Roll on autumn!

Olderrider said:
Actually sounds rather uncomfortable! True - we moan - we're British and it's the national pastime. I absolutely love to get up early and get things done then, just not so easy with so little sleep because of the heat. And, yes, we're pretty short-sighted if we don't appreciate how vital this hot weather is to the farmers rushing to get crops in, which are for out benefit.
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Yes, it is brill for the farmers to get a good year, they deserve it.
As I say, I am just having a moan. My lass is 22 & I feel it would be mean to make her do anything other than potter about under her own steam in this weather. Work unfortunately makes an early trip to the field difficult except on my days off (it's 8 miles from home), but there are 3 of us to take turns, make sure fly sheets are where they should be, masks aren't stuck to a fence somewhere & all is good. :D
 
Toby_Zaphod said:
Yes it's hot, it's summer, make the most of it. Horses will get hot, it happens in the wild & it will happen in the paddocks. If it's too hot to ride then either don't ride or ride early in the morning or late in the evening.

Heat, horses & flies go together. Flies aren't nice but there are fly masks/veils & rugs.

If your horses are getting fat due to the 'grass keeping coming' then limit their grazing. We have massive paddocks, loads of grass, but our horses aren't fat. Manage your grazing, ity's all part of horse husbandry.

Moaning & wanting the autumn weather with its wind rain is ridiculous. The same people moaning about this summer weather will be back on the forum in the autums moaning about muddy paddocks, flooded arenas & being unable to ride due to bad weather etc. Some of you are never happy!! :(
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Try being six and a half months pregnant in this heat and sorting the horse! I definitely want the cooler weather lol! :-)
 
Yep, roll on autumn! Or summer of max temp 21degrees! My tip-
when you have finished your chores
and are back indoors
wrap a wet sheet around
and get a G n T down!!!
 
Nooooooooooooooo its never too hot I love the heat and in spite of having fair skin and red hair the hotter the better for me I hate being cold and have no trouble what so ever keeping comfortable. Get a mite sticky with high humidity though. I have too much grass but the fat ones are on a track and it means less hay bought in winter so fingers crossed they will be self sustaining at least til christmas. I had my kids in June and July so it is uncomfortable being pregnant and sticky but worth it when baby can spend a few months in the pram in the garden or near the field It is so much easier as the hard ages come in the summer when they can be outside and running about
 
I am 8 months pregnant and although I am tired and have massive swollen feet I am loving this weather. Hoping the weather holds out for a few more months so little one can enjoy it too!

Months and months of wet, poached fields and constant rain took its toll on me and I can waddle about and paddle in the river with the dog when its warm. I love it!!!
 
Cannot wait for Autumn!!! The horses are all grumpy and clammy and I'm even grumpier! Flies are driving us all insane, we can't ride without turning into puddles. At 5am this morning I was out in shorts and a t-shirt already sweating just bringing them in and their faces were covered in flies although wearing their fly masks. Oh and to top it off my wheelbarrow broke
 
windand rain said:
Nooooooooooooooo its never too hot I love the heat and in spite of having fair skin and red hair the hotter the better for me I hate being cold and have no trouble what so ever keeping comfortable. Get a mite sticky with high humidity though. I have too much grass but the fat ones are on a track and it means less hay bought in winter so fingers crossed they will be self sustaining at least til christmas. I had my kids in June and July so it is uncomfortable being pregnant and sticky but worth it when baby can spend a few months in the pram in the garden or near the field It is so much easier as the hard ages come in the summer when they can be outside and running about
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Mine due October, so no sun for her! :-(
 
Toby_Zaphod said:
Yes it's hot, it's summer, make the most of it. Horses will get hot, it happens in the wild & it will happen in the paddocks. If it's too hot to ride then either don't ride or ride early in the morning or late in the evening.

Heat, horses & flies go together. Flies aren't nice but there are fly masks/veils & rugs.

If your horses are getting fat due to the 'grass keeping coming' then limit their grazing. We have massive paddocks, loads of grass, but our horses aren't fat. Manage your grazing, ity's all part of horse husbandry.

Moaning & wanting the autumn weather with its wind rain is ridiculous. The same people moaning about this summer weather will be back on the forum in the autums moaning about muddy paddocks, flooded arenas & being unable to ride due to bad weather etc. Some of you are never happy!! :(
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Yes, I do all of the above and adjust management accordingly. I still dislike the heat...sorry about that!

I won't be moaning in the winter :)
 
I honestly don't understand horsey people. You moan all winter about the cold and the rain and the mud, and then we get a decent spell of sunshine (good haymaking weather I will add) and you are all moaning about the flies and the heat and the ground being too hard. I mean the Great British weather is always going to factor when you own horses, perhaps if it is such an issue you should take up tennis?
 
