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>   I ride in a Toklat wool pad from my english saddle, and a couple times 
> after
> doing 50 mile rides I've noticed my gelding gets a heat rash the ride is
> through.  I believe it's a heat rash because they're a couple bumps on each
> side of his backbone that appear about where I sit. They disappear in a 
> day or
> two.
>   Is this a concern?  Would it be a good idea to, say, get a Dixie 
> Midnight no
> sweat vent pad? Does anyone have ideas for any other pads that might help 
> keep
> my horse's back cooler?

Hi Katie -- I call them heat bumps.  I don't pull my horses tack off until 
he has cooled out, usually a half an hour but sometimes longer.  When you 
finish, loosen the girth up a hole or two, lift the saddle up and place it 
back down.  Then a few minutes later, do that again.  once the horses back 
is as cool to the touch and as dry as the rest of him is, I take the saddle 
off.  I found this to be really helpful on hot rides when I have been in 
the saddle for a long time.  If I have to pull tack in order to vet, I 
still follow this procedure and then just take most of my hour to do 
that.  This isn't as much of an issue in cooler weather, but I have found 
that it definitely does eliminate the heat bumps.  Oh, and be sure while 
you are loosening the girth up and waiting that you don't turn your back or 
your horse will invariably roll on your tack, like mine does.  Which 
usually results in a squashed scoop! :)

Karen


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