Heat

Is it ok to lightly hack my TB in the heatwave we are having? It will be about 95 tonight when I get to the barn, and I really want to get him out a little. As long as he's not doing much, is there any danger in it? He'll promptly get a cool bath when finished.

I took my TB for a 2 hour trail ride yesterday, I'm just a few hours north of you in northeast PA, It was probably about 90 yesterday. When the 3 of us get back we were all dripping sweat(well except for one of the horses, he only just barley broke a sweat) We all hosed/bathed them and made sure they were cool and dry before turning them out. All were fine. I think as long as you don't over due it they should be fine, and just listen to your horse, if he doesn't feel like he's wanting to go, then I probably wouldn't.

I'm in southeast pa and I rode yesterday any monday evenings. I took it slow and did not ask for every much; however, I am not riding until early Saturday beacause of the heat. There is no harm in letting your horse have a few days off if it is too hot. But if you're going out for no more than 45min-1hour and if you mostly walk, he should be okay. Remember the heat is about 15% worse for horses then for humans because of the increased body mass.

Here in Oklahoma, we ride mostly in the mornings or evenings. It's still hot, but the horses are used to the heat. We don't push them much, though, and water is constantly offered.

The highs have been running well over 100 in our neck of the woods!

Light work isn't going to hurt him. Just use common sense. If he starts breathing heavy, it's bath time.

A good rule of thumb for when it is to hot to ride is to add the actual temperature and the humidity percentage, if the total is 150 or more it is safe to say it is to hot to ride. Example: 95 degrees + 55% humidity = 150

Well, right now in DC its 90 outside with 70 percent humidity! Definitely too hot to ride.

I had him out for 20 mins last night just trotting, then a cold shower. He was fine.

95 is fine, especially for a Thoroughbred.

The heat index is at 110 degrees today, so I've been bathing my 7 horses with cool water every hour. Molly, my one Thoroughbred, was absolutely miserable this morning and drenched in sweat, her chest burning hot to the touch. The water cools them down quite a bit.

You know, I saw this thread the other day and was going to comment that evenings/early mornings are fine but decided not to because I am in Texas (hot all the freakin time) and you are in DC (weather is probably very out of the ordinary for you). So I figured between the differences in environment etc my OTTB is probably more used to the heat than yours etc.

However.

I rode her last night at 7:30pm, it was about 90-95 and not too humid. But the lil girl was lethargic, un-inspired and generally a bit laclustre which is quite out of character for her. So we just did an fairly easy workout and left it at that. She does better in the mornings, I think the heat of the day really takes its toll on her.

So my point is, listen to your horse and maybe try a morning workout if possible?

^When I stay with my aunt and uncle in Colorado, we work all the horses before 8 and avoid at all costs working them between 3 and 6. It's just miserable for them.