Beat the Heat from the Saddle: World’s Best Ways That Don’t Cost a Dime

Summer is in full swing! Bringing with it horse shows, time with friends, long trail rides, and… heat. Lots of heat. Days hot enough lately to give the Sonoran Desert a run for its money. And with that kind of heat pressing in, we may be tempted to let our horse-riding endeavors wait until October rolls back around. But never fear! We don’t have to give up on our summer riding. Here are the best ways to keep cool(er) through the hot summer.

1. Turn The Light On!

Light clothes that is! Time to pull out the white and light-colored clothes. Nothing makes you quite as hot and sticky as the heat radiating through your black tee shirt until you're drenched in sweat. So for riding (or any long stretches outside) swap out the dark colors for things that will reflect that baking heat away from you.

2. Hydration, Hydration, Hydration

This is clearly a no-brainer. But it’s crazy how easily I forget to keep drinking water when I’m busy working. Best thing you can do is keep water with you, or nearby, at all times. Electrolytes and other hydrating drinks are fantastic, but reach for one of those after you’ve gotten several glasses of pure water first! And don’t forget to keep your horse well-hydrated, too.

3. Find the Coolest Route

When making plans to ride, schedule it when temperatures (and humidity) are at their lowest point of the day. This is usually in the earlier hours of the morning and in the evenings. And avoid remaining in the full sun to work - either find shade or find where the breeze blows. Sometimes you have to get creative to do this, but I’ve often discovered amazing places and ways to ride while searching for shade and wind!

4. Get Evaporative Cooling on Your Side

Don’t wait until you’re already hot to start looking for a way to stay cool. So after you’re saddled up, make a short stop at the hose. If you have a removable liner in your helmet, take that out and soak it well in cold water before replacing it in the helmet for a cooling effect that lasts nearly the whole ride. In addition to that or if you don’t have a removable liner, you can also soak your hair - another great way to keep cool under the helmet!

5. Make A Splash!

When the summer heat is heavily on us, it is the perfect time to work in the water! If your horse loves swimming and you have the place to do it, it's going to love the adventure! Build your horse’s muscles up for this activity, by starting out with short amounts of time, slowly increasing day by day. Don’t overdo it for either of you. And if you’ve got a horse that’s a bit timid around the water, you won’t find a better time to get in some good training time.

6. Use Common Sense

Above all, just use your good judgment when working with a horse in the heat. Cut down training times, cool your horse off after a ride, or skip riding that day if the weather is just too hot. And remember, while you’ve come from an air-conditioned house, your horse has been in the heat all day and may overheat very easily under saddle. Know your horse, know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke - for both horses and people - and always err on the side of caution.

Summer riding doesn’t have to be missed out on or become a dreaded chore! With the right gear, creativity, and lots of water, you can beat the heat and enjoy the ride. Armed with these tips, head out to saddle up and make summer horse memories you’ll treasure forever.