[Amaya pony]

How do you keep your horse cool when riding in hot weather?

I usually shorten my riding time, but are there other ways? :runninghorse2:

 

[JCnGrace]

Ride early morning/late evening.


Ride very shaded trails.


If you're riding around the barn spray them down with the hose when they get hot, then scrape off excess and ride a little while longer. Spray mainly where the blood vessels are close to the surface like between back legs, legs and underneath their belly.


Misting fan.


Those are some of the things I have either done or heard of doing.


Welcome to the forum!

 

[loosie]

Ride into a lake/river/dam/beach! I only have the 'poorest' of those options here, but it's been hot here & we 'mad dogs' go out into the forest in the mid-day sun, to go to our dog & horse friendly 'pool' - a brilliant huge, deep dam. If we're only going swimming - as in, not for an actual ride - I usually ride or lead one horse and the others all just come along, because they like to hang out & splash there on a hot day too! So long as I've got the 'boss cocky' or his girlfriend, the others don't stray too far(100's ac forest adjoining our land).

 

[horselovinguy]

Ride into a lake/river/dam/beach! I only have the 'poorest' of those options here, but it's been hot here & we 'mad dogs' go out into the forest in the mid-day sun, to go to our dog & horse friendly 'pool' - a brilliant huge, deep dam.

Really, really???

Rub it in those warm temperatures you're enjoying when we, at least me in Florida, is literally freezing this morning, again!!:icon_rolleyes:
:lol:..just kidding loosie.
Glad it is warm someplace! :smile:

So OP...
Here in Florida when the worst of summer heat arrives...ride early.
Riding late the heat is still here till the new day arrives in the very early morning hours of pick black dark.
Many actually stop riding during hot summer months like many do in worst of winter.
For us, 90 degrees by 9:00AM with humidity that will soak you like you just took a shower and forgot to dry off shortly after is not a safe riding combination for out 4-legged friend.
:runninghorse2:....

 

[Rainaisabelle]

I live in far north QLD so our humidity goes up the wazoo in summer. If we ride it is before 9am in the morning and after 4:30pm in the afternoon or we hose and scrape until they get cold. We can't ride in any lakes or creeks as we would probably get eaten by crocodiles haha but we do swim in dams if we have them around!

 

[PoptartShop]

In the summer when it gets hot, I try to ride early in the morning. Especially if the humidity is going to get bad, to avoid it.
Then afterwards, a nice spray down with the hose or sponge (depending on how hot it is).
Oh..and TRAILS!!!!! Shade is your best friend!

 

[AtokaGhosthorse]

We ride early or late... but even then its scorching hot here. So... we make lots of stops at and IN the ponds, ride through wide shallow creeks so they thrash water all over themselves.... and I've stopped using any kind of saddle pad that's synthetic. Wool does an excellent job of moisture wicking.

 

[loosie]

as we would probably get eaten by crocodiles haha but we do swim in dams if we have them around!

I'd advise never going haha at a crocodile either! I worked with a drover once who lost a cow to a big croc... In a dam miles from any river! When in the wet & the rivers are miles wide, its amazing how far they get, & get stuck in when the river goes... Back to being a river.

 

[AtokaGhosthorse]

Yeahhh. I think upon reflection I'll take the cottonmouths and snapping turtles over the crocs any day. Geez!

Oh. And. You Aussies and Kiwis can just hand summer right back over before its all used up. We're missing it up this way.

 

[loosie]

Maaate! Use summer up?? You crack me up! I'm trying hard not to use more than I have to of it already!

 

[Rainaisabelle]

Ew summer? I live in the tropics I want summer to end as soon as it begins hahaha

Yes crocs we have them everywhere at the moment at our beaches, creeks, rivers and they’re moving into more new territory each day. I refuse to swim anywhere but a pool!