summer heat?

[foalstory]

So since at least a good portion of the country is ungulfed in too-early-in-summer heat, what DO you do with your horses in the summer? Somehow, spending even a solid half hour in *real* work is ... exhausting. We're pushing 105+ here, which while not as hot as I've ridden in before, at this elevation (5000 feet), the sun HURTS your skin and

Comments

[purplmeg]

ugh 105? I might give up at that point lol. I'm having trouble with humidity where I am. I don't think any of my saddle pads have been dry in weeks.

I try and ride as late (or as early) as possible to at least avoid the sun. After the ride and post ride hose-off my barn has giant industrial fans to point at the horses, although that doesn't exactly help during the ride itself...

[re_vised]

Man, I wish we had those fans. My old barn in Michigan did... they were greeeat!

[carrieironhorse]

I ride as late in the evening as I can. Usually that's around 7:30 or so, so it's not as bad, though still hot. I would love to ride in the mornings after I get off work, but so far it hasn't been able to work out. I try not to push too hard physically-since we have lots of "brain challenges" to work on that isn't a problem for me. (Also, it would seem that I'm near you! I ride in Riverton/Bluffdale.)

[foalstory]

yup, just over the freeway from you :) I ride right in Corner Canyon, although Denali used to be in Riverton, right by the Jordan River. That was great for summer, because we'd go out into the river after every ride! I miss that, alas. But having her just a mile away is pretty awesome too - plus the trails!

If I didn't work a late shift, 7am would be easier, but when sleep happens at 2 or 3am, it's pretty tricky.

[carrieironhorse]

Going into the river sounds fabulous right now, but having nearby trails sounds pretty great too! I might be moving barns with my trainer, though, so we'll see what I end up with... right now we've only got one local trail.

[lantairvlea]

I get up early (5am or earlier) and take a nap during the hot part of the day! I try to avoid doing anything after 10am or before 5pm outside.

It was 117+ here the other day and I was very glad I was done teaching by 9am! Of course then I went and took a lesson at 5pm, but at least it was cloudy by that time and driving is a lot cooler than riding.

The horses get hosed down and scraped. I down about a quart of water/gatorade an hour. I put ice cubes in a bandana and wrap it around my neck, works great. The ice lasts about an hour, longer when it's cooler. Pouring cold water in helmet vents helps too. I still wear long pants and short sleeves, it keeps the sun from frying the skin.

[buymeaclue]

Honestly, I don't make many special allowances for hot weather sans other extenuating circumstances. I will take it easy on the first genuinely hot/muggy days of the season, or for an isolated extreme heat wave in the middle of cooler weather, or if I have reason to think the horse is having an issue

[chiquita522]

In Michigan, I've been enjoying a cooler than normal summer, but this time last year we were dying with temps in the high 90s and humidity that made me look like I was reliving the Big Hair trend from the 80s.

So last summer, I tried really hard to ride either ridiculously early (like 6am) or after sunset (after 9pm) and kept my workouts focused on the basics of flexing & bending, turns on the forehand and haunches, and showmanship. For most of the month of July last year, I didn't ride much at all. If I'm struggling, I know my horses are, too. But my mare is older and I'm very careful about how much I ask her to do; she doesn't need training sessions, just fitness.

With young horses, I'd be pushing a little harder because they need to learn to buck up and deal with life as a show horse. But with lots of breaks for me to stay hydrated!