Advice please from horse owners in Florida (or similar climate)?

I try to work my horse in early morning or late evening. It's not so hot to work them. If my horse does get really sweaty and hot, be sure to walk them out for a good 15 minutes or more until the breathing is back to normal and their nostrils aren't flared. You can also check how hot they are by feeling between the front legs under the chest. Once they have cooled down, hose them off and scrape the excess water off with a sweat scraper.

I live in South Florida. During the really hot summer months we ride either very early in the morning or at dusk. NEVER in the afternoon. Proper cool down walk after exercise and a then a cool shower.

firstly, im from australia, and summer is regularly around 120. so i dont consider 86 to be hot at all.

when i dont have time to work my horses in the morning, i work them late at night, although they are happy to ride bareback in the heat of the day. like i said i dont view 86 to be hot... and i dont lighten my horses workout schedule during our summer which is much hotter, i simply change the time that i do it at. though if i have a student wanting lessons in the heat of the day, i do it in a shaded arena, or end the session early, judging by how exhausted the horse is looking.

I dont bother with cooling fans or cooling rugs, my horses live out all year round, and are happy just seeking shade, and splashing water arround everywhere from their troughs.

just hose your horse off with cool water after you ride... and especially if you work them up to a sweat. instead of drying them off though, let the horses dry naturally, they'll go roll in the dirt and be quite happy.

I'm sure your horses will be just fine, and they will get used to the heat, its not so bad.

i wish it was only 86 here, that would actually be a cool day! i'd just work them whenever you have time since they are already in shape. they will get used to the warm weather in a week or so being worked often. the first few days i wouldn't work them as much as you normally do espcially if it's in the afternoon hours.

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My first recommendation would have been to get up early to work them before it gets hot, but since you can't do that, can you work them AFTER work, right at dusk? After the sun goes down, but before it is dark you have a decent window of time to work them while it is a bit cooler.

Horses are resilient, and as long as they have their summer coats (which i'm sure they do) they will quickly acclimate to this heat. If you are concerned, just don't work them as hard initially. Watch for lots of foaming at the mouth-this is a sign of overheating. After you ride or work your horse, hose them down to cool them off before putting out to pasture or stalling them. As long as your horses have some shade or cover they will be fine. Offer your horse PLENTY of water during the day so they can stay properly hydrated. Proper hydration is important so their body can properly stay cool when they are exercising. You can even add a half gallon of water to their grain. Encourage your horses to drink more by keeping the water buckets clean and offering cool water if you can. Horses prefer this. If it's already been hot there for several days, your horses are already acclimated.

I suggest just using your common sense when you are riding. Keep an eye on your horse for signs of exhaustion. You know what your horse normally looks like during a ride, if things look different, then slow it down for a bit. Take it easy. just because you may not be working your horses as vigorously as usual for a few weeks-does not mean they will become horribly out of shape. If you have a lit arena or area-work them at night. OR you can simply work them for a longer period of time at an easier pace. Alternately, you can work them a bit more rigorously but for a shorter period of time than you normally would during normal weather.

Your horses should be fine. My percherons have managed well in the southern heat. Hydration is very important. Give them about a week with little exercise other than walking to get accustomed to the higher temps, then just be careful from there working them primarily early morning or early evening. If you must work them during the day, keep your rides shorter and keep an eye on them. Hose them off with cool water after your ride. Don't forget to take breaks and let your horse stand in the shade if you are partaking in a longer ride.

Also, do not forget your warm up and cool down periods before and after you ride. Horses muscles still need time to warm up even when it's hot outside. If you should happen to have an emergency and you feel your horse is in severe distress and overheating, you can put ice in its rectum and hose it down. These are two very quick ways to effectively bring a horses temp down quickly.

Best of luck!

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