[Fieldlife]

During the v hot days I've had thermometers placed in the cab and in the horse section of my box when its just parked at the yard
At its worst with cab windows closed and grooms window to back closed, the temp inside the cab was 49 degrees. The thermometer was on the floor out of direct sun. Cab was facing into direct sun at 2pm.

Outside temp was 36 at the time.

The thermometer in the back was placed on the partition. it read 29. Box was static, not been moved.
I was happy enough with that as no windows or doors were open in the back at that point.

It dropped another 3 degrees in the back when the top ramp door was opened and the 3 x small windows were opened, taking 15 mins to drop

Half hour later it dropped again another 2 degrees when I drove the box up the track (hateful as the cab was boiling!).
Horse section was 24 degrees, cab was 38 degrees and outside 36.

I have an older coachbuilt 3.5 (2012 build on an 08) with insulated roof. When i park up anywhere, i aim to park (in hot weather) nose into the sun, means when its beating down in early afternoon, its hitting the drivers side and not streaming in the open passenger side ramp.

I have a 5 tonne lorry but my experiences are similar. Amazing horse area temperature control considering my lorry is over 20 years old.

 

[Fieldlife]

Whereas I was out in the sun at Hartpury 9-2.30 on Saturday and played an hour of tennis on Sunday midday. Yes it was warm but tolerable.

I have a bit of a theory that our individual human tolerance to heat/cold impacts how we perceive our horse can cope. We probably see examples of this on this thread relating to heat - some are averse, some a little more gung-ho.
You see the same in winter with rugging, often there is a correlation with those of us who really feel the cold and the volume of rugging their horses are subject to!

I am sure some of this applies. I do think some horses are slugs in the heat and some arent. I also think you can take precautions and train yourself to be better in the heat.

I used to be USELESS in the heat. But as solo driver and competitor, I have got better over the years.

Forward loading jobs, so do least possible on day of heat exertion.
Move fairly slowly and in an organised way, allow time to be slower
Electrolytes and lots of fluids for me (and horse).
Fans, shade, lots of cooling with water - portable shower, sponge, wet clothes
Silver reflective guards for lorry cab windows
Black out curtains for lorry
Minimal time out in direct sun
Sunglasses, sun hat, changing fast into vest top and shorts after riding
Ensuring can park in shade / shade falls across open ramp side

 

[Odyssey]

It's not horses, but a dog show at a local village community day went ahead yesterday, it was deemed ok because there would be some shade in the field it was held in! I couldn't believe it, I'm sure plenty of people would have been standing around socialising in the full sun with their poor dogs.

 

[Kat]

I would have thought trailers acted as tin cans, and quite probably some do.

I found out (quite by chance) that my Bateson performs amazingly in heat. The white shell seems to reflect so well that it’s cooler inside than out.

I took a big young horse to do a class in an outside ring at Barbury in a heatwave a few years ago. If you don’t know Barbury there is literally no shade anywhere. He was on early and I was fully expecting him to compete and leave. But he was perfectly content (and cool) to stand on the trailer whilst I watched a bit. Friends 4* horse however was sweating in the stables there!

Since then, that Bateson isn’t going anywhere!

My Bateson also stays cool inside. During the last heat wave I had a pleasure ride booked, I considered cancelling but my horse generally copes well in the heat and I had an early ish time. Crucially it is only a short drive, indeed I have considered hacking there but added to the length of the ride hacking both ways seems a bit too much.

We parked in the middle of a field with no shade and when I loaded to go home I was amazed by how nice and cool it was inside! My horse was loaded wet and was comfortable when I got her home.

I didn't go out this week because I was worried about the ground but I don't think the temperatures at the weekend were necessarily unreasonable.

 

[Annagain]

Whereas I was out in the sun at Hartpury 9-2.30 on Saturday and played an hour of tennis on Sunday midday. Yes it was warm but tolerable.

I have a bit of a theory that our individual human tolerance to heat/cold impacts how we perceive our horse can cope. We probably see examples of this on this thread relating to heat - some are averse, some a little more gung-ho.
You see the same in winter with rugging, often there is a correlation with those of us who really feel the cold and the volume of rugging their horses are subject to!

