Riding a wet horse?

[VillyCazalet]

We were always taught not to do this. However, with horses living out its a bit limiting. I have access to a stable for rubbing with a towel and tacking up ( but not time to leave horse in for hours first). Would this be ok?

Not a thinned skinned TB or anything similar. Hairy effort!

[todayisnottheday]

Invest in a 50 50 fly rug! They have a showerproof strip over the back and crest with mesh sides, keeps them dry enough without getting horribly hot.

I ride after a towel off if they are damp but not when they are wet through. I don't know what others do though.

[misog2000]

I will towel dry mine and then tack up (provided she is just wet and not muddy and wet). Normally use a clean numnah if I can to make sure I'm not grinding any dirt into her wet coat. She's half tb so not overly hairy and I've never had a problem.

[VillyCazalet]

Thanks, I think I'll see how she is in a bit. Someone mentioned a towel under the nummnah, would this help or wrinkle and rub?

[todayisnottheday]

I wouldn't put anything extra under the numnah. The numnah will soak anything up as well as a towel and won't cause any problems that a towel might. Just make sure it's clean and dry like misog says.

[VillyCazalet]

Thank you, makes sense. Just have to persuade the thin skinned hound that he's coming now!

[bonzo77]

Admittedly the horses I ride are owned by mr laissez-faire. They'll come in, be fed, then ridden. On full tummies and wet, with grubby poly pads. And they're TBs. In fairness their thin summer coats will dry off quite a lot while they're in their boxes eating.

[Jonkastique]

I'm sure they will be fine. I'd run them down first and use an absorbent numnah. I wouldn't use a towel under numnah.

[bonzo77]

How were all your wet rides today? Ours was fab. It never fails to amaze me that on the edge of London we have hours of great hacking. I looked like a tit in my waterproofs and high viz, but was pleased I was wet from sweat not rain. Horses had a fab time zooming around. You know when you give up trying to check them and just let them run till they stop? 100's of years of selective breeding for speed.

[VillyCazalet]

I sadly didn't make it in the end. The wind and rain persisted, with frequent thunder and hail stones so was glad I did t venture out! Gutted though, next chance is Thursday evening. Sounds like you had a great ride

[bonzo77]

Shame, will it be light enough where you are to ride in the evening? yeah, we had thunder and horizontal rain. No hail though, I would have drawn the line at that, maybe. If you don't have them already, get some hiking waterproofs, including trousers. I find them fine to ride in and you feel invincible when you're dry and warm. I wear snow boarding trousers in winter. Riding is my only me time and not much will stop me (late pregnancy is the only thing that's stopped me so far).

[VillyCazalet]

Yes, I'm south coast. Stil light enough till 8.30 ish. I do need to toughen up a bit I expect!

[bonzo77]

nah, not about being tough, just being prepared so I don't have to be tough. I have a massive Aldi bag for life full of gear for every weather eventuality, all covered in hair and dirt. Mr Laissez-faire always jokes about the kitchen sink, but I am the one with drinking water, baby wipes for the horses eyes and sun cream for their (and my) noses.

[Flexibilityisquay]

I've never really understood why you can't ride a wet horse, as long as they are not muddy. With the hot weather mine sweats under the saddle within a few minutes of going out. I don't see how that is any different to being wet from rain? He's never seemed sore from it.

[misog2000]

Jealous of those of you having wet rides, I'm 34 weeks pregnant so not riding at the mo and really missing it. Hoping to be back on soon though

[bonzo77]

misog 34 weeks is when I stopped riding with my first! Shame to miss all this summer riding. Hopefully you'll be back riding in the next few months (just in time for cold and snow).

[VillyCazalet]

Riding is one of my reasons why I'm dithering over another baby!

[VillyCazalet]

Not riding!

[misog2000]

Fingers crossed I will be back on soon after the birth, I'm lucky in that I have a fab sharer who is keeping her fit for me so it's just a case of getting myself back into riding shape then I should be able to crack straight on with winter dressage (we are very spoiled and have an indoor school for winter riding). We had such plans this summer, then I fell pregnant and my friends horse fractured his pedal bone so we have spent the whole summer drinking tea and watching them stuff their faces never mind next year.