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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Dog Days Of Summer

8/19/2015

 
I hate to complain about the heat because most people in the northern hemisphere are experiencing some version of summer. And even though some folks' version of hot would feel practically arctic to me, I get that it feels hot based on what you're used to. Folks in Baghdad are laughing at me right now.

It got nasty hot these last few days: our official high on Monday was 109 ℉, but my phone clocked it at a stifling 111℉. Yesterday was better at 105℉, but not by much. I have a riding threshold, which means that I feel okay to ride at about 100℉. Above that, I just don't even want to.

When I am saddling up at 99 degrees and it's creeping toward the century mark, I'll keep the ride short and won't ask for a whole lot. When it's already above 100 when I saddle, and I see that it is getting warmer, my enthusiasm wanes very quickly. That's what happened yesterday.
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Not looking good ...
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2 degrees higher in 45 minutes?
There was nothing to be accomplished by schooling in that kind of weather. Instead, I gave Speedy a pre-show shower and worked on some of his funky spots. He gets this crusty, scabby gunk on his forehead in the late summer. I picked it off over the weekend and tested some MTG on it, but it stilled looked pretty funky. This is after cleaning it.
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Radiating from his whorl - the dark skin on the left side and then two bald patches where the pink skin is showing through
I gave it a gentle wash with a Betadine scrub and then rinsed it really well. He also had two of what I am very unscientifically calling "cold sores." The one on his lip took care of itself, but I decided to clean the one on his chin while I was washing his face. Truthfully, I am not sure what it is, but it's not bothering him, it's not getting worse, and the first one went away very quickly. As they say, it's a long way from his heart.
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It's just a little spot on his chin.
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Dude! It's a sweat scraper!!!! He gave it a serious ogling ...
Even though it was only getting hotter, Izzy really needed to be worked. I gave him a shower as well and then brought him into the barn. Our humidity level was at 9% (I checked), so standing around in the shade with even a slight breeze dropped his temperature enough that his skin felt really cool to the touch.
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He didn't even know it was hot.
I saddled him quickly and headed out for a hack around the neighborhood. He was a bit of a fireball, but I felt like it was actually a productive ride. He got to out alone, and I got to school him through some I don't wannas. We were only gone for twenty-five minutes, which was just enough time to dry off and work up a little sweat under his saddle pad.
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Fresh as a daisy and not a stressed bone in his body.
We were actually gone just long enough for him to relax. He bounced and jigged for about 19 minutes, but slowly, his energy level evened out, and he finished the ride happy and willing. As soon as I got off, he dropped his head and snuffled around for something to eat without a single concern. 

It's hard for me to see trail rides as having equal value as arena work, but this heat might end up forcing me to spend more time working on getting and keeping his attention when there's too much to see - a skill he'll need when he goes to a show.

I sure hope it's cooler today - for all of us!
Austen link
8/18/2015 11:27:52 pm

9% humidity?! I'll have what you're having!! ;)

It's hard to get myself motivated when the humidity level is above 90%, no matter the temperature. A high temp (90°-98° range here) with humidity in the 70% or below range is far more doable. I hate feeling like I'm drowning in my own sweat. Bletch.

Bring back winter, Kay? I miss snow.

Calm, Forward, Straight link
8/19/2015 07:17:10 am

What I wouldn't give for 9% humidity - though I know it's all about what you're used to. At least in low humidity the sweat mechanism is functional. We've been 85 - 90 squared all summer. Humidity and temperature. I work outdoors so riding holds no appeal at the moment. :D

Karen
8/19/2015 02:00:42 am

Are you sure the spots on his nose are not a mild case of VS? We are in the middle of our second year of break out and one of the symptoms is sores on the lips, tongue, coronet band and gums. In severe cases it looks like a blow torch was taken to the horse's face, but in really mild cases it can be just a couple of spots. Just as an FYI.

Amanda link
8/19/2015 03:30:29 am

Oh HECK no. Nooooope. We haven't gone above 90 yet this summer and I find myself getting whiney when it goes above 80. Yesterday's high was 84 and I flopped around all day.

Karley link
8/19/2015 08:56:08 am

yeah it's been too hot... It was in the 90s last night during our lesson and I was dying- thankful for the bit of s breeze tho!!

jenj
8/19/2015 10:32:40 am

Yeah, been over 100 here every day for quite some time - I've tried to sneak rides before work but it's often hard to get that motivated that early. Oh well, when everyone else is under 6 feet of snow, we'll be loving the "winter" weather!

emma link
8/21/2015 06:33:27 am

oh man, Speedy's expression at the sweat scraper is classic lol


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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    About Izzy

    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home