Riding during the heat wave…

There is a 99.9% chance I won't be getting up early so if I want to ride, it'll be 8:30pm or later providing it's not too hot at that time still. It's still light enough by 9:45/10pm to be finishing up at that time though.
 
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ecb89 said:
My yard doesn’t allow access until 6.30
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Oh no, I am on my second by 6.30 - and that includes opening the yard gates and relocking, walking miles to catch them in - both in different directions.

Only ask off my wonderful YO - is I re lock the gates behind me and if any of the horses are in trouble to phone the yard phone and not wait until a more sensible time - in an emergency.

other than that, I am as quite and respectful as I can be, and although their house is a short distance away from the actual yard, you still have to be considerate.

I love early morning hacks, and often get to the yard at 4.45.
 
I'll still be riding as normal, I'll just make sure that I give the horses more breaks. If they seem to be too hot then I'll reduce the length of the session but they're fit tb's with thin coats. I'm sure I don't usually change things until about 30 degree's, I usually aim for them to be capable of carrying on eventing in the high 20's.
 
Squeak said:
I'll still be riding as normal, I'll just make sure that I give the horses more breaks. If they seem to be too hot then I'll reduce the length of the session but they're fit tb's with thin coats. I'm sure I don't usually change things until about 30 degree's, I usually aim for them to be capable of carrying on eventing in the high 20's.
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Mine too! One went xc schooling this morning and will event on Sunday. Another is doing a sj hire on Friday.
But the fit lean blood types do tolerate the heat much better I suppose.

I don’t ride much anymore, but those dawn hacks during a heatwave were just the best!
 
I ride at around 7.45am during the week all year round. I usually ride a bit later at the weekend, but horse (fit TB) and I don't mind the heat and when it's v hot I don't do anything too strenuous, just a good hose down after - which may include hose on my head!

My late gelding went eventing on (what was) the hottest day on record (now no3 on the list!), August 2003, he was 6 then - wasn't me riding though! His rider barely broke a sweat on the XC, it was mid-late 30s temp wise that day!!
 
Widgeon said:
Yes that seems sensible.

If it makes you feel any better, my horses DO have shade (constant access to a stone barn) but they choose to stand outside in the direct sun, sweating slightly and with flies on their eyes. The baby definitely sleeps in the barn but the older ones just stay out. That's only up to about 28C though - it hardly every gets hotter than that so I don't know what they'd do then.
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I'm kind of hoping ours get cancelled, its too warm in my opinion but then I think there is shade there for what it's worth...
 
If I could ride (had one of my own that I could ride) I'd be on by 5.30am at the weekends, no trouble at all. And then I'd probably come up later and do a quick gridwork session with my partner when everyone's gone home or go over the field with the dog.

Our yard is open 24/7 as long as your respectful and quiet.
 
We rode before 9am. Sharers will come in the evening but they mostly walk so ponies will be fine.

I don’t mind getting up at 5 if I have to - hate the heat!
 
If I didn't ride when it's over 30°C then I'd never ride. It gets hot here, and humid. While I do pay attention to the horse and the heat index, we just have to get on with it. I'll ride where it's shady or in the indoor school. Later in the evening around 8pm or so when the sun isn't so strong, we can hack around a bit more. Sometimes there's wind/a breeze, which helps a bit.

I am not waking up at 3:30am to ride 🤣

There were a few days last summer where I just hosed him off and called it a day.

I did give mine a blanket clip (wanted to leave some on his back for rain/sun protection) and that helps. He runs a bit hot it seems, so a summer clip makes him more comfortable.

Both of us get plenty of water and added electrolytes, and those help quite a bit.

The yard also keeps them in from about 9/9:30 until 3:30 so they're out of the more intense heat and sun. Every horse has their own fan too. So being in under the fans to rest during the day helps. They do have shelters outside, but fields are pretty much full sun otherwise.
 
I rode at 9am this morning for a short schooling session and it was fine. Have pony a bath and by the time I left at lunch it was getting really hot.

Plan to hack tomorrow at 9am with a friend but then pony can have the weekend off as it’s forecast 31 sat and 30 sun.

Pony is a black, very hairy cob so feels the heat.
 
Also, hosing your horse down before you ride can help. Even if you just do a good hose down on the neck, chest, and hind quarters. They'll dry quite a bit as they work. It gives mine a bit too much zest at times though. I hosed him down and then lunged him outside when it was hot, but there was a light breeze, and he felt GOOD. 😂
 
CanteringCarrot said:
Also, hosing your horse down before you ride can help. Even if you just do a good hose down on the neck, chest, and hind quarters. They'll dry quite a bit as they work. It gives mine a bit too much zest at times though. I hosed him down and then lunged him outside when it was hot, but there was a light breeze, and he felt GOOD. 😂
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Hadn't thought of that...will have to try it.
 
