Too hot too hack?

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PercyBrown

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what temperature do you think makes it too hot to hack out. I am riding early at the moment because of the temperature but lots of people are not doing the same am i being paranoid?
 
im riding mine after my tea (bout 1/2hours time) i think in the middle of the day when the heat is at its peak, i thinks that's just asking too much. i put it down to thinking 'could i walk out with a back-pack on in a fur coat and be ok?' and yes i know some horses are ok in the heat, but really, with the flies as well? what's the point?
 
Well, i rode out about 10am this morning (had a day off work) but then I had just fully clipped him! I have to clip in about this time every year as he starts to grow a coat back at the end of July/Aug a time and gets lethargic if i don't clip him. I think early morning is the better time to ride. I can't really do that though before work so i do end up riding after 6pm normally but often it seems to be hotter and more humid later on in the day so if I feel it is too hot/muggy I won't bother riding as it's no fun for anyone!
 
I rode at about 9 this morning, i was still hot then, can't understand people that hack in the middle of the day in the heat and bring their horses home drenched in sweat. Although before anyone jumps on me, i do understand that for some it's not possible to ride early am or late pm.
 
PercyBrown said:
what temperature do you think makes it too hot to hack out. I am riding early at the moment because of the temperature but lots of people are not doing the same am i being paranoid?
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Do as you think best for yourself and your horses, you can't tell people what to do unless it is your horses they are on.

My Boarders get here about 6.30am to ride, and I've been out and got back by then, it's 25C + by then, almost 2pm here and it's 38C right now, nobody does much in this heat, humidity sucks:mad:
 
If it's hot, I would rather hack than ride in the school, and by hack, I mean a plod possibly bareback around the block or field just for a change of scenery and some light excersise.

One very hot afternoon when my boy wasn't particularly fit, I stupidly decided to go a little further and regretted it half way around when we were both dripping in sweat and covered in flies. We went to my house which was closer than the yard, cooled him off, hosed him down and rode the rest of the way bareback. It wasn't really fair and neither of us enjoyed it so I wait for cooler times now.

I actually prefer riding in the rain...
 
I must say, I feel awfully sorry for the carriage horses here (New York City). I don't walk my dogs in the middle of the day when the temperatures are so high (92f today) yet the carriage horses are out in full force in Central Park.
 
It is too hot for me full stop!!! If it is too hot for me them I am not going riding, itchy hot and sweaty, not fun.

As for horses in central park, poor things, there is a horse and cart doing tourist guides in the bail area of Lincoln ATM, he is well looked after and watered, but do feel sorry for him.

I just hate the summer, bah hum bug, spring and autumn every time for me, I don't even mind the winter except wen it goes on for 3 months in feet of snow :)
 
Depends really, if you compete during the summer months then it is sensible to work in the day so you both get used to it. Working gently, bearing in mind the usually harder ground, with plenty of time of cool down and without getting too hot and sweaty isn't too bad at all. Hosing down legs after, and considering that you might need to add electrolytes to water too should enable your horse to tollerate working in the heat. If you go about ragging your horse without regard to the weather or the gound then prepare to pay the price with a poor exhausted and broken horse.
 
Mine get ridden at various times of the day. Autumn is eventing so needs to be kept fit. Rather give her the appropriate work she needs than have her coming in from the xc absolutely knackered and unfit. That said I do ride with my head - she is warmed down appropriately and gets a full hose down plus cool leg gel if shes done something very strenuous. Usually comes in for a few hours over the middle of the day too - both of mine love coming in for a cool lunchtime snooze!
 
i usually ride before work all year round, but i went out for a long ride yesterday and it was hot, but the only reason she came back a sweaty sticky mess because she was being a complete plonker for the whole ride, jogging, spooking, bouncing! so im guessing she didnt think it was too hot.
was v humid tonight when i took her out at about 7.30 pm she still pranced the whole way to the galloping field and went like a rocket!
but i dont generally ride if its very sunny and hot. Just overcast and hot. I hate riding in really hot glaring sun, makes me feel ill and i burn like nothing on earth and i dont think the beating sun is nice for her. but overcast and hot i do ride in....otherwise between the heat and snow and ice in winter we would only ride for a couple of months a year!!
 
I prefer to ride early mornings through high summer (am autumn/winter person).

However, when we were competing at high level, then I'd make sure that exercising got done at different times of the day - not every class would be conveniently held at 9am ;) thus getting Fuzzies (and me!) used to riding at all temps.
 
And there was me thinking Im the only one who is not a fan of summer!! The flies, heat and rock hard ground make the whole thing pretty miserable for me and Che, we both prefer spring and autumn. If I cant manage to work him either before 9am or after 8pm I dont bother, simple as that. Instead he comes up to the yard and gets a wipe over with a sponge, eyes and ears cleamed and re fly sprayed, a little doze in the cool barn and back out.
 
I've not been able to ride mine since Saturday as just too hot here!- even last night at 7.30 pm when i left the yard it was over 70 degrees, so i didn't think it would be fair on them!

It's supposed to be cooling down on Friday (South East), and tomorrow's supposed to be even hotter!
 
Been riding 1ish during these hot days, and when I say hack I mean an hours plod, to be honest the flies aren't so bad when its sunny, and only gets a bit hot under the saddle, no sweat anywhere else. Do sometimes ride in the early evenings, but then the flies slaughter us!


He gets hosed down before hes put back in the field, so I suppose it depends on if your horse gets really hot and sweaty or not? Ours is fit at the moment x
 
My horse is still a forward-going steamer, no matter what the weather!

It's ME that doesn't like to ride in the baking heat, so mornings are the best time I like to ride out.

Nice then, once the horses are washed down, fed and put back into their paddocks....to see them roll, then go and stand under the trees in the shade and doze....whilst I'm cooking, doing the poo-picking!
 
Well I ride any time of the day...makes little difference as it isn't even close to warm here...has been overcast and raining for days and the night before last i had to put the heating on.
I would love to have a little bit of the heat here for a week or so just to see some Summer x
 
Normally it’s too hot for me before it’s too hot for Henry, so he gets a good deal in the summer!! I’m much more active in the cooler Autumn and so is he. Neither of us enjoys hacking above 25oC in sunlight, so I choose a shady route (not hard in my area!) and in the evening. Haven’t got the discipline for an early morning ride, much as I love it when I DO throw myself out of bed at silly o clock!
 
I went out about 7.30am, was glorious :) all the fields by us have been harvested so .................stubble fields!!!!! by the time we were heading back home at 10ish it was getting hot.
 
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