*sigh* We haven't had any heat here this year. Rain almost everyday. We
can't even condition properly. Unfortunately, when we can ride the
humidity and bugs are almost unbearable! I won't be doing my first ride
until July - I get out of school on Thursday (can't wait, can't wait).
The heat and humidity in Ohio in the summer are similar to what you guys in
the southeast are talking about (if we ever get a summer this year). Star
does not sweat very much and he has HUGE nostrils. It is my belief that
those wide open nostrils are what enable him to blow off much if not most
of his heat, especially since he won't sweat until late in a ride. He
doesn't pant, the rate is normal but I think the volume is significantly
more than than usual. He is also very narrow and lean with a high surface
to volume ratio, which may be useful in removing heat without lots of
sweat. I throw water on him whenever I can and keep tabs on how hot he is.
I can say that I know my horse better than the vets and know when he is in
trouble. The worst adjustment I have had with Quark is that she sweats! I
just can't get used to it early in a ride!
I wonder if his lack of sweat is due to high humidities in Ohio or if he
would do the same in the dry Western heat. We will probably never find
out. My trailer barely makes it to Indiana, much less California.
I like my Miller's riding jeans, no padded anythings - McClellan saddles
have a nice slit down the middle so a padded crotch would be a waste of
padding! My husband really appreciates it, too. My saddles also do not
have flaps so padded knees wouldn't do much. I would like reinforced
calves for the rubbing on the rigging though...it doesn't hurt me, just
wears my jeans out and I don't like half-chaps. J rides in thick sweat
pants with half-chaps and spandex shorts underneath - no padding, just
enough spandex to prevent chaffing in the thighs from the stirrup buckles
(which don't bother me). The jeans and heavy sweat pants are a necessity
to protect our skins from brambles and underbrush.
Ride managers in AHAO bend over backwards for the safety of our horses. We
have occasionally had too short ride times but never any that you couldn't
make within the grace period. And if we have trouble on the first day and
mention it, they usually increase or decrease the ride times accordingly.
They also take into consideration humidity, mud, heat etc. Sometimes, we
even negotiate the ride time at the ride meeting, with the mgt, the vets
and the riders discussing trail and weather conditions. AHAO has wonderful
rules and is very enjoyable to ride. I have only been to one ride that I
won't return to because ride mgt was unrealistic in their expectations. I
really like ride mgrs and know most of them pretty well. They are always
open to discussion.
Oh well, back to finals.
Shannon Loomis and Quail Meadow Star (who is still on winter vacation) (and
Quark, the emergency back-up Arab who is for sale and can be seen at:
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/~loomis/shannon/quark/quark.html)