One of my horses just can't stand being out in the heat and just canters around like an idiot until you bring them in, my field doesn't have much shelter so they seem really happy to get in during the day away from the horseflies they are at the gate waiting every morning!
I am personally loving the heat tho! I just ride first thing or late at night for the horses sake trying to hack or school in this weather is far from being enjoyable!

I am one that will moan about the wind and rain returning ;)
 
RunToEarth said:
I honestly don't understand horsey people. You moan all winter about the cold and the rain and the mud, and then we get a decent spell of sunshine (good haymaking weather I will add) and you are all moaning about the flies and the heat and the ground being too hard. I mean the Great British weather is always going to factor when you own horses, perhaps if it is such an issue you should take up tennis?
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I hardly think that's fair. It is possible for the ground to be too hard to exercise horses on safely. It is possible for it to be too soggy to exercise on safely. Therefore, if you don't have fantastic facilities, then it can be very frustrating if you have put a lot of work, money and effort into keeping your horse fit and schooled, and you have to then give them time off. I personally am still lunging my mare most days, and she is ridden by my instructor twice a week, but it literally has been too hot to be pushing her anywhere near what she is used to doing to keep her fit. I also don't want her legs hammering on rock solid ground, which is also slippery as hell. She is prone to weight gain also, so it's a really tough call when she isn't exercised daily.
 
B&J said:
Cannot wait for Autumn!!! The horses are all grumpy and clammy and I'm even grumpier! Flies are driving us all insane, we can't ride without turning into puddles. At 5am this morning I was out in shorts and a t-shirt already sweating just bringing them in and their faces were covered in flies although wearing their fly masks. Oh and to top it off my wheelbarrow broke
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I cowped my barrow (full of poo) running away from a horsefy last week!
 
Moomin1 said:
I hardly think that's fair. It is possible for the ground to be too hard to exercise horses on safely. It is possible for it to be too soggy to exercise on safely. Therefore, if you don't have fantastic facilities, then it can be very frustrating if you have put a lot of work, money and effort into keeping your horse fit and schooled, and you have to then give them time off. I personally am still lunging my mare most days, and she is ridden by my instructor twice a week, but it literally has been too hot to be pushing her anywhere near what she is used to doing to keep her fit. I also don't want her legs hammering on rock solid ground, which is also slippery as hell. She is prone to weight gain also, so it's a really tough call when she isn't exercised daily.
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Yes, our fields are baked HARD!
 
RunToEarth said:
I honestly don't understand horsey people. You moan all winter about the cold and the rain and the mud, and then we get a decent spell of sunshine (good haymaking weather I will add) and you are all moaning about the flies and the heat and the ground being too hard. I mean the Great British weather is always going to factor when you own horses, perhaps if it is such an issue you should take up tennis?
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It's FAR too hot for tennis!!
 
Toby_Zaphod said:
Yes it's hot, it's summer, make the most of it. Horses will get hot, it happens in the wild & it will happen in the paddocks. If it's too hot to ride then either don't ride or ride early in the morning or late in the evening.

Heat, horses & flies go together. Flies aren't nice but there are fly masks/veils & rugs.

If your horses are getting fat due to the 'grass keeping coming' then limit their grazing. We have massive paddocks, loads of grass, but our horses aren't fat. Manage your grazing, ity's all part of horse husbandry.

Moaning & wanting the autumn weather with its wind rain is ridiculous. The same people moaning about this summer weather will be back on the forum in the autums moaning about muddy paddocks, flooded arenas & being unable to ride due to bad weather etc. Some of you are never happy!! :(
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Pretty much this lol ....
 
Moomin1 said:
She is prone to weight gain also, so it's a really tough call when she isn't exercised daily.
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Many fat prone horses/ponies aren't exercised ever...including 3 of mine....none of which are fat right now

I must say....I do think it's a bit cruel to exercise anything in this heat
 
Moomin1 said:
I hardly think that's fair. It is possible for the ground to be too hard to exercise horses on safely. It is possible for it to be too soggy to exercise on safely. Therefore, if you don't have fantastic facilities, then it can be very frustrating if you have put a lot of work, money and effort into keeping your horse fit and schooled, and you have to then give them time off. I personally am still lunging my mare most days, and she is ridden by my instructor twice a week, but it literally has been too hot to be pushing her anywhere near what she is used to doing to keep her fit. I also don't want her legs hammering on rock solid ground, which is also slippery as hell. She is prone to weight gain also, so it's a really tough call when she isn't exercised daily.
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I am not opposed to roadwork so I am happy to walk and trot and tarmac and hard ground alike - it is possible without facilities unless you are competing in which case most people will have access to school/facilities.

I'm just mesmerised that whatever the weather, someone on here is complaining about it - adverse weather is part and parcel of owning horses but people constantly complain about it - and for what? It's one of few things in this country that everyone has an opinion on, and no one can do anything about.
 
