Riding in this heat?

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Jingleballs

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Is anyone having to adapt their riding times due to this heat?

Over the weekend I didn’t ride until after 7pm and even then only really managed to go for some slow hacks as it was still in the early to mid 20’s and my cob doesn’t do hot weather - even in such light work he was still very sweaty!

I’m supposed to be going XC schooling this evening at 7pm but max temperatures today have to reach 26 degrees and it’s barely going to be below this at 7pm so I’m having to cancel as the venue won’t let me come any later and don’t seem to think the heat is a reasonably reason to cancel! Maybe I'm over reacting??

Anyone else having similar issues? I said after last year’s wash out that I’d never complaint that it’s too hot – I’m sorry but IT’S TOO HOT!!!
 
Yes, it is B****y hot, and in this part of the world our horses are not used to it (even my Spanish horses are a bit stunned; shows how acclimatised they are:) But a bit of sweat won't do them any harm, so we're working away in the heat and taking the opportunity to do some nice baths.
 
It's fine. I'm getting up early and riding before it gets too hot and it's been so lovely, the roads are quiet and the air is still fresh. And it's so lovely when we get back to get the hosepipe out and give the horse (and myself!) a nice cool bath!
 
it's warm but not exactly hot:o
i dont' class heat as in the 20's, that's pleasant but not exactly roasting
hot is abover 40 in my world

i love it!:D


note - i'm a lizard and adore being warm:o
 
I think you're over reacting a tad, if xc was at midday I would cancel but since its at 7pm I expect you'll be alright?
 
Think it depends on how individuals cope. Emil works fine in the heat albeit for a shorter time whereas beacon couldn't cope. I get hot and bothered what ever the weather. Think I will just stick my head under the cold tap when I'm done
Lucky enough to have an outdoor covered school, although mostly only use it in the rain
 
Don't get me wrong - I love it!! The horse however, does not and is coming in from the field quite sweaty nevermind after being worked!

I've cancelled my XC lesson and having a nice 9pm flatwork lesson instead.

For those of you still working your horses in this head (which may not be that warm but is definitely above average of late) here is an intersting article to show how heat can affect the horse -

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/25806/summer-riding-when-the-rider-is-hot-the-horse-is-hotter
 
soulfull said:
Think it depends on how individuals cope. Emil works fine in the heat albeit for a shorter time whereas beacon couldn't cope. I get hot and bothered what ever the weather. Think I will just stick my head under the cold tap when I'm done
Lucky enough to have an outdoor covered school, although mostly only use it in the rain
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Definitely true, F really doesn't enjoy the heat at all whereas C (anglo arab) does just fine. We did go showing yesterday but kept work to a minimum and took some fastfibre just to make sure he drank during the day, there was a reasonable breeze and we had a bit of shade one side of the trailer.

I do remember a few years back some of the welshies having real trouble at the royal welsh.
 
Well I'm riding early at the moment, but mainly because of the age and inclination of my youngster. I rode him at 4.30pm three days ago and just got nothing out of him because he was so zonked by the heat. If he was older and fitter I wouldn't worry so much, apart from the flies being a bit of a bother.
 
I am trying to exercise early but have got one xc schooling at 2 pm which I need to do as it is the only chance before the weekend, will take it sensibly, use the water jump as much as possible, then cool down well at the end, the horse is fit and I expect him to be fine, not sure about the rider though;)
 
its england, its never too hot to ride!

temps in the 20's are nothing to be worried about AS LONG as the work is appropriate to the horses level of fitness and the horse is cooled down correctly.

if i wanted to school (GP work, so hard work) at midday, i would have no concerns, horse is plenty fit enough and although its hot, its not dangerously so.
 
I think it affects the heavier, cobby types more because of their bulk and mass. Horses actually do really well in the heat, think of "desert" types like arabs and TB's.
 