I got sunburnt arms while fence judging at Howick in April one year! It wasn't even warm enough to take my shirt off (I had a t-shirt underneath!) I just rolled the sleeves up.

I know what you mean but on days like this weekend the decision is made purely on the grounds that I'll never cope so it matters not whether they can! I don't mean I don't care about them but there's no need to consider them because they can't go without me. I've been the same since I was a kid. Mum and dad stopped taking us abroad in summer as I was always ill no matter how careful we all were. The time I fainted and dropped a glass at the side of the pool then tried to get up and stood on the smashed glass barefoot was a real treat. We'd go at Easter instead and even then I'd have to sit in the shade all day while my sister played in the pool. I'd have a dip every hour or so to cool off but couldn't stay in there more than a few minutes if it was in full sun. I got better as I got older but I'm still not great.

 

[Snow Falcon]

I am pretty much heat intolerant. I got heatstroke when I was 9 on sports day. Blinding headache, shivering and throwing up. As I'm entering a period of my life when heat becomes more of an issue, the temperatures we are experiencing now I find difficult to do much in without feeling ill.

Would I go showing in this weather wearing a nice hat and jacket? No, I would not. My old pony loathed the heat too. The ones I have now seem to be ok.

I'm going dancing in the rain when it arrives (but not naked!?)

 

[Abi90]

Everyone in the UK, and therefore their animals, should consider themselves not acclimatised to hot spells. If there are met office warnings for a heat wave then you are not acclimatised.

You need to have been exercising in the heatwave temperatures for 4-5 weeks continuously to be considered acclimatised, even this summer our temperatures have yo-yoed from early twenties to early forties. Mainland Europe, Australia, parts of the States manage it because they have consistent hot temperatures and they are therefore acclimatised.

It’s impossible to be acclimatised to very hot or very cold weather in the UK because our temperatures vary so much.

It is true that if you are very fit then you cope better. Even then people deploying to hot countries with the armed forces have to do 6 weeks of consistent work up exercise (on top of base level fitness standards), and are still not considered to be acclimatised until they have done a further ten consecutive days of acclimatisation exercise in theatre.

Just food for thought.

 

[ester]

I wasn’t sure I felt aclimated or whether just compared to the recent 40C 30 now feels relatively pleasant in comparison. ?

 

[Michen]

So what do eventers or showjumpers who take their horses across Europe to compete, Pau, Luhmulen etc do? I don't think they are galloping their horses in rugs (although I know they did pre Tokyo).

 

[teapot]

So what do eventers or showjumpers who take their horses across Europe to compete, Pau, Luhmulen etc do? I don't think they are galloping their horses in rugs (although I know they did pre Tokyo).

Tricky to compare though as a a 5* horse’s fitness isn’t comparable to a BE90 horse regardless of the weather. Not only will their base line fitness be higher, their regime probably means they don’t stop whatever the weather/ground. See also racehorses.

Plus what you don’t know is what goes on behind the scenes after the event. Didn’t Andrew Nicholson fall out with the NZ vet/team over a difference in opinion in how a horse should be treated post xc one year? Think it was bottomless rather than 35 degrees, but I’d hazard a guess and say there’s a bit more legal intervention than perhaps is widely known.

@rara007 has seen the boxes post xc at Pau…

 

[Michen]

Tricky to compare though as a a 5* horse’s fitness isn’t comparable to a BE90 horse regardless of the weather. Not only will their base line fitness be higher, their regime probably means they don’t stop whatever the weather/ground. See also racehorses.

Plus what you don’t know is what goes on behind the scenes after the event. Didn’t Andrew Nicholson fall out with the NZ vet/team over a difference in opinion in how a horse should be treated post xc one year? Think it was bottomless rather than 35 degrees, but I’d hazard a guess and say there’s a bit more legal intervention than perhaps is widely known.

@rara007 has seen the boxes post xc at Pau…

But it’s relative for the level the horse is competing at here.

