this is a good article it is sometimes weather wise like this and we need to no what to do for the better of our horses
I've ridden late in the evenings, returning well after dark (11pm), near Louisville, Ky, at a walk on level ground, when the HSI was 160 and my horse was just wet under the saddle pad and she wasn't particularly interested in water when we got back. The rides are usually 2 hours (6 miles) long.
Great tips. I try to offer my horse plenty of water before the ride, enough breaks, and make sure they are properly cooled off when done. Quick showers and sponge downs are great for keeping them cool.
MY FRIENDS AND I TRY TO HIT THE TRAIL IN THE MORNING HRS BEFORE IT GETS REAL HOT, THRU THE SUMMER. WE JUST TOOK A RIDE ABOUT A WEEK AGO, AND WERE DOWN BETWEEN MOUNTAINS AND UNDER LOTS OF TREES. WE DIDNT DO ANYTHING MORE THAN WALK, AND SO WE STAYED PRETTY COOL NEARLY THE ENTIRE RIDE, WHICH WAS 4 HRS. WE CROSSED NUMEROUS CREEKS AND WAS ABLE TO STOP AND LET THE HORSES DRINK THRU-OUT THE RIDE. BUT MY FRIEND'S HORSE REFUSED TO DRINK. WE EVEN WENT INTO THE RIVER TO COOL OFF AND HE DIDNT DRINK THERE EITHER. HE PAWED THE WATER, BUT DIDNT DRINK. WE ALL WERE GETTING A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM. THE LAST 30 MIN OF OUR RIDE IT SEEMED TO GET REALLY HOT AND MUGGY, AND WE WERE IN THE SUN A LITTLE MORE ON THIS SHORTCUT WE TOOK HOME. IT WAS TAKING A TOLL ON HER HORSE. HE WAS CARRYING HIS HEAD REALLY LOW, AND WAS REALLY TIRED. HE ALSO STUMBLED A FEW TIMES, NEARLY FALLING. MY FRIEND CHECKED HIS GUMS AND THEY SEEMED A LITTLE PALE AND WERENT GETTING THEIR COLOR BACK LIKE AFTER DOING THE CRT. SO SHE LEAD HIM THE REST OF THE WAY BACK TO THE TRAILER. HE STILL WOULDNT DRINK AFTER GETTING BACK. HE DID GET HOSED REALLY GOOD AND SHE KEPT HIM IN THE SHADE FOR A GOOD 15 MIN OR SO. HE SEEMED OK AFTER THAT. BUT HE DIDNT DRINK ANY UNTIL AFTER SHE GOT HIM HOME. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, IM PLANNING ON CARRYING A TUBE OF ELECTROLYTES IN MY BAG INCASE SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD EVER HAPPEN AGAIN. WHICH I HOPE NOT! ITS SCARY TO THINK HE COULD HAVE COLLAPSED WHILE WE WERE OUT IN THE WOODS WITH NO WAY OF GETTING HIM BACK, OR GETTING HELP TO HIM.