Hi Shannon, I read your post with interest. I too, have been
absent from my computer all summer, and unfortunately, also
absent from the rides!
I am definitely a novice to distance riding (last year was
my first season, completing 4 rides on my husband's racking
horse gelding). I've only done one this year (Mohican),
with my husband's gelding. I planned to compete with my
TWH mare this year as well (last year she was in foal)...
but have had a lot of concerns about this year's heat and
humidity.
I sent in my entry for the Caesar Creek 30 mile CTR, but
the night before we were to leave for the ride, had a bad
storm, power pole down, power surge through house & barn,
resulting in an electrical fire, no power for 3 days...so,
that was circumstance. BUT, that weekend turned out to be
the hottest of all - 99-100 with extremely high humidity.
Do to my inexperience, I would have been really nervous
about my horse, as she has never competed at all.
I know my horses have been sweating standing in the shade
all summer - actually the ride itself hasn't worried me as
much as the before and after - standing in the hot sun in
the corral before, in the vet lines in the sun, and in the
sun afterwards....plus trailering home in the heat (as you
know, it just hasn't cooled down much at night at all). I
was really worried that even if we completed and vetted out
fine, we might have problems (colic, etc.) later on.
Am I being too cautious?
Oak Openings was planned also, but we had 8 1/2" of rain in
4 days, and a flood that weekend.....
I have been doing my conditioning rides in the early a.m.
(7-9 a.m.), so I guess I am also unsure about how riding
into the heat of the day would affect my horses. I haven't
felt that the horses were in as good condition as last year
when I rode weekly at Alum Creek (lots of ravines). The
very wet year has made the trails there almost unrideable
(deep clay mud).
The ride last weekend, I just plain chickened out on, because
of the heat/humidity predicted (didn't turn out as bad as
the prediction).....
I guess I've rambled on a page to say I'm inexperienced, have
been unable to get to a ride even to observe because of other
circumstances, and am glad to hear from someone experienced
about this year's heat!
If you get a chance, I'd really like to know the results of
the rides at Caesar Creek and Oak Openings.
This weekend, *for sure*, I am going to the ride near Cleveland -
just doing the 20 mile novice ride with my mare. Will you be
there?
Am I being too cautious?
Thanks for the input from anyone -
Jude Hall
& Kentucky Redbud
& Pride's Pure Angel
So discouraged after getting hooked on distance riding last year!