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Re: [RC] Heat and Conditioning - Barbara McCraryLast weekend, my husband and I did a 25 mile training ride on a very hot day for the CA central coast. It probably was about 100 degrees on top of a shale ridge. The horses were doing fine, but I nearly gave out. We reached the bottom of a forested canyon just in time. I was getting quite light-headed all the way down the steep trail to the canyon. In the bottom, I dismounted, kneeled on a rock at the edge of the creek, and poured water all over myself, especially head and face. I also had a Cool-off scarf on, and I soaked it with water before putting it back on. Ditto the Cool-off insert for my helmet. I recovered and we went on safely. Horses fine, rider in trouble! Barbara McCrary ----- Original Message ----- From: <RDCARRIE@xxxxxxx> To: <JUDYK89@xxxxxxx>; <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 3:04 PM Subject: Re: [RC] Heat and Conditioning If we didn't ride/condition in the heat here in Texas, we'd have to sit out half the year. Just start out slowly and add mile/distance as your horse adapts to the heat. You'll notice an increasingly visible network of blood vessels under the skin as the horse adapts - the horse's body is adapting so as to dump more heat. At rides, adapt your pace to the conditions, and realize that your horse may take longer to pulse down if it's humid as well as hot. Sponge whenever you can, and wipe the water off. As for elytes, I don't generally elyte on training rides - I figure my horse needs to adapt to working under slight elyte deficiences, and he can replenish any losses during the time between conditioning rides. I do elyte at events, however, and will increase the amounts I give/frequency as the heat/humidity increases. Our horses have access to free-choice salt around the clock at home, and they make pretty heavy use of it, esp. during the hot part of the year. My horse handles rides in the heat a lot better than I do. Dawn in East Texas ============================================================ REAL endurance is your water freezing IN the cantle bags! ~ Heidi Sowards ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================ ============================================================ They're athletes! This is a partnership between horse and rider - we don't have any jockeys out there, just pals and partners. We'd allow a rider with a broken foot, a sore back and a nasty cold to compete - but we would never let a horse in a similiar condition hit the trail. ~ Dr. Barney Flemming DVM ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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