This week I’ve changed my turnout , to in through the day and out at night the sun is quite direct on our fields / the flies are horrendous and sometimes I don’t think my girl has the common sense to stand in the shaded areas 🤣🤣🤣
 
I rode at 9 this morning, just a short walk before it got hot. Nothing over the weekend as neither of us like the heat.
 
CanteringCarrot said:
Also, hosing your horse down before you ride can help. Even if you just do a good hose down on the neck, chest, and hind quarters. They'll dry quite a bit as they work. It gives mine a bit too much zest at times though. I hosed him down and then lunged him outside when it was hot, but there was a light breeze, and he felt GOOD. 😂
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Yard Manager sent me a little video of Bert enjoying a hose down. All part liveries are being hosed down when they come in from the fields during the hot weather.
 
Yes, we’ve withdrawn from our ODE. It’s going to be 30 degrees. I don’t normally want to ride at that temperature and definitely not in a competition. Horse doesn’t need to do it either
Bobthecob15 said:
Yes another bonus for evening riding is less flies!

Meant to be competing on Sunday, not sure to be honest. Will see what our time is etc...it’s meant to be 25C which is pretty warm but thankfully not as hot as you have it in the south east
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Sanversera said:
Giving 32degrees for us this week.
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Same as us, balancing work/life/horss/dog/family in this weather is hard. Ideally I’d ride at 6am , but my dog has heart failure so now comes to yard with me to potter before it’s too hot, so there goes my chances . Then work from 7.30-4.30 back to yard to turn out but it seems to be scorching at that time and neither me nor my cob like it. Flys have arrived in force too , including the horse flies 🙈
 
Horse flies!!! Argh!!! 😡 As if the heat wasn’t bad enough, mine was desperate to come in this evening for a break from them 🙄

Our field has lots of trees and loads of shade so keeping out as the stable is much hotter, wooden boxes are not very forgiving, she started sweating as soon as she came in!

Can’t decide whether to put the fly rug on or not because she’ll cook I think in that…was sweating in it last summer
 
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It’s not supposed to be as hot here as the SE. I’m competing Saturday morning, unless forecast changes will be going ahead. Forecast highs of 25C in the afternoon but with some breeze.

If blazing hot sun, will sponge down before and after riding with plenty of water and will syringe with electrolytes. Luckily my lorry has excellent ventilation and stays reasonably cool even when it’s hot (the horse area is cooler than the cab when we are driving!). If it was forecast to be >28-30C I wouldn’t go, but below that I will still compete

I usually tend to ride in the evenings, and our arena is very shaded so was pleasantly cool about 6pm this evening.
 
Bobthecob15 said:
Horse flies!!! Argh!!! 😡 As if the heat wasn’t bad enough, mine was desperate to come in this evening for a break from them 🙄

Our field has lots of trees and loads of shade so keeping out as the stable is much hotter, wooden boxes are not very forgiving, she started sweating as soon as she came in!

Can’t decide whether to put the fly rug on or not because she’ll cook I think in that…was sweating in it last summer
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I opted without as just too hot , he’s in during the day though so misses a lot of them.
 
motherof2beasts! said:
I opted without as just too hot , he’s in during the day though so misses a lot of them.
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Yeah this is my thinking. I would bring mine in but her box is really warm and south facing so I think she’s better in the shade of her field…so horseflies it is sadly 🙄
 
Hit 30 degrees here today, and just walk work for both ponies as it was boiling when i got to the yard at 5. The dressage comp ive entered are offering to defer entries for saturday to another show, which i am doing as it has a 'feels like' forcast of 34 degrees. I am going to the beach instead in the hope of getting some breeze and a bit cooler temps. And i like the heat. :)
 
TheHairyOne said:
Hit 30 degrees here today, and just walk work for both ponies as it was boiling when i got to the yard at 5. The dressage comp ive entered are offering to defer entries for saturday to another show, which i am doing as it has a 'feels like' forcast of 34 degrees. I am going to the beach instead in the hope of getting some breeze and a bit cooler temps. And i like the heat. :)
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How enlightened of the dressage comp. Not many places would offer a chance to defer
 
I was meant to be on Kari greenwood’s confidence day today , was really looking forward to it but I’ve deferred , perimenopause/thyroid disease/ sertraline taker 🙈 .
 
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