Re: RC: out of camp checks and ride times

["Truman Prevatt, Ph.D." <truman.prevatt@netsrq.com>]

I don't know of any rides that have been called off because of heat. The first
thing one needs to do is take sponging lessons from Angie. Her rates are
reasonable, but she is a perfectionist who stubbornly insist hers is the only
way to sponge.  The other key is to electrolyte early and often.

Keep water on em, even if it means going for a swim in a pond!  Most of
the SE
rides have adequate water and if it is going to be bad ambient
conditions, the
RM's are very good at putting out more water. So a combination of taking it
easy, making time where it makes sense and monitor how hard they are blowing
and keep the water on em and you should be fine.  I try to stay out of
the sun
if at all possible - especially since I have a dark horse.

Most people who regularly do hot humid rides, live in hot humid climates.
They train in hot, humid climates and their horses usually have adapted a
pretty good ability to cool, most probably even pant.  They know how their
horses deal with the heat and they know what to watch for. So those people
usually know what to do. Now for riders that are not used to these conditions
to show up to a ride with high humidity - say a freak humid day in the
west -
is where I would worry about problems developing.

In general when humidity goes up and the cooling ability goes down,
there is a
bigger risk for metabolic problems.

Truman

DreamWeaver wrote:

> At 04:46 PM 07/06/2000 -0400, Truman Prevatt, Ph.D. wrote:
>
> >If you look at the heart rate walking up a very steep mountain it will
> >most likely top that of the heart rate galloping on a flat clay road. So
> >speed per se in not the only issue. I would expect the reason the east may
> >have more metabolic problems has more to do with ambiant conditions than
> >any other factor.
>
> So Truman......what do you think is the most important thing for people to
> realize when they are in a ride that is hot and humid, and it's soooo easy
> to just let the horse rip down the trail?
>
> To watch the heart rate?  Keep the horse cool (if water is
> available).  Walk every so often?  Does it ever get hot/humid enough that
> you wouldn't start a ride in the SE?  Do the horses dehydrate first, or get
> overheated or both?
>
> k

--
Truman Prevatt
Brooksville, FL

Mystic "The Horse from Hell" Storm
Buck's Mystic Karma
Rocket a.k.a. Mr. Misty
Jordy a.k.a. Bridger (when he is good)
Danson Flame - Hot Dog I'm healed and ready to go.

http://www.mrsl.com