Re: [horsescience] heat tolerance conditioning

[Abby Bloxsom <goneriding@snet.net>]

> At this
> point we're looking at about 8 weeks, 4 of those weeks being
> spent in the NW.

Steph - Around here it's not uncommon to have six or eight weeks to
bring a horse up in the spring for muggy 25 milers, starting out with it
thirty degrees F and in just a couple weeks it can hit 80 & humid.  We
start with the winter coat full on, to heat them up like crazy, it's
like riding in your raincoat.  

When we clip right before the ride, you can see the capillaries right up
under the skin ... of course the rides aren't in desert conditions like
yours will be, but you have the advantage starting out in a humid
climate, which restricts evaporative cooling.

-Abby B


-- 
* * *
Abby Bloxsom
ARICP Certified Instructor
Level III Recreational and Distance Riding
Colebrook, CT USA
goneriding@snet.net