Texas Summer Riding Survival

Your Horse Called. He wishes he was on a beach chillaxin with this donkey! (a donkey on St. John, Virgin Islands. Photo by Ivy)

Somebody tell my why I live in Texas? It is so freaking hot right now! I've owned Red since 2002 and the first summer I owned him, he stopped sweating from Anhydrosis (the failure to sweat due to the stress caused by excessive heat and humidity). Every summer since that first time he stopped sweating, I got depressed because he looked so miserable. Somewhere along the way, I started to think of it as Red taking a vacation from June to July and giving us both a break because really, who wants to ride in such extreme heat! With my change in attitude, I've learned to manage to keep him sweating just enought to stay in work and we are both so much happier. Needless to say, I've had some time to make a list of things that make riding in the summer a bit more pleasant. Here are some of our favorite things for dealing with the inferno like Texas summers:

Oster Clippers Clipmaster and A5 clippers- Every Spring, Red gets a full body clip. With less coat and less sweat, the easier it is for him to keep cool. I don't think it is necessary to think about what his coat is going to look like if I clip him througout the spring and summer it always comes back very nice! My goal is to keep him cool and comfy. So Oster clip masters make bodyclipping a cinch! And no stripes! Then I use the Oster A5's for face, clean up and for the legs. I find that clipping the legs keeps them from getting the awful stud crud. The A5's clippers are also good for shaving corgi bellies!

Vetrolin linimint- a splash in a bucket and add some water makes a fantastic cooling brace and helps cool down faster. I often start out with sponging Red off before my ride, as well as during and after. Be sure to scrap after sponging- the water that has been warmed from the body heat acts as insulation. Scraping the warrm water off helps them cool faster. Another thing that I do is that I put a frozen water bottle in my vetrolin bucket to keep the water from getting warm. Trainer Sue uses a combo of water, 1/2 rubbing alcohol and a capful of vetrolin.

Gatorade powder- Even though I have Red on electrolites during the summer just to encourage him to drink, I still like to make sure that he's drinking plenty of water. A couple of scoops of Gatorade in the water bucket is a yummy rewarding drink for the redheaded snob...and that way I make sure he's getting hydrated too. This is a great trick for horse shows or when you are away from home and want to ensure that your horse is drinking.

Sweating Supplements- I use One AC, Peak Performance PERSPIRADE and Electrolites. One AC and Perspirade 2x a day and Electrolites 1x a day. I would recommend that you consult the makers of One AC or whomever supplies your supplements for the correct dosage. I also keep a Himalayan Mineral block in his feed bucket.

Riding Schedule- I start changing my riding schedule in the Spring before it gets hot. The earlier and later that I ride, the less stress on his system. I start riding before 10am and after 7pm. I simply don't understand the people that ride their horses between noon and 5pm when the heat index is at it's highest. Maybe I've gotten weak, but how miserable for the human and the horse! By riding before and after the heat of the day, I am conserving both of us! The less stress the better and less chance of heat stroke for either of us!

WOOF Neoprene boots- I prefer to ride with protective boots on Red.I was always a super fan of the fleece lined boots,and they are still great, but during the summer I've been riding in the Neoprene boots, that AJH has turned me onto. I think I've noticed that his legs sweat less with this brand of boots.

Fans- lots of fans! Box fans are weak! I like to get the heavy duty, high velocity fan from Tractor Supply or from a Home Improvement store.

Evening Turnout- If you have this opton at home or where you board your horse please consider it. A nonsweating horse should be inside during the heat of the day, consider it a siesta. Turning your nonsweating horse out at night means less stress because they doing what is natural for horses- grazing- during the coolest parts of the day.

Now for me:

F.I.T.S. half zip riding shirts- cool prints, flattering fit and cool for riding...wicks away sweat. It has a little stock tab on the back of the neck so you can attach your stock tie.

Irideon riding tights- super comfy, and again dries fast in the summer.

Sox Trots- who wants thick socks in hot sweaty boots? Not me! I like these super thin boot socks...with endless prints.

Effax Ledercombi- leather cleaner and conditioner- cleans off the sweat, dirt and grime off of tack, saddle and boots, not to mention the mold that seems to be gathering on tack this extremely humid year.

IRH Elite riding helmet-Courtney K. Dye's accident has reminded me that helmets are necessary for our sport! Every ride, every time! As the temperture creeps up, so does my desire to go helmet free but this super cool and light helmet is light, and so airy! Not to mention stylish!

Frog Togg Chilly Pad towel...soak this thing in water drape it around your neck and it will keep you cool for up to 4 hours. I've got one in pink and I let it sit in the vetrolin bucket and it is so refreshing! I wish they made polos in this fabric! I'd be all over that!

Sunscreen- Lots of squinting in the sun and a freckling leads to premature aging and spending money on botox that you could be spending on lessons and tack. I like using a hypoallergenic sports sunscreen like Bullfrog or Banana Boat (at least #15 or as high as #30) on my face and neck

Smartwater- electrolyte water that tastes just like water. How great! And when you are done, take the empty bottle refill it with tap and freeze it to chill your vetrolin (or if you are AJH- to chill your pony's gatorade).