RE: Sponging

["Flemmer, Linda" <flemmerl@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>]

Title: RE: Swimming anyone?

Susan,

 

The need for scraping depends on what the humidity is like where you ride.  If it is dry (less than 65-75% humidity, for example), evaporation of the water will help with the cooling.  In exceptionally humid conditions (95* and 100% humidity in the SE, say) then the water simply sits there, heats up, and insulates the horse so he STAYS hot.  In the HH weather (hot/humid) we put on cool water and then scrape it off hot.  We keep doing that until the water comes off without warming up.  (Conductive cooling versus evaporative cooling.)  This is a little hard to do from their back, but you can usually reach their necks and shoulders ok if you have time to actually <stop> to sponge.  At vet checks, we never show up without our sponges, sweatscrapers, and muck buckets full of water (usually with 10 lbs of ice in it).

 

I got a kick out of some of the riders from out west at the '97 ROC in PA.  They were throwing wet towels on their horses and were wearing the gel scarves to keep cool.  DIDN'T WORK!  These were acting as insulators since there was VERY little evaporation taking place.  I also saw several horses who probably needed more 'lytes, but the riders weren't used to the conditions and couldn't judge what the horse needed compared to home conditions.

 

Look at your local riding conditions and how other competitors are successfully handling them.  That's the best way to start.

 

BTW, I'm told folks use scoops out west to cool with water.  Here, folks might think that you were to cheap to buy a sponge or forgot it.  I wonder if the clunk about when you carry them?  I might try one at the next vet check since I wouldn't have to carry them.  I suppose that you'd move a LOT of water pretty quickly.

 

Remember - if you don't have a sponge, all is not lost.  Simply station yourself a bit downstream from a water crossing and pick up the runaways!  Drag riders can find enough stuff to open a tack store on some rides!

 

Linda Flemmer

-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Brehm [mailto:RockingB@worldnet.att.net] 

 

 Is it better to scrape off some of the water as you sponge?  How do you do that?

SusanB