Training Tips
by
Gail DeStefano
Who is hotter, you or your horse?
The past few weeks has knocked us right into the hot and humid summer, weather. We have had more thunderstorms in such a short time, then I can remember. The sudden extreme hot weather brings with it a host of problems for us and our horses. The main problem is riding in the heat.
Funny, how I complain all winter about the bitter cold, wishing for the summer. Now, I am complaining about the heat BUT, not wishing for the winter. I would like a nice 70 degrees year round. Since, I have no plans to move to another state, I might as well deal with the weather as it is.
The sun is out and no wind. I walk across the riding ring, the sand in the ring reminds me of the beach. My energy level is zero and sweat is dripping from under my hat getting into my eyes. I wipe it a way and I look up to see my student waiting for her next instruction. My instruction is to walk her horse over to where her bottle of water is sitting in the shade and get a drink. I then want her to walk her horse over to the shady part of the ring and walk back and forth in the shady area only.
One of the first things I tell my student is to bring something cold to drink when riding in the summer. For the younger ones, I tell them that they must eat breakfast before their lesson and also bring a cool drink with them. The kids can get over heated and not even know it, the adults usually tell me when they need a break.
When it is very hot out, I like to wet the horses down first before a lesson, making sure the water is scraped off. Not scraping the water off, can make the horse over heat. If your horse has been working all winter and is in great shape, your horse will less likely have a problem in the heat. Riding for 5-10 minutes and having the horse walk another 5 minutes, before continuing helps reduce the stress of the heat on your horse. If you plan to ride over 1/2 hour, water should be within reach of your horse. Small amounts of cool, not cold water can help keep your horse refreshed. When you take a break, keep your horse walking. Never just let them stand, even if it is in the shade. My favorite riding exercise for the summer is, having everyone ride with a plastic cup filled with water in one hand and walk, trot, canter and even jump, holding the cup out with one hand and the reins with the other. Once the horses get use to the water raining on them, they seem to enjoy it. But, of course the idea is NOT to let the water come out of the cup.
I remember when I was younger and in a lesson during the hot hazy days of the summer, and my trainer had me jumping over and over again. At one point my hands were so wet that I could not hold the reins (I did not have gloves) and I had a hard time holding back my horse when needed. He was the type of horse that you had to hold to the jump and then give. We took off like a shot. Over and over again. I was not too sure I was going to live through that lesson. I did.
That lesson I had in the extreme heat (not the only one) did teach me one thing. Not to put my students or horses in such danger. Heat stroke can happen to horses too, not only people. If you are hot, your horse is hotter. When you are showing, keep your schooling short at the show. I am sure you worked hard at home, and you would not be at the show if you did not think you and your horse were ready. Make sure your horse drinks while at the show. Bring some of your own water from the stable. Many horses will not drink when at a show if it tastes different. Horses lose a lot of water and electrolytes in the heat. Adding electrolytes to your horses feed will ensure that what they lost is replaced.
Once you are done working, walk your horse out until you feel he is cool. Cooling down a horse in hot weather takes much longer. If you are not going to have the time to cool your horse down, don't ride. Wetting your horse down on his chest, back and between his hind legs will help. I like to wet the school horses down between lessons. I do not like to get their feet wet all the time, which could lead to hoof problems, so take a very wet towel and use that to wet then down.
It is summer and time to relax and refresh our body and soul. Slow down, and take the time to enjoy your horse. Winter will be here before we know it. You can think of me the first time the temperature is below 40, because I will be thinking about the summer.
Christina and Shaker taking a break from the heat
(below)
Jenn and Turtle working up a sweat in a lesson at Island Hills Stable
