OK, SO I'm feeling a little guilty right now. I havn't even been to the barn to see my horse in over two days, nevermind riding. The weather lately has just been sapping the energy out of me and I have had no motivation to ride in this crappy weather. I need to get moving this weekend though. I have no big plans and Nick is hiking Mt. Katahdin so I'll have the weekend to do whatever I like. My poor horse probably thinks that I abandoned him. Actually he's probably loving this little break. From here on out I need to stick to a strict training schedule before our big show on June 20th. We really need to work harder on our 3ft courses and getting more rhythmic instead of racing towards the jumps. It's hard sometimes because Possum loves jumoing a little too much and as soon as he sets his sights on the next jump he tears off at it. The bigger they are the faster he thinks he has to go to get over it and onto the next one. It's not that funny when your paying $30 a class and he's acting like a jumper in a jump-off. He should come off this little vacation with a fresh additude and be ready to work. I'll definately do some ring work this weekend and sprinkle in some trail rides as well. I rarely get to trail ride him anymore cause Nick has been riding him so much. I miss my calm and brave and collected trail horse. I love the fact that we can gallop at full speed, I can pull him up and then walk out on a long rein with no problem.
The weather this weekend is supposed to hold out for the most part, I think only a slight chance of showers and temps in the 60's and low 70's, prefect for me. I could never live in the south where it gets really hot. If I'm cold I can always put more clothes on, but when I'm hot you can only take off so many clothes and usually that doesn't even help. Horse shows in the dead of summer are tough for me. More then once I've had to duck into my car with the AC cranked to try and cool down quickly before I pass out. I have a histiry of heat stroke and it's not fun if your on a horse.
Well that's about it for now. I will ride this afternoon and get myself in gear. Plus the dogs are a little pissed too since they havn't been to the barn in a while. Everyone will be happy this afternoon.
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3 comments:
Electrolytes will help you avoid heat stroke at a horse show. Also try alternating a sports drink with water - the sports drink in between will aid with digestion and help your body move the water through your system.
Do you do the wet towel over your neck and shoulders? Try dipping that thing in a bucket with that is 2/3 water 1/3 or more rubbing alcohol - it will make a huge difference on how cool the towel gets. Also a spray bottle spritz in the face is refreshing.
I had this dream last night where I was visiting you and Possum in Maine - and Possum kicked the crap out of me! I was all freaking out cause I headed to the ER again! Woke up all relieved it was a dream - cause I am pretty sure he's not a kicker - then went back to sleep. Just thought I would share that...
hahaha, your imagination is as vivid as mine. No, Possum is not a kicker, if anything he used to be a biter in his days of abuse.
In terms of heat stroke, I usually drink a big Gatorade in the morning and then put the water to me for the rest of the day. I have a thing that goes around my neck that stays cool all day. I'm just kinda hot blooded. I've passed out on the back of a horse before and also doing haying in the summer. I was close to passing out last summer waiting at the in gate before a show and had to ge off and sit in the shade for a minute. It's all the clothes you have to wear. Britches, boot socks, tall black boots, a long sleeve shirt, wool jacket, hair net and a black velvet helmet. The dress was not made for the heat of the summer. Oh well I'll live, but thanks for the advice. Sorry you had the nightmare. Someday you'll have to see and ride Possum in person.
The neck thing you mention in the comments, is it a www.Blubandoo.com product? I have one of their neck things. I was going to mention their stuff when I was reading the blog. I would die without mine and am thinking of getting a bandana, too. So dorky looking, but that stuff is a life saver. You can also try putting a cooling pack in the back of your sports bra, but be careful the muscles don't get too chilled or you could strain them. Sometimes I've had to take my Bandoo off because I get a stiff neck. That's why I want a head scarf, no muscles to pull there. Not sure what my plan will be for hot summer shows. I'm not as tough as I was when I was showing 10 years ago and I don't have a show mom to hold my water bottle for me. Oh listen to me whine....
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