One very helpful item is a Cool-Off scarf. It is
handmade by a local woman in our county. She lines a regular bandanna with
a fake chamois fabric. Dip it in water, tie it around your neck, and it
will keep you cooler for about 2 hours. Re-dip and keep riding.
She also makes little "cookies" of that chamois cloth that you insert into the
crown of your riding helmet.
These scarves got us through a pioneer ride one year
when the temp on the desert was about 115. Just keep adding water.
Your neck and upper back will be kept cooler by the slow evaporation from the
scarf.
Does anyone have any 'tricks' on how to stay / get cool enough to go
riding during these 90 degree + days? I'm thinking along the lines of
taking cold showers or drinking hot liquids or whatever it is that is supposed
to work to cool our temperatures down. Unfortunately I work in air
conditioning all day so the heat and humidity is brutal when I get
outside.
--
Kathy
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Original message -------------- From: Spottedracer@xxxxxx Once the horses are USED to eating a ration with
significant shredded beet pulp in it - you don't HAVE to soak.. Since
they've figured out they have to take smaller bites and chew it like hay -
unlike what they do with pellets/grains.
When I'm first introducing
Shredded beet pulp to a horse/cow - I wet it 'lightly' prior to giving it to
them... It starts expending almost immediately, so it's 'pre-expanded' when
they first get a bite - instead of them gorging on it (like with
pellets/grain) and it expanding within their throats and causing choke
problems. I do this for the first two weeks or so with horses, then
slowly add less and less water - until it's dry.. By then, they've figured
out HOW to eat it properly..... Now, I'm still wetting it for the
cattle..
