Hot weather and riding

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Ellietotz

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We are having lovely weather of up to 21 degrees at the moment, albeit not comparable to some places, and I'm just feeling guilty if I go out for a light hack in anything 20 or above which means the only option is to go at the crack of dawn which isn't always possible.

I don't know if I'm being silly or not so I wondered if anyone here has a "temperature limit"?
 
Ellietotz said:
We are having lovely weather of up to 21 degrees at the moment, albeit not comparable to some places, and I'm just feeling guilty if I go out for a light hack in anything 20 or above which means the only option is to go at the crack of dawn which isn't always possible.

I don't know if I'm being silly or not so I wondered if anyone here has a "temperature limit"?
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Errr no. Evented Horse in 30 plus degrees before. 20 degrees is not hot
 
Depends on the horse. My old girl doesn’t care how hot it is but my sec D who is black and has breathing issues really struggles. It’s been 23/24 with me the last couple of days which has been lovely and certainly not too hot!
 
I agree with Michen that 21 degrees is not hot. I wouldn't personally event at 30 degrees but I would hack out and do a bit of schooling
 
I feel #blessed when it goes over 10 degrees here. ? I'd probably die if it went over 20. Ok. I'm exaggerating but it's been a long winter.

But in the normal world 20 degrees isnt too hot for light hacking. ?
 
I've been hacking the last two days in the South East it's been about 24 °c and it's expected to get up to 26° later. It was lovely actually as it was neither too hot bit nor chilly for once! I have a hairy native pony who does get sweaty in the 'proper' summer heat - but I bath/hose when we get back and increase his salt intake accordingly. He's not excessively sweated the last few days, just around saddle pad and girth area :)

Was it last summer it was exceptionally hot? Or the summer before? But either way, we were still hacking, riding and doing bits and pieces in the heat - sticking to shadier routes, which isn't too tricky!
 
20° is not too hot. Theres lots of people on here that would like to be able to ride in this weather that cannot..
 
21c is fine for riding. If it gets above 30 I would aim to ride early or late and would keep it steady. 21c is nothing though, it is only just warm enough to hack without a coat!
 
I decided not to ride as mine have their winter coats still and were sweating stood in the field yesterday. I worry that they would be able to cool off properly. Also the flies here are horrible.
 
My mare doesn't sweat but I do work her up to about 20 degrees. Humidity is harder for her. I have walked for 45 mins in high 20s but she was zonked after.

An indoor clinic in the mid 20s was too much and I pulled out.
 
Wheels said:
I agree with Michen that 21 degrees is not hot. I wouldn't personally event at 30 degrees but I would hack out and do a bit of schooling
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Really not an issue if your horses are fit and you apply some common sense eg don’t warm up for hours, don’t push for the time if your horse is at its max level, cool off quickly etc etc. It might be different if the temp went from late teens to 30 and you then went out and evented so horse not acclimatised, but really can’t see an issue with any horse that’s done a reasonable amount of work in spring, summer during day eventing at that temperature. Unless it’s fat and unfit in which case it shouldn’t be eventing anyway!
 
I know it seems like a silly question but it doesn't help when there are people telling me I'll cook her if I go out for a hack in the middle of the day when its between 20-26 degrees! She's a thin coated warmblood/Arab x so no heavy winter coat either.
 
Michen said:
Really not an issue if your horses are fit and you apply some common sense eg don’t warm up for hours, don’t push for the time if your horse is at its max level, cool off quickly etc etc. It might be different if the temp went from late teens to 30 and you then went out and evented so horse not acclimatised, but really can’t see an issue with any horse that’s done a reasonable amount of work in spring, summer during day eventing at that temperature. Unless it’s fat and unfit in which case it shouldn’t be eventing anyway!
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I wasnt haven't a go! If you want to event in 30 degrees then fill your boots.

For me personally that's too hot but then I imagine we live in different climates. It's highly unusual that temps reach that level where I live in the glens
 
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Ellietotz said:
I know it seems like a silly question but it doesn't help when there are people telling me I'll cook her if I go out for a hack in the middle of the day when its between 20-26 degrees! She's a thin coated warmblood/Arab x so no heavy winter coat either.
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Who is telling you that though? It is a pretty extreme view. Are they perhaps those type of people who look for any excuse not to ride and then try to drag others into their misery?

Ignore them and get on with enjoying your horse. If it sweats up sponge it off after your ride. A bit of sweat is normal though think more carefully when it is hot enough for the horse to sweat while at rest.
 
Kat said:
Who is telling you that though? It is a pretty extreme view. Are they perhaps those type of people who look for any excuse not to ride and then try to drag others into their misery?

Ignore them and get on with enjoying your horse. If it sweats up sponge it off after your ride. A bit of sweat is normal though think more carefully when it is hot enough for the horse to sweat while at rest.
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I share a yard with the YO so just her. She rides nearly every day and only hacks as well but will go in the morning when it's still cool. Sometimes even her non horsey partner will say "isn't it too hot to go out in this". So it just makes me feel guilty hearing that I'll give her heat stroke or whatever.
 
I wonder if they are people who get hot easily and what they mean is they wouldn't want to exercise in this weather.
 
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