I don’t think eventers gallop their horses on hard ground anymore than I do? Why would they? I use surfacd gallops or box to old turf when needed. Nor have I stopped riding in all temperatures this summer.

 

[Abi90]

But it’s relative for the level the horse is competing at here.

I don’t think eventers gallop their horses on hard ground anymore than I do? Why would they? I use surfacd gallops or box to old turf when needed. Nor have I stopped riding in all temperatures this summer.

Fitness allows you to acclimatise much much faster. It’s not really about the level of exertion as you’re already fit enough for that. It’s your body being able to adapt to the heat.

It’s not just about the horses either, riders wearing helmets and body protectors are not acclimatised to the heat.

previously I would have been on the camp of, we’ll do what you feel you can, but having been forced to watch videos on and do a course about Heat Illness Prevention after squaddies died in 27 degrees in the Brecon Beacons from heat and over exertion I’m not so blasé about it

 

[stevieg]

We hung on until the last minute, hoping they would cancel. I should have known better really as the chances were pretty slim. I can see both sides; I understand that these events cost money etc but we withdrew as we felt the ground was too hard. Our times were in the middle of the day & our horse does not appreciate competing in the heat.
We did wonder if we were overreacting until we looked at the results. There were numerous withdrawals in every section with only 6 completing in the 100.

 

[Abi90]

But I’ll also say, your horse, your risk. You dynamically risk assess for yourself. If you’re happy then that’s fine.

Just dispelling the “my horse and I are acclimatised because it’s been hot a lot recently” myth.

 

[suebou]

to start, I’m NOT a fan of extreme heat……but…how come my two living outdoors, thick coated cats can seem to lie for hours in intense sunshine? My ginger tom chose to sleep for FOUR hours in a complete sun trap……he got up, yawning and wandered off when I questioned his sanity.

 

[teapot]

But it’s relative for the level the horse is competing at here.

I don’t think eventers gallop their horses on hard ground anymore than I do? Why would they? I use surfacd gallops or box to old turf when needed. Nor have I stopped riding in all temperatures this summer.

The pros have access to decent facilities 365 days a year, your average amateur may not, is the point I was getting at. Only have to see how many posts there have been on here or social media saying school’s too deep to school to know it’s an issue for a lot of people.

Fitness allows you to acclimatise much much faster. It’s not really about the level of exertion as you’re already fit enough for that. It’s your body being able to adapt to the heat.

It’s not just about the horses either, riders wearing helmets and body protectors are not acclimatised to the heat.

Again this is also kinda my point @Michen - it’s developing that fitness and adaptability to exercise and exert yourself, both horse and human, in a wider range of temperatures. The pros can do this all day, every day, all evening etc. An amateur may not be able to do this.

Which is why I don’t think the comparison between a 5* horse and a 90 horse is a fair one. Nor a fit 5* rider and a BE 90 one. Team GB went through incredible fitness training pre Tokyo for example.

Though I still think Hartpury dressage in tails was a bit much - at what point does it become tops off for FEI?

previously I would have been on the camp of, we’ll do what you feel you can, but having been forced to watch videos on and do a course about Heat Illness Prevention after squaddies died in 27 degrees in the Brecon Beacons from heat and over exertion I’m not so blasé about it

Having found a staff member on the floor with heat stroke, I’d agree.

 

[Ali27]

We hung on until the last minute, hoping they would cancel. I should have known better really as the chances were pretty slim. I can see both sides; I understand that these events cost money etc but we withdrew as we felt the ground was too hard. Our times were in the middle of the day & our horse does not appreciate competing in the heat.
We did wonder if we were overreacting until we looked at the results. There were numerous withdrawals in every section with only 6 completing in the 100.

I think my biggest concern at that venue would be the hard ground! It’s clay and hard enough when there is no heatwave! Yeah, I saw that lots of people had withdrawn! Luckily I hadn’t entered as my 20 year old pony has been told by physio to slow down and avoid fast work on hard ground. I guess people in the 80 class would have had earlier times so would have avoided the midday heat but the ground for dressage and x country would have been awful!