Too hot to ride?

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ponymadclo

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Hi all,

I was just wondering what your thoughts are riding in this heat! I haven't taken my gelding out today as I thought it's just too hot! However what are all your views of riding in the heat? Is it safe? I wouldn't want to cause a risk of over heating, dehydration etc.. thanks.
 
I work on a racing yard and they still have to go out and do their galloping what ever the weather. I do feel sorry for them- they struggled yesterday (hotter here than today) and came back dripping- They were all washed off completely and turned out after and no ill effect- they were all fine.
I however dont ride my own horses when its like this as i dont enjoy it so neither i assume do they!
 
I rode yesterday in the heat as there was quite a breeze and that made it far more pleasant - two days previously it has been way too hot, no breeze so i haven't ridden - I sweat just walking around the yard so couldn't face it and my horse probably felt the same!

I shall see what it is like out there later after work, if its too hot then I will give it a miss.
 
My cob just sweats standing out in the field so the thought of getting on him to ride...well i think he would just melt! :rolleyes: Plus i don't fancy sitting in a hot saddle or riding him bareback so he sweats on me!
 
Most of my liveries are competition horses and racehorses who are worked every day regardless of the weather. We were still riding in two feet of snow, and have just come in for lunch having ridden and lunged all morning.

They sweat, but as long as you're responsible and don't ride them til they drop, and give them a good wash down afterwards there's no problem with it.
 
I get up early, and ride before it gets too hot. I'm the opposite of a fairweather rider and actually preffered the rain for working in :p I've never not ridden out because it's rainy or cold. I also pull out of events when IMO it's too hot, as losing an entry fee is better than us both developing heat stroke ;)

Perhaps it's just me? I'm sure my horses don't enjoy too much heat either :cool:
 
I much prefer cold and rain for riding but horse I ride goes crazy when it rains so I have to take advantage of his willing mood! However he has a bad eye at the mo and also broke a cheekpiece (stubben, not mine, oh dear...) So I have other excuses!
 
It all depends on your horse and your personal preference really - I have a IDxTB and have ridden him this week with no ill effects, but he does cope well in the heat anyway. The flies were bothering him far more than the heat!

I will always ride after work so it tends to be around 6.30/7ish when it is starting to cool down, I think riding in the height of the heat (about 3/4pm here in the UK) is a bad idea as neither horse or rider will enjoy it. I tend to keep it to walking and trotting so no cantering when its this warm, and always give him a good wash off at the end of it.

Trust your own judgement and if you dont feel comfortable then dont ride, but if your horse is coping ok with the weather and you are happy to ride in the heat then go for it. Horses are not as soft as we all make them out to be!
 
Yes - far too hot. My big heavy half Shire boy is sweating just standing around, with his dense coat, thick mane and gigantic feathers. Even though I've plaited his mane up out of the way, he's very sleepy in this. Just like I wouldn't like to exercise in this midday sun, neither would he.
 
I've ridden every day this week :) Very pleased with myself as usally I wimp out when it's hot :D

Had my lesson monday, RI said we'll not work to hard due to the heat, so she ripped my position apart and let my pony work at 50%. Still washed him off after tho, and his feed was wetter than normal, as he doesn't drink much.

Tuesday we hacked, he still felt good enough to skip over trot and galloped along the bridlepath :) without being asked to. Washed off and wet tea like monday.

Wednesday we did our fitness training, and upped it by 30 seconds. Washed off and wet tea when we got back.

I think as long as they happy to do what is asked and rehydrated after then it's ok. Same goes for the rider :)
 
We ride daily in ridiculous temps, no choice though, if I waited for it to cool down I'd only ride a few months in the year.

Like others have said, as long as you don't overdo it, they cope with it just fine. In fact my lad copes better than I do.

I just wait until the evening and have him hosed down afterwards.
 
Liza30 said:
I find that funny. Too hot? I just moved from Sao Paulo (Brazil) and this is in no way too hot to ride!

I guess, as with everything, it just boils down to what you're used to! ;)[/QUOTE]

Absolutely :) As you say, it depends what you are used to.

Hi,

Are you finding British temps a bit cool or just pleasant at the moment? What kind of temperature was average in Brazil? Do you have a horse here? Is horse keeping much different? I am so nosey, sorry. I know I had a real culture shock horse wise moving from the UK to North America.

