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Re: [RC] Sponging? Yes or NO? - rides2far@xxxxxxxxother riders about it and heard that maybe it doesn't help as much as we think. Sour grapes or lazy. They just couldn't handle the sponge so made up excuses. g< However in humid conditions, it can actually insulate the horse with a layer of hot water that closes the sweat pores to keep the hot >>outside water from coming in? Here's an experiment for you. Get wet, stand in front of a 7mph fan. Do not forget the horse is usually moving. Being wet really amplifies the cooling ability of the breeze you get trotting down the trail and people really underestimate the importance of that breeze in cooling. Walking on a hot day is not always the coolest! Without removing the hot water, sponging actually hurts rather than helps the horse cool off. Maybe at a stand still, not traveling in my opinion. Worst insulation is the idea of putting the wet towel over a horse at the vet check. That's a great way to keep warm when you jump out of a pool...you can warm the inside of that towel up pretty quick. In fact he seemed to sweat the same but it dried off quicker. How can you measure sweat? Have there been any studies that examined internal body temps with our style of sponging horses under humid conditions? Any other input? I've had a vet put his hand on my horse and look shocked, then say this was the only one that had come in that was actually cool to the touch. :-) Plus...It really bugs me when riders come up to the water tanks and ignore the signs about which tanks are for sponging and which are for drinking, and then drop their nasty sponge in my horses face, and wring it out, in the tank, before they wet their horse down.. Let's not do that in 2009..ok? Bugs me when riders think they sponge a lot and they keep their sponge hooked to the saddle unless they're standing in a creek. Sponging on the fly means keeping that thing in your hand and hitting every mudhole you go by without breaking stride (or your neck! :-)) I LOVE ride managers who specifically put out sponging barrels...and yes, my horse often chooses those over the drinking water to drink from. Angie McGhee ____________________________________________________________ Click to get your online credit check report & score. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/PnY6rw2OiyX6Ao38loO9VxxTWmMCqKoecsNfUYLi3o2rcPT3xRX3a/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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