Do you ride when its this hot outside?

No! I;m waiting till about 5 to go out to the barn to start barn chores then about 7 I will ride! You're not a wimp and your horse will thank you for it It's just to hot to have the horses going!

And here in Southern Indiana it has been 101 to 107 for the past week and a half! Yeah. It's been hot!

It's been in the 95-102*F range here (southeast US) for the last two weeks or so (maybe longer, I try to forget!) and the heat index is always much higher, with lots of humidity. I still ride...I try to go either in the morning or late in the evening when it's not quite as bad, but there are still times when I ride in the middle of the day. I showed this past weekend...fortunately we were out of state in Florida and it was a nice cool 96*, I think (ha!) but we were showing all day in an un-air-conditioned arena.

Sweat doesn't hurt your horse--you should be more concerned if it's that hot and he isn't sweating. Make sure he has a chance to drink (and you should drink plenty, too!) and rest occasionally, and cool him off well when you're done.

But...there's no shame in admitting it's too hot for you, either :). We came back from the aforementioned show on Sunday night, and I haven't ridden this week since then...we aren't showing again for a couple of months (our only "long" break this year!) so he's getting a well deserved week off. If you ride strictly for fun, then it's time to quit (or take a break) when it isn't fun anymore. I'd rather ride when it's 75*, too, and my motivation for riding when it's 100* is usually because we're in the middle of showing, not because I actually like to sweat :).

Can you reschedule your lessons for later in the day? I understand the heat. We're going through an intense heat wave where I am, so I don't do any work while it's at the peak heat time of day. I go out at around 7 just before the sun sets. It's still hot, but it only get cooler from there. However I doubt that'd be an option. But all I can say to is hydrate. It doesn't sound like you're doing enough there. Drink lots of water throughout the day. Hydration doesn't only need to happen when you're at the barn. If you've hydrated properly before hand, you shouldn't feel intensely thirsty at all through your training. If you end up not drinking warm water, I'd go ahead and bring the cooler. At the beginning of this heat wave, I volunteered at a horse camp. Unfortunately, they couldn't always keep the water cool, so it was rough trying to get all the kids to drink. But whenever we could get to the store for ice, they were all over it. Another thing you could do is get a wet bandana and tie it around you neck or wrist. That usually helps me outside. Just wet it whenever it starts getting dry. Or you can get a spray bottle and spray your face and neck every so often. As for your health, it sounds like you had heat exhaustion. It's a good thing you stopped when you did. If you experience: paleness with cool, moist skin, profuse sweating, muscle cramps or pains, faintness or dizziness, headache, weakness, or nausea, then stop what you're doing and move to a cool or shady area, drink fluids, and put some water on your skin. Hope this helps. Stay cool!

I usually decide to wait out the heat when it hits 80% humidity and 105 degrees. My horse is the same, she hates the heat and sweats a lot. I just make sure to hose her down for awhile after I ride and I might stop by later in the day to sponge her off. Getting a fan installed in the stall will help keep your horse cool throughout the day.

And no, you are not a wimp!(:

Hope this helps!

Hey, I'm in Michigan too!

The last time I rode was Monday night around 9 PM, when it was probably 85 and humid. I haven't ridden since then. Part of me believes that if I can be outside working on the family farm, surely it wouldn't hurt my horses to go out for a trail ride in the woods at a walk. The other part of me thinks that it wouldn't hurt them to just relax in the shade of the pasture until the heat wave is over.

I wouldn't say you are a wimp. I'd say you are erring on the side of caution, which is typically a good thing. I'd ride in weather up to about 90, other than that I'd just like to wait it out.

I live in Florida, so we go through this every summer, sometimes animals (usually cows, for some reason) die out in the pastures due to the heat.

We ride in the evenings, after 5 or 6, usually not finishing up until it is completely dark. Be sure the horses have lots of water and salt and fans during the day, and they go out to pasture at night. I don't want to "hang up my saddle" because we show year around, and I worry about the horse suddenly being exposed to showing all day. We showed last weekend, heat index 120, I was told (I believe HI was only 110, ha), and I kept him rinsed down in cool water (4 times), standing in the shade unless actively riding/showing, and drinking lots of cool water.

It's "only" 95 here, but the heat index is well into the hundreds. I'm definitely hanging up my saddle and waiting for it to cool down. It's way too hot for me and I don't want to make my horse suffer through the heat as well. I know neither one of us will enjoy it in the least bit.

You are not a wimp at all. It's definitely smart to stay out of this weather, especially since the chance of heat stroke is high.

If it were dry heat here, I would probably go ahead and go out for a short ride, but it is very muggy here, so I'm staying inside until it cools off later. It's awful even in the shade.

I live at the edge of Death Valley, in a brutal desert. Yes, I ride when it's hot. When it get's over 105 though I really take it easy ( maybe two trips around the arena at a canter, then two at a walk, then switch). When it is 110-120 I just walk.

Naturally, the rides are always followed with a hosing off!

There are a ton of endurance riders in the area tho, that have little arabs and ride for 30 miles like it's nothing when it's hot. But since thats not me.

Here in Texas it is normal for it to be 100 degrees & I still ride. Mostly in the mornings or in the late afternoon. If it is real hot I will ride bareback & not that long. The best thing about the heat though is being able to bathe your horse afterwards. I know mine loves it. Bonding time. I'll rinse her off the with water hose then rub her down with my hands & repeat. An old indian man told me that it's best to do it that way so they can feel your heart beat through your hands & you will bond better. Don't know how true that is but that's what I do.

I live in Kansas and its in the 105 degree range all summer. I don't ride during the pure heat of the day unless I have a rodeo, but inbetween I just go riding around 5:30am and work more horses at 7pm-ish when the temp. isn't as horrible. I think working horses in the morning is a good way to wake up and its really cool to watch the sun come up as your riding.