What time do you ride in the hot weather?

[orkanmylove]

As title i have a 18 yr old am wondering the best time to ride in this hot weather,cannot do early mornings only from 3.30pm onwards not sure if the heat will be unfair to him?
wondering what ever one else does

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

I finish work at 4.30, so after getting to the horses, grooming, tacking up etc. I'll be around 6-6.30pm

 

[lexiedhb]

Ride the same time I do in the winter about 4.30pm......... I wouldnt really take the heat into too much consideration unless I was planning a mammouth schooling session or lots and lots of fast work.........

 

[3Beasties]

I usually ride about 6.30pm, not because of the weather though but because that's what time the children get home from school and they ride with me.

 

[AmyMay]

I'll ride at around 6.30 tonight - once the heat has gone out of the day.

 

[UKa]

I ride in the mornings - failing that I would do as late as poss in the day when it is hot. I remember that in the old days with my previous horse I sometimes didn't ride at all if days were too hot...

 

[Chico Mio]

Well, I'm obviously weird, or maybe because there's only me and OH and we can do what we like but, I ride between 7.30 and 9.30 at night. In the summer we are sometimes out until after 10pm as it is still light enough. We do about 10-14km a night which takes between one and two hours. Temperatures here regularly hit the upper 30's in the summer so anything else is out of the question.

 

[Stoxx]

Before 10am or after 6/7pm. Unless for some reason I can't manage those times and then I ride when I can.
They have to be fit enough and used to it for when they go to competitions anyway.

 

[lexiedhb]

QR- Hmmmmmmmm I wonder if it is only this country that worried so much about the heat, I mean in warmer climes I bet they dont wait until the middle of the night to ride? What happens if you have a competition on a hot day?

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
QR- Hmmmmmmmm I wonder if it is only this country that worried so much about the heat, I mean in warmer climes I bet they dont wait until the middle of the night to ride? What happens if you have a competition on a hot day?

[/ QUOTE ]

We have so few really hot days in this country that I do think it's important to make allowances for them.

Horses in hot climates are accustomed to the higher temperatures - and it is common that horses are not competed during the hottest part of the days there too.

Like all large animals - us included - horses are prone to the affects of heat, and so should be managed accordingly.

 

[orkanmylove]

Thanks for all the interesting answers my horse has competed in the heat before but now because of his age i want to look after him in the best way i can.
Also we have a issue with adders where we are so have to be careful

 

[china]

either early morning or late evening! you cant beat a late evening summer ride down the beach!

 

[nuffield]

I get up very early and ride before breakfast.

 

[Chico Mio]

[ QUOTE ]
QR- Hmmmmmmmm I wonder if it is only this country that worried so much about the heat, I mean in warmer climes I bet they dont wait until the middle of the night to ride? What happens if you have a competition on a hot day?

[/ QUOTE ]

You are absolutely right. My old RS down in the south, the kids used to ride their lessons from 10am until 2.00pm in the blazing sun, temperatures well in excess of 35 degrees. Then a break and lessons started again at 5.00pm until they were finished. We were often feeding at 10pm.

One summer 11 kids and 5 horses rode about 30km over the mountain to their holiday camp in August, starting at 9am. They didn't arrive until about 7pm as they could only walk and had to take it turns riding (the non riders were in the support car - with air con!!). Insane! My friend, his daughter and I rode over and joined them the next day - but we left at 5.15pm and arrived at 8.45pm!!

 

[jesterfaerie]

When I am at home in the summer I get up and ride as early as possible (ie 6ish) or wait until early evening at around 5-7ish.

 

[TequilaMist]

Tend to ride in evening more for my own comfort than anything else.I really don't cope well with it plus mare gets sweaty on a cool day so dread to think what she'd be like if it was really hot when ridden.

 

[lexiedhb]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
QR- Hmmmmmmmm I wonder if it is only this country that worried so much about the heat, I mean in warmer climes I bet they dont wait until the middle of the night to ride? What happens if you have a competition on a hot day?

[/ QUOTE ]

We have so few really hot days in this country that I do think it's important to make allowances for them.

Horses in hot climates are accustomed to the higher temperatures - and it is common that horses are not competed during the hottest part of the days there too.

Like all large animals - us included - horses are prone to the affects of heat, and so should be managed accordingly.

[/ QUOTE ]

Indeed- but we also dont see anywhere near the temperatures other countries enjoy....... If your planning a really hard session then yes adjust for the weather, but I wouldnt not hack out at 1pm because it was hot.........

 

[AmyMay]

There we are then.......

 

[lexiedhb]

LOL

 

[flyingfeet]

How come you mid afternooners are not at work??!

I ride post 6.30pm. Usually around 7pm as I try and eat at 9pm. However slips if I have been kept late at work, or need a rest before riding! Rode at 7.30pm last night.

 

[lexiedhb]

i finish work at 4.......... but have to start at 7.30am!!

 

[jumptoit]

After 9pm if possible!

 

[nobbster]

i either ride early morning 6/7am or later at night 5/8 depends on what shift i am on a pain in the backside arghh

 

[rara007]

I ride when ever suits me- He has to get used to hot day when we are competing. Usually after 5.30AM and before 10PM but he gets used to wierd times

I wouldn't exercise fatty in the heat of the day however, as he does stuggle in the heat.

 

[CastleMouse]

Early morning or late afternoon

 

[Hels_Bels]

I go out very early in the morning, as thats the only time it fits in with my day

 

[MrsMozart]

Riding? What's that then?

I used to love early evening rides. Hoping that when we move they will be easier and more relaxed

.

 

[Fairynuff]

between 6 and 7am. Once the humidity kicks in its impossible to ride any later

. Its been nigh on 20 years now that I have toothpicks keeping my eyes open from June till September

M

 

[gails]

For my own cmfort I ride when it is cooler, last night it was about 5.30, and although I was hot, nag was perfectly fine, although it was nothing to energetic, just a nice leisurly walk and trot.

However I really would gauge it by the horse, one horse I know at the minute is really struggling with the heat, and is a sweaty mess just standing in the field, so personally I would not like to ride him at the minute.

 

[Puppy]

I won't ride my old girl in the heat as she really doesn't like warm weather (thrives in the winter

) and in fact I need to clip her this week....

However, my other girl (rising 8) is not troubled by it, and although I avoiding working her in the hottest part of the day, or doing any hard work on very hot days, I don't let it stop me taking her for a nice hack

(i.e 80 mins walk & trot @ 5pm tonight) But obviously I wouldn't do hard schooling or jumping in it