Horses at my yard are exercised regardless, owners reckon they have to compete in anything (team penning, roping and barrel horses here) so they just get on with it. We were at a rodeo last weekend and the temperature was knocking on 40C. Average temperature here at the moment is about 28C, hasn't been much less for weeks, it is 22C today and I have a fleece on because I am cold!

I used to find British winters cold at maybe -5C on a really cold day, now I think of that as quite mild really. Over zero and it ranks as tee shirt weather :)

OP, what is the temperature anyway? You just have to play it by ear, too hot and you can have a sluggish horse and a miserable ride, unless you have to train, what is the point if you are not enjoying it? Horses for courses as always, some horses (and people) deal with the heat more efficiently than others. Ride early, in the evening, or just leave it until tomorrow. ;)
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With the heat normally comes the horse flies - I can't bear them and we both just get bitten :( haven't rode this summer but if I was I would be either riding very early or much later on! Have been poo picking etc at around 730pm its great - lovely and cool and no flies about!!
 
To be honest it's not so much the heat that puts me off, its the bloody flies! I have a sweaty betty and as soon as she starts to break out she get plagued, especially by horse flies, then gets VEXED!! So to be honest, I'm not doing much at all at the moment.....rubbish!!
 
Another cant be fussed person here. My boy hates being ridden in the heat, and is happy in his paddock with plenty of shade and water. I think its down to the indivdual really. My horse is a 19 year old happy hacker and as long as he is kept ticking over, it does not matter.
 
TheoryX1 said:
Another cant be fussed person here. My boy hates being ridden in the heat, and is happy in his paddock with plenty of shade and water. I think its down to the indivdual really. My horse is a 19 year old happy hacker and as long as he is kept ticking over, it does not matter.
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Amen to that!! :-)
 
I'm riding in the mornings/evenings now as its just too hot in the midday heat (hottest point of the day is between 2-4pm). I rode at 8pm yesterday and at 7am today. I need to keep them fit for eventing so I cant afford to give them a couple of weeks off.
 
I've been on board for between 6 and 7am this week, then wash him off and leave him in a cool stable away from the flies all day, before turning out again in the evening. He's just been snoozing the heat away!

Did have a lesson at 8 this morning, but it was a little more cloudy then although still muggy.
 
Have decided to give my two some chill-out time till it cools down; we hacked out the other evening and just got bitten alive by horse-flies. Plus bitten ourselves on the leg as they'll bit through jods easily and just go for bare arms. There's NOTHING that works against them, not even Leovet Power Phaser!! And anyway, when the horse starts to sweat as they do (obviously!) in this heat, all the fly-sprays in the world are useless.

So we'll wait till the weekend when apparently its cooling down a bit???
 
Glad I'm not the only one that doesn't ride when its really hot. My cob is a sweaty boy at the best of times which, as others have said attract the blooming flies. I don't feel quite so guilty now for not riding!
 
I ride after work when its a bit cooler. Tonight was scheduled schooling night, as went for a medium length hack yesterday.
Neednt have bothered really, the best thing he did tonight was halt. Oh and managed trot to halt for the first time as well. Anything that didnt involved exertion was a success, working trot didnt fall into that category i am afraid. This from a very fit 7 years old NF, so no excuses for him really.
 
Northern Ireland doesnt seem to be as hot as England at the moment, but very warm today. My horses ride out whatever the weather as they are always participants, but today i got 100metres from my house and realised we were being ate alive and there was none to be seen when we left! Went home for more fly spray, and may aswell have sprayed water, got 500m the others way and had to come home, the bites on her and I just werent worth it. Anyone else this problem?
 
I still ride, & still do some fast work & jumping. Only difference is I don't do fast work for long in the heat, & wouldn't go on a 3hr hack unless water available.
 
28C here today and I rode my boy, 20 mins in the school and then 25 mins walk through the woods to cool down, really enjoyed it and he coped much better than I did :o
 
Hacked out yesterday and had a jump lesson tonight. Did think I was going to throw up during jump lesson but had plenty of walk breaks and kept it short and sweet!
 
I rode at 8.15 tonight hoping it was cooler it was but it was still boiling! We rode in the jumping paddock which has more shade than the school but after a tiny course of 4 jumps I felt sick and although my boy was still happy to jump the flies were annoying him so did half about 30 mins and gave up!
 
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