RunToEarth said:
I am not opposed to roadwork so I am happy to walk and trot and tarmac and hard ground alike - it is possible without facilities unless you are competing in which case most people will have access to school/facilities.

I'm just mesmerised that whatever the weather, someone on here is complaining about it - adverse weather is part and parcel of owning horses but people constantly complain about it - and for what? It's one of few things in this country that everyone has an opinion on, and no one can do anything about.
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We're British ie never ****** happy.
 
springgrass said:
It's FAR too hot for tennis!!
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Beg to differ ;)
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RunToEarth said:
I am not opposed to roadwork so I am happy to walk and trot and tarmac and hard ground alike - it is possible without facilities unless you are competing in which case most people will have access to school/facilities.

I'm just mesmerised that whatever the weather, someone on here is complaining about it - adverse weather is part and parcel of owning horses but people constantly complain about it - and for what? It's one of few things in this country that everyone has an opinion on, and no one can do anything about.
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Some horses won't hack safely though. ;-) I will walk and trot my mare on hard ground, but I won't canter her currently on hard ground as she is still a little unbalanced in canter and she struggles on the slippery hard dry ground.

I agree, there's nothing we can do, but I can see how people get frustrated by it when it goes from one extreme to the next, and it's no different than expressing disappointment at a competition being cancelled, which you have prepared for for months. It's just human nature.

For me personally, I normally still ride in this weather, but reduce the duration as my mare is completely intolerant and over sensitive to horse flies and the like, and it starts getting a little pointless trying to push her to work when she has blood pouring from hundreds of bites within half an hour. As it stands, at the moment I am really struggling with being pregnant, lunging in the heat, poo picking, and moving paddock fencing by myself, so I definitely want the cooler weather back to feel more comfortable. Selfish, I know. ;-)
 
I do feel for those 'with child' I had my son in October and still remember the horror of my hot swollen ankles that summer!

But as for everyone else, well yes it's hot but I rode at 7am this morning, it was stunning, crop fields rippling in The breeze, no flies in sight and cool enough for some silliness from my mare not reducing her to a sweaty mess. So get up at the crack of dawn if you want to ride, it can be done! She is now in in American barn style stables open each end so breezy enough, she'll go out at 4ish and seems happy enough with that.
 
I'm loving it!!

Great to have some sun finally!!

I just ride early/late and the horse snoozes all day in the stable then goes out overnight. I suppose I'm lucky, flies aren't too bad (haven't needed to use a rug) and our stables have great airflow

And all the grass is burnt off - perfect for my fatties :)
 
I purchased a Christmas scented Yankee Candle last week... it was in the sale.

Am I outrageous?

I do love the summer and never want it end - things always seems so much better when the sun is shining :) Seasons are great though - I think you're always ready for the change to the next one. That's the nice thing about the UK - I love seeing the seasons change, all have their pros and cons.
 
I can't stand tennis!! I don't mind it when I'm not working and can get stuff done in the cool. But after sitting in my own sweat for 8 hours, I've had enough.

I used to love love love the heat. But the last few years I've gone off it.

Just 5 degrees less and I would be a happy bunny 🐰
 
This summer is gorgeous. Lots of sun to make us happy. Lots of rain to make the crops and grass and vegetables grow. Vegetation and verges are almost like spring, not like dried-out end-of-July. Wonderful.

Horseflies probably exist to stop horses gorging themselves on summer grass by causing them to move on or seek shelter. They're part of the cycle of life. Good fly masks and flysheets and ability to take shelter from the sun and flies.

The dawns have been wonderful. Have ridden at 6am and it's warm but not hot then.

Ground is a little hard but has lots of soft grass over the top of much of it.

The evenings are gorgeous. Wonderful sunsets. Warm enough to camp outside without a tent too and listen to birds and watch bats. Wonderful.
 
PollyP99 said:
I do feel for those 'with child' I had my son in October and still remember the horror of my hot swollen ankles that summer!

But as for everyone else, well yes it's hot but I rode at 7am this morning, it was stunning, crop fields rippling in The breeze, no flies in sight and cool enough for some silliness from my mare not reducing her to a sweaty mess. So get up at the crack of dawn if you want to ride, it can be done! She is now in in American barn style stables open each end so breezy enough, she'll go out at 4ish and seems happy enough with that.
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Yes I am not enjoying the pregnant cankles but I love the sun...6 weeks to go!!!
 
Are we not entitled to have a little moan? Hot weather is nice if you haven't got much work to do, rich mans weather my Granddad calls it. I have been working my lad and doing the jobs in the evenings, its been lovely then. The problem is I am not coming in until about 11am and the children get up at 5:30, I am shattered! Sympathies to the preggoes. My first born was a July baby, I remember wallowing in a paddling pool in my knickers and Bra in the last few days, no 2 and 3 were March and May, much more civilized.
 
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