Riding in hot weather

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Neburu

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So I have been told that I am cruel because I have been riding/working my horses as normal even though its hot.

Am I really supposed to just stop exercising them completely because its hot? Surely One hours work a day isn't going to do any harm.

My horses would all be on box rest with lami if they weren't worked properly over the summer months, but according to my 'friend' its cruel to do anything other than walk in the heat.


What do you do when its hot?
 
Took my mare out for 3 hours yesterday in the heat, she was hot and sweaty, but enjoyed a sponge off when she got back and a roll, but she didn't want a drink... they are horses, we spend enough money looking after them, they are there to be ridden... people fuss far too much! My husband rode his horse with a loose shoe and it lost it about 2 miles into our 10 mile hack, he came back 3 hrs later with 3 shoes and not foot sore.... go on shoot me lol.. Just enjoy your horse and don't worry about what other people think! As long as your horse is happy, thats all that matters x
 
I never ride in the midday heat I try my best to get up early and be back early. Saying that eventers, sj etc compete in hot weather and their horses survive. So long as they're given electrolites, watered down and have chance for a drink/breather when out I can't see there being a problem.
 
I ride either early morning or in the evening when it's hot as much for my own comfort than my mares tbh.

If however it is warm and she sweats up, I just pop her under the hose which she loves.
 
They all seem to be surviving well enough and I ride around 3.30pm onwards so theres usually a nice breeze starting up when I get there :)

The horses are surviving and always have access to water and get spounged down if hot after a ride.

Nice to know I'm not the only one who doesn't mind working them in the heat!
 
I drove my cob fourteen kilometres yesterday it was very very warm he trotted most of the way with some walks and cantering he was running sweat, got home washed off walked off went in the field no ill effects.
 
My lad is hot hot hot (scotland! :eek:) and he's black which doesn't help :rolleyes: I just try to ride in the mornings or the evenings - but as someone else said that's more for me really.

There's nothing wrong with riding when it's hot, tell your "friend" to pop to spain/australia or america for a riding holiday - when it's hot out there it's really really hot and their horses are fine! :rolleyes:
 
we use to ride in 30+ degrees with no issues.
as long as you tailor the work to how hot it is and make sure you cool down/hose off there shouldn't be any issues.

obviously we didn't jump or go off galloping when it was 40 degrees but it didn't stop up doing some basic schooling
 
Do you not find some people just like to moan for the sake of it!!!

I rode my beast today and then after we both had a shower and he enjoyed both parts, of course I did not plan to get quite so wet but hey the sun was out lol :D
 
It's not that hot! Tell her to shush up because it's nice to finally see the sun after the longest ever winter :D
 
I rode today, we both sweated, both enjoyed it, and spent quite a bit of it in trot. Admittedly that's because we can't canter yet. If I could have, I would have. Mind you mine's an Arab so no excuses really, this is probably sub zero to him!
 
If I don't want to put a hat and body protector on myself because id be too hot, then I think its too hot for my horse! but she is 28 and does have a really thick coat, doesn't do walk, so sweats at the best of times!!! but that's the rule I go with! otherwise id ride about now!
 
Its 19-20 degrees its not hot! Even in the midday heat its fairly breezy, nowhere near too hot to ride.

Gosh if we stopped riding when it was too 'cold'/'hot'/rainy/etc we'd never sit on them! Tell her to get a grip and enjoy this gorgeous weather!
 
If it's too hot now, you could be waving goodbye to any riding over the next three months (or maybe not) :p

You ride sensibly for the conditions, exactly as usual. I'd warm up gradually, maybe give a few more breaks during work, make sure the horse is properly washed off and make sure they have plenty of fluid.

The fitter an animal is (horse or human!) the better it will cope with the heat. Let your friend chew on that!
 
If we didn't ride out in the summer we'd never go out I.e too dark in the winter! A sponge down afterwards always nice. We have (unclipped) horses at our yard with rugs on still so it can't be that hot!
 
You have to be joking! I suppose these are the same horses that melt in the rain? Let them get over it, can they only ride three days a year when the weather is perfect? Lordy!!
 
Rode yesterday in the heat at lunchtime bacause it suited me to do so then,22c the horse was showered and washed off afterwards, he had a drink then went back into the field having done his job, no problems.
Tomorrow im going xc schooling at 11.30, horse will be well washed down and legs cooled off with ice boots, taking watery beet with rehydration mix in it to make sure he drinks, how on earth do we think people in hot countries manage when 20-25 degrees is their cool time for riding ?
I see no problem at these temps as long as the horse is fit for the work being asked of them and is cared for appropriately during and after the job.
 
I take it your friend never competes then?
Ohterwise she'd be staying at home because it is too wet/ hot /cold/ delete as appropriate.

I'm currently riding early morning or evenings as it fits round work. Through Aug I will be riding in the middle of the day a few times a week - we are going to RC camp at the end of that month and I'm damned sure they wont be letting me potter out early & then leave my Fuzzy in the stable during the rest of the day over 4 days! :rolleyes: :D
 
Marydoll said:
Rode yesterday in the heat at lunchtime bacause it suited me to do so then,22c the horse was showered and washed off afterwards, he had a drink then went back into the field having done his job, no problems.
Tomorrow im going xc schooling at 11.30, horse will be well washed down and legs cooled off with ice boots, taking watery beet with rehydration mix in it to make sure he drinks, how on earth do we think people in hot countries manage when 20-25 degrees is their cool time for riding ?
I see no problem at these temps as long as the horse is fit for the work being asked of them and is cared for appropriately during and after the job.
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Sorry I just have to ask, did you say 22c yesterday in Scotland :eek:
 
Good lord its not that hot!! I tend to do slightly less with the old girl, as she does struggle when it gets really hot, but the arabs don't even notice! The OH has been known to end up with heat stroke while his horse looked on bemused.
 
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