Cortez said:
I think it affects the heavier, cobby types more because of their bulk and mass. Horses actually do really well in the heat, think of "desert" types like arabs and TB's.
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true. being thin skinned and light on his feet CS doesnt really notice the heat, but for a heavier horse to do a relatively light work out shouldnt be too much either?
 
that's my observations too Cortez, at times Frank can get a bit 'puffy' its almost like panting but not, even at rest if very warm. He has no breathing issues at all and is reasonably fit currently- and he isn't the only cob type I have seen do it.

They also do tend to carry a thicker summer coat than the finer types.

eta so no I don't think relatively light work is an issue for them but I wouldn't have jumped/taken him down the beach/done a really heavy schooling session for most of yesterday ;)
 
Cortez said:
I think it affects the heavier, cobby types more because of their bulk and mass. Horses actually do really well in the heat, think of "desert" types like arabs and TB's.
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Which is just the type of horse I have!!

I just know my horse would struggle and it wouldn't be fair to ask this of him even though he is reasonably fit and not overweight. Plus, I'm loath to spend my money on a training session that I won't get the most out of and would have to spend half the time giving him a break!

Glad some people are still properly able to ride in this weather though!
 
ester said:
that's my observations too Cortez, at times Frank can get a bit 'puffy' its almost like panting but not, even at rest if very warm. He has no breathing issues at all and is reasonably fit currently- and he isn't the only cob type I have seen do it.

They also do tend to carry a thicker summer coat than the finer types.

eta so no I don't think relatively light work is an issue for them but I wouldn't have jumped/taken him down the beach/done a really heavy schooling session for most of yesterday ;)
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That's what mine does - he gets quite blowy esp when jumping or doing fast work even though he is reasonably fit - it's almost as though it's harder for him to regulate his breathing.

We did a 30 minute shared jumping lesson in about 18 degree heat a few weeks ago and he struggled with the temperature hence I'm pretty positive he'd really struggle tonight!
 
Taz (ISH) I don't ride all that much until late evening and even then its only a walk out as he doesn't cope with the heat what so ever he is sweating out in the field. Rio (PRE) however having spent up until September in spain is loving it and is happily working for an hour and a half without breaking a sweat at around 5 o'clock when I finish work :) hes loving it but he really hates the cold. the only thing I have noticed with him is that when its hot he's a lot calmer as hes usually buzzing and shooting off but hes actually going really well :o
 
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I have Exmoors and leave them alone when its like this-for an animal that lives out and is acclimatised to -5 to 15, 24 degrees is hot! and they are designed to conserve heat.
My Lusitano would have loved this though, he loved to sunbathe and would have thought this was pleasant, rather than too hot. I prefer to ride first thing (loan horse-cob cross) beat the flies.
 
sweating is normal though? thats how the body regulates it self?!

im sat in the office and tbh a bit sticky where legs are crossed etc but it certainly isnt distressing me in any way, i do think its a bit OTT to walk only, in the coolest part of the day,because of a perfectly natural bodily response.

to each their own though and im sure the horses dont mind, but if its stopping you riding how you normally would do, IMO it shouldnt be.

get them fitter and clip if coat too heavy.
 
I have clipped mine when he has been in harder work but even then would choose to work when it was cooler- for me as much as him!

Unfortunately even homeostasis has its limits ;)
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
sweating is normal though? thats how the body regulates it self?!

im sat in the office and tbh a bit sticky where legs are crossed etc but it certainly isnt distressing me in any way, i do think its a bit OTT to walk only, in the coolest part of the day,because of a perfectly natural bodily response.

to each their own though and im sure the horses dont mind, but if its stopping you riding how you normally would do, IMO it shouldnt be.

get them fitter and clip if coat too heavy.
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Not excess sweating though? Or panting. And as above, he is fit, he's perfectly fit, he just doesn't cope with the heat!

I was looking at his coat the other day and thinking that a summer hair cut may be in order including hogging the mane to see if that helps.
 
It's not exactly hot and there's a lovely breeze today. Took TB and ISH XC schooling Saturday at 1pm. Just took it easy and interspersed jumps with lots of water practice.

