What's the earliest (or latest) time you've ridden in the heat?

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

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Just musing really........ went out at about ten to five this morning, with the dogs, and it was absolutely perfect. No flies, no traffic, no pesky people, just us.

Have been doing a few early rides during the heatwave; and its been really lovely.

So what about you other early-morning luvvies??? Anybody been out earlier than us, i.e. before 5 a.m.??

Or perhaps later on, in the evening, is your thing? The only reason we've not done that is because we dont' want to be out too late and get caught out by darkness falling. A friend boxes hers up and goes to some open land, and rides in the evening till its as black as ink, then boxes up and comes home again. Perfect, just wish I had a lorry!:)
 
I've ridden super early and at night in the pitch black before.. That was an experience!!

Both have their benefits :)
 
It's a bit of a trek to the yard and I tend to work late, so I usually ride around 8-9pm weekdays. Has still been pretty hot then as it's had all day to heat up. It's lovely that it stays light although I really start to notice when the nights get darker as no more hacking for me in the week - boo!

Don't do early morning unless it's for hunting when I seem to have no problems getting up at the crack of dawn or earlier!
 
Earliest I've been on board and riding is 5.30am. I always ride early though - much prefer it because it's far too warm and sticky in the evening also, if it's gonna rain, it usually rains in the evening :D
 
The earliest I ever went out was at 5:30, I think. Woke with awful period pains and went to field in a huff. Had a nasty toileting experience there (sorry, too much info) and felt so sorry for myself I decided to tack up and ride. Was out for 4 hrs, by which point pains all gone and Henry was still thinking WTF when we got back. Very productive day, as I was back by 11 am.

In this heat, earliest I've gone out is 7:30, but that's because I've been struggling to sleep on Tramadol for my back. Lying awake for hours means it's incredibly hard to get up on the alarm at 6:30. I went out at 9 am yesterday, but only because Henry had done a squitty ****** all down his legs and so I had to completely bathe his back end and tail. Poor boy's digestive system goes a but funny in the heat, as does mine (again, too much info...I'll go away, now, lol!). We do have a lot of shady hacks, though, as we're in the centre of the forestry commission land.
 
My horses are lying down asleep at 5am - they are still asleep at 7am. They will move an ear or possibly half lift a head when breakfast appears. They will struggle to their feet, stretch and bow a lot then seek refuge in the field shelter until about 6 ish. They seem to have lost their work ethic.
 
Have been up and hacking by 6.30am recently, but the farm and our field are right by the motorway and a lot of the bridle paths I use are alongside it too and it's still as noisy and busy as ever even at that time of the morning. I was thinking I'd get some peace and quiet but alas 'twas not to be.
 
I normally ride about 6am before work all year round but with this heat ive been on board for 5am either schooling or hacking. I love how peaceful the mornings :)
 
If I pulled Kali out of his field or stable at 5.00 a.m. and tacked him up his face would look like this . . .:eek:

P
 
I thought I would ride early this morning to beat the heat and the flies.. Out riding by 6am, all well to start with but I obviously should have checked the weather forecast as half hr in..it peed down and didn't stop, was still warm though but I was drenched by the end.
 
5am is the middle of the night!!! :eek:

I like evening hacking though, was out til 8.30-9pm the other night, and once many moons ago rode in the dark!
 
This was just before 5am........wonderful time to ride, quiet, cool, no flies and lots of wildlife about, Bobs was watching distant deer herd here...
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Funny how horses know its night, when its light, isn't it. Mine are always horrified when I drag them out unusually early. You'd think it would be all the same to them!
 
I'm really not a morning person, so I ride evenings when it's hot.
So at this time of year it's gone 10pm or later by the time I get back.

It's lovely and you have the world to yourself, all the day trippers and tourists have gone home. You get to see all the wildlife as well. Nightjars are my favourite summer visitor.

Horses can see well in the dark.
Sometimes too well though.
You suddenly get the stopping and staring at nothing (or rather you hope it's nothing other than a deer or some other animal) which can be a little unnerving when it's pitchblack up on the forest.:eek:
 
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