Melting

O.M.G. it is HOT! Not like typical 'I'm slightly sweating so I'm complaining about how hot it is' hot, but legit 'Devil literally went down to Georgia and lit up the entire East Coast on his way' hot. Temps into the triple digits with 70% humidity = dangerous weather. Basically the rule of thumb for me when it's hot outside is to do a little bit o math to determine if it's safe to ride:

Temperature + Relative Humidity % - Wind Speed = Heat Stress Risk Level

130 or less: The horse can recover fine.

140 - 170: The horse has partial cooling capacity and may need some assistance cooling down.

180+: The horse has significantly impaired ability to cool and is at high risk for heat stress or stroke.

So right now at the barn the Temp is 92 + Humidity 43% - Wind Speed 8mph = 127 which is A-O-K to ride safely despite it feeling like 102...

I know sometimes it seems like the calculation is way off BUT I like to use this on days when I can't tell if it's just me whining about the heat or if Smash might have a real issue cooling down and when to recognize those signs.

Other things I do when riding in the summer is make sure to offer Smash water (with electrolytes), take walking breaks, find shade if possible, use liniment in water when sponging down to pull some of the heat out, make sure to use the sweat scraper since water left on the horse can actually insulate the heat instead of pulling it out, fly spray (and other forms of fly protection) can help relieve the irritation/frustration from flies/pests that comes with the heat, and watch your horse for their breathing rate. Huffing and puffing = keep an eye on your horse. Don't forget to hydrate yourself, too! A rider passed out is no help to your horse.

Some is common sense, too, like avoid riding in the peak heat hours from noon - 4pm. This morning I rode at 8am for 20min of flat work and then called it a day. Also, know your horse breed. Some breeds handle the heat a lot better than others. Arabians for example are probably the most adaptive to the heat whereas a draft cross would probably struggle more.

So until this heat wave breaks I hope you use some or all of these tips to stay cool and safe while enjoying the best sport out there! If you have any other tips feel free to leave them in the comments section.

Ride on!