Re: RC: Summer Breeze

[Rides 2 Far <rides2far@juno.com>]

>  I'm getting ready for Summer Breeze and I'm getting a little >nervous
>about>the weather.  Here in Southern TN, we're having >90s with high 
>humidity.

She's right, but those of you with 100+ temps remember...this is with
humidity (just guessing) well over 80%  I wouldn't be surprised it it was
100% today.  If we followed the rule of Temp & humidity danger zones we'd
never get to ride.  It's been so humid I use windshield wipers in the
evening just because the HUMIDITY is wetting my windshield...REALLY!

Now, about Summer Breeze.  I believe it's at the same place I did the
Kentucky Stampede, east of Lexington.  Yes, camp is an open hot field,
but there's woods across the road where the vet check is.  I would just
take a lawn chair and put him a picket line over there after the ride.  I
made the mistake of driving all night and getting there on Friday morning
 avoid hauling in the heat.  Problem was camp was hot as blue blazes and
I couldn't sleep Friday during the day.  Not to mention camped next to
the most incredible fighting couple I've ever seen...that's another
story...

The course itself was great for heat.  You spent lots of time in shady
ravines and must have crossed the same mountain stream a hundred times. 
The biggest problem was the last 100 yards into the vet check.  It was a
wide open dirt road up a steep hill.  We did it four times and it REALLY
heated the horses up.  I've never gone through so much water in my life,
but there was a hose not far from the check (which is in shade) and Tommy
Crain earned some jewels for his crown by refilling everybody's buckets
all day. 
I rode 22 miles Sat. in this, and 12 this morning.  With LOTS of
sponging, he was O.K. 

During the race when you get to cold water, stay and KEEP SPONGING. 
Stand him in it up to his knees if you can.  Keep sponging until his skin
doesn't warm up again under your hand, get the core temp. down.

If you're on a road that's in and out of the sun, trot the SUN, and walk
the shade.  That will save you from the radient heat.  Hug the shade like
a vampire.  AVOID it at all costs.  I'll up my electrolytes some, and
drop my pace a lot.  I'll make good time in the morning, and spend lots
of time in the creek as the day warms up.

Carry ICE WATER in your water bottles to squirt on him, but drink lots
yourself too. I plan to use ice water some in the vet check.  This will
be a first, but the last time I was there it took him 13 min. to come
down once, and it was purely the heat from climbing that hill.  He's
usually down in 3.  

Angie

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