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I'd like to hear from people who've left their
horses unclipped for a 50 mile ride in a warmer climate than the horse lives in
(during the winter, of course).
It is cold where I live (below 0 the last few
nights) at 7000+ ft. My arab has a wonderful thick coat and I've never
seen him cold (he has a run-in shelter and trees in his large paddock).
I'm going to DVE to do a 50 in a few weeks (at a moderate pace), and really
don't want to clip him. In my experience his coat is much more effective
than his blanket at keeping him warm (its a nice heavy $200 blanket, not just a
light sheet). I know it could be cool there, but even if it's a
really warm day it shouldn't be more than 70.
Last month I took him south near Tucson and did two
25-mile CTRs without clipping him. The temps were in the 60s to low 70s,
and he didn't sweat a ton or have any problems from overheating (he did look a
bit raggy next to all those relatively smooth-coated Tucson horses, tho - but
that's not an issue). There were local horses who were blanketed the night
after the ride and still cold, but Gabriel was comfy (I gotten him cleaned up,
dried and fluffy before it cooled off for the evening). Of course a 25
isn't a 50, but I'm experimenting to see what works and its a
start.
I'm thinking if I had a polarfleece cooler or
something like that to put on him until he's dry (after the ride) that he'd be
fine. But I'm inexperienced and am asking for feedback based on
experience!
Thanks,
Kathy Kelly
Parks AZ
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