TB loves this weather, ISH less so but good to work him in this to build up his resilience to it as next BE is early August and may actually be HOT rather than just warm.

Took loads of water on lorry to properly cool them down and they were fine. Am giving salt and electrolytes to compensate when required.

Must say there seems a lot of people who are never satisfied unless they are moaning about the weather and/or the ground looking at threads over last couple of days!
 
Nicnac said:
It's not exactly hot and there's a lovely breeze today. Took TB and ISH XC schooling Saturday at 1pm. Just took it easy and interspersed jumps with lots of water practice.

TB loves this weather, ISH less so but good to work him in this to build up his resilience to it as next BE is early August and may actually be HOT rather than just warm.

Took loads of water on lorry to properly cool them down and they were fine. Am giving salt and electrolytes to compensate when required.

Must say there seems a lot of people who are never satisfied unless they are moaning about the weather and/or the ground looking at threads over last couple of days!
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Ha, ha; yes nothing is ever perfect is it? Too cold/wet/windy/muddy or too hot/dry/hard/flies/sweaty. I just ride and cope with it. Horses are supposed to sweat, it's how they regulate their temperature, and also how you know they are working enough, although you seldom see a horse working hard enough to sweat nowadays..............
 
We did a ODE yesterday and it was sweltering, but loan horse, who is fit but substantial Irish Draft did really well. Soaked hay, handful of his feed Allen and Page Power and Perfomance) in a bucket of water (makes his most fav drink ever) offered frequently, ice packs on his legs and lots of cooling washdowns. Hard work for sweaty old me but he seemed fine!
 
Cortez said:
Ha, ha; yes nothing is ever perfect is it? Too cold/wet/windy/muddy or too hot/dry/hard/flies/sweaty. I just ride and cope with it. Horses are supposed to sweat, it's how they regulate their temperature, and also how you know they are working enough, although you seldom see a horse working hard enough to sweat nowadays..............
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agree, people shouldnt be shocked when horses sweat, a good honest sweat=good honest work done.
 
i competed this weekend- times were midday and indoors. i was a tad hot but took grass nets and parked so they were in shade of lorry and they had free access to water. also fed them salty feed am and pm. yes we got a bit sweaty but other than that it was fine.
that said it was dressage so id probably feel more cautious about something like XC....
 
Well I have a lesson booked today at 4.45 and it's absolutely scorching. I'm not worried about my girl - she will be fine and get a nice hose down afterwards. I am more concerned about how I am going to manage - I went faint and dizzy after ten minutes riding in it the other day! :eek::o

Horses have a large body mass from which to expel heat and sweat to cool down. Moving around will actually help them to do so. Provided they are not worked excessively or out of the norm for what they are used to then I don't think it should be a problem.

I have actually seen horses out there with rugs still on in this weather, and that is absolutely barbaric IMO - much worse than being ridden in the heat. :(
 
Moomin1 said:
Well I have a lesson booked today at 4.45 and it's absolutely scorching. I'm not worried about my girl - she will be fine and get a nice hose down afterwards. I am more concerned about how I am going to manage - I went faint and dizzy after ten minutes riding in it the other day! :eek::o

Horses have a large body mass from which to expel heat and sweat to cool down. Moving around will actually help them to do so. Provided they are not worked excessively or out of the norm for what they are used to then I don't think it should be a problem.

I have actually seen horses out there with rugs still on in this weather, and that is absolutely barbaric IMO - much worse than being ridden in the heat. :(
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and even i would agree with you there! mine have got fly rugs on :)
 
I'm working around it, more for me than for Genie though! She's just coming back into proper work after injury and my work being mental, so isn't as fit as I would like, and we are working at about 7am before it heats up too much. Both ponies are wearing fly rugs, but stand in their stables sweating so are spending more time out as there's good shade and it's cooler for them. I personally much prefer the cold, but would definitely rather have this than all of last year's rain!!!
 
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