Nc/sc southeast Summer showing under Heat advisory

[Ahorseofcourse_NC]

Alright y’all here’s a hot topic I’ve seen lately. I’m located in the Carolina’s where we are currently sitting in the middle of a heatwave. Temperatures are averaging 90°+ most likely for the next 30-60 days. With the extreme humidity in these parts, that means over the last few days the “feels like” temperature is 100+ .

I’ve seen posts in local equestrian groups of small schooling shows being posted, and the hosts (perhaps rightfully so) being roasted in the comment section for not being concerned about animal welfare. My personal trainer has not stopped doing lessons (goes all day) regardless of the temperature. I opt to ride at 7am which is the only manageable time for myself and my horse.

That being said, can we really get mad at small schooling shows and trainers for continuing their businesses while large show facilities are still cranking out HUGE summer shows at the same time ? I can’t even begin to fathom pushing my horse through an XC track at these temperatures. At what point does there need to be accountability for horse welfare at these temperatures ? I have seen some smaller shows preemptively cancel shows due to heat concerns. How hot is too hot? Will the people who continue to put their horses welfare at risk be the ones at the top of the points board bc they didn’t compromise? Is that fair?

I pulled my registration from a show in July bc I can not in good faith put my horse through that when the temp that time of year is around 95° with ridiculous dew points to match. Just curious what everyone else’s thoughts and/or approach is!

Tryon shows still on the books:

• July 1 - 6: Tryon summer 4 (National / Level 6 / CSI 2*)
• July 8 - 13 : Tryon Summer 5 (National / Level 6 / CSI 2*)
• July 15 - 20: Tryon Summer 6 (National / Level 6 / CSI 3*)
• July 23 - 27: USHJA Emerging Athletes Program (EAP) Regional Training Program

Stableview shows:

• June 27-29 – USHJA Hunter Jumpers In & Out Series 4
• July 9 – Schooling Dressage Collection
• July 12-13 – USEF/USDF “Only in America” Dressage
• July 16 – Hunter/Jumper Institute
• July 18 – Eventing Academy X-Country Schooling
• July 19 – Eventing Academy Schooling Day
• July 20 – Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials
• July 29-30 – Emerging Athlete U21 East Clinic

[nutmeg]

This topic to me has more weight in the social license to compete animals department than waving a whip. I could start a How Many Dehydration Colics Will Go To Rhinebeck category on Polymarket when Saugerties begins. There needs to be serious thought given to upgrading tent stabling design to accommodate relentless heat and humidity that does not even relent at night.

[endlessclimb]

I was thinking the same thing - people posting all the things they were doing to stay cool at the horse show while their horses stand tied to the trailer in the beating sun.

Or the person who only scratched their final classes because they themselves were nauseous and dizzy.

Things that make you go and

[pony_grandma]

I evented in the 70s I only competed spring and fall. In fact there were not events scheduled in summer most areas.

[2DogