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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Trailering in the Heat

7/1/2013

 
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I know it's summer everywhere which means it's probably hot everywhere, but holy cow. It's been really hot here on the west coast. Our high was 106℉ yesterday with a low of 81℉. It was 128℉ in Death Valley yesterday, which is only about 200 miles away.

Even knowing that we were in the middle of a pretty extensive heat wave, I still loaded Sydney in the trailer and went to a show. Yes, I knew it was going to be hot showing, but it was the drive home that I was most worried about. To get to the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center, I have to cross a 4,200 foot pass, which is low by California's standards, but it's a climb that happens in a relatively short period. Even tougher is the climb coming home.

For the drive over, I was on the highway by 5:30 a.m. so heat wasn't really a factor. The show started and ended early, so I was finished and loaded up by 11:00; it was already 91℉. Not only did I hose Sydney off, but I had soaked his flysheet in a cool bucket of water and placed it in the shade so that it would be ready the second he stepped on the trailer. A wet fly sheet combined with open windows was the closet thing to air conditioning that I could arrange for him. 

The drive home proved to be a bit nerve wracking. For the past few months, I had been thinking about replacing my truck, a very long story, but decided that it's doing the job for now, so I decided to keep it. BUT. It's 13 years old, and stuff happens. As I cruised along 4 lanes of busy freeway traffic in near 100 degree heat with a favorite friend stuck in the back, all I could do was send up little silent prayers that we would cross the pass and make it to the valley floor safely.

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Not somewhere you want to break down while hauling your horse.
At every mile, I saw a car or truck parked on the side of the road with it's hood up. At one point, I just quit looking for fear that breaking down was somehow contagious. Even though the gas gauge said I could make it home, I decided to pull over in Gorman which is pretty much the "top" of the grade as you come back to Bakersfield.

The temperature was only 93 degrees there, and I knew I could park in the gas station's shade for a few minutes which would give my truck a break. More importantly, I wanted to check on Sydney and make sure he was feeling okay. As I filled my tank, I opened the back door and was pleased to see Sydney looking pretty relaxed. The fly sheet was about 95% dry so I pulled it off; it had done it's job.

The last 45 miles of the trip would be the hottest as we would be traveling along the valley's floor. There was no way to make Sydney any more comfortable so I continued on knowing that the sooner we got home, the better. It was 103℉ when we pulled into the barn at 1:00 p.m. Sydney was a bit warm to the touch, and he had a small amount of sweat near his flanks, but he was bright eyed and seemed happy to be home.

I unloaded him and walked over to the shade to let him graze for a few minutes. When I was sure that all was well, I took him to the wash rack and hosed every part of his body. I scraped all the excess water and hurried him into the shade of the barn where a nice breeze was blowing. He immediately dove into his hay with a happy expression.

I hung around the barn for nearly an hour keeping an eye on him. He took a long drink, continued to munch on his hay, and then slurped down his electrolyte laden beet pulp mash. Only once I was certain that he looked healthy did I grab my own stuff and head home. I was more hot and beat up than Sydney was. Since I was worried about my truck possibly over-heating, I had ridden with my own AC off and the windows down.

By the time I got home, all I could think about was a cold shower and lunch. I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening rotating between the couch and the floor with an ice pack on my neck. There might have also been several ice cream sandwiches devoured as well as a couple of cold drinks consumed.

More about the show tomorrow. Right now I need to get to the barn for a morning lesson.
Angela
7/1/2013 01:09:05 am

So glad your trek to the LA area and back was "uneventful!" I think I would have been a nervous wreck.
We were on the road yesterday too, and as we crossed the desert between LA and Tehachapi the car temp registered 115*!!! We also saw so many stranded vehicles along the roadside. I commented to Mike that "most" of them were blown trailer tires, and he responded that they might not have checked their trailer's tire pressure and with the excessive heat the tires are more apt to blow...bummer! Any thing can happen, but it's best to be properly prepared. So, hats off to you for proper maintenance and a bit of 'good luck.' :0)

Karen
7/1/2013 05:37:58 am

It was a bad day to be driving on the highway, that's for sure. I was also worried about my trailer tires. I kept my speed way down, especially on the downhills. I wanted to reduce the need for braking, and I know how hot tires can get on hot asphalt. Between worrying about over-heating on the way up the hill and worrying about blowing a tire on the downhill, I was a tad bit tired by the time I pulled into my own garage. :0) My number one concern though was Sydney. He didn't ask to travel in the trailer on the hottest day of the year, Fortunately, he came home healthy and happy!

Austen link
7/1/2013 01:11:27 am

Oh my! What a stressful drive! My truck doesn't even HAVE ac, and last summer was BRUTAL. Honestly, I think you did a great job planning Sydney's comfort and checking on him regularly. Next time I hope you both end the day in good shape! ;)

Karen
7/1/2013 05:39:04 am

Thanks, Austen. It's not usual for us to travel in that kind of heat for that many hours. It's not healthy for people or horses! :0)

Calm Forward Straight link
7/1/2013 01:47:14 am

So glad you and Sydney had a safe trip home. Sounds like you planned well for the heat, but it must have been nerve wracking.

Love the soaked fly sheet trick. I don't use my truck a/c either when hauling - too afraid of over heating. My Brenderup stays pretty cool since there's a minimum of metal and good airflow, so Val's probably more comfortable than I am. ;D

Karen
7/1/2013 05:40:15 am

Thanks. I usually feel comfortable enough about my truck to run the AC, but yesterday was hotter than normal. I figured I could be uncomfortable for two hours. :0)

Liz link
7/1/2013 02:25:52 am

Great post. Love the fly sheet idea, I'll have to remember that!

Karen
7/1/2013 05:42:30 am

Thanks, Liz. I wet my flysheets all the time at home, but this is the first time I've felt the need to do it on the road. It's REALLY uncommon for that route to be THAT hot in the middle of the day. California gets hot, but this particular heat wave is so wide spread that even our coastal areas are hotter than normal!

Tracy
7/1/2013 03:02:36 am

Phew! Glad your trip went well and that Sydney was a happy camper the entire time!

Karen
7/1/2013 05:47:26 am

Thanks, Tracy. He gets better each time out!

Hillary link
7/1/2013 07:46:18 am

Glad that you guys made it home safely. The fly sheet trick is a good idea!

Karen
7/1/2013 09:12:56 am

Thanks, Hillary. :0)

Kelly link
7/1/2013 10:04:47 pm

My truck is a young 14 so I too say those prayers when hauling! Course we don't normally have to deal with CA like temps. Glad you both made the trip safely!

Karen
7/1/2013 11:14:30 pm

Thanks, Kelly! My truck runs great, but now that it's a teenager, you just never know which hose/belt/valve/etc. is going to go! And since I would rather spend money on shows and clinics, a truck payment is going to have to wait. :0)

Lauren link
7/2/2013 02:09:58 am

That is a really good idea about the fly sheet! Glad ya'll made it home safely.

Karen
7/2/2013 09:19:52 am

Thanks, Lauren! Endurance riders learn a lot of ways to deal with the heat! :0)

Sandra
7/2/2013 05:23:17 am

Great post! Living in the High Desert, I deal with that kind of heat all summer. LOVE the wet fly sheet idea and am going to try it on our next haul! I have a "mature" Suburban (1991) that I haul my 2H straight load with. It is a small, light trailer and I typically am only hauling 1 horse but I too turn off my AC when climbing hills. I will be truck shopping soon too :-)

Karen
7/2/2013 09:21:32 am

Sandra, I've loved hearing other "old truck" stories. Mine is starting to look younger all the time. Thanks for sharing. :0)


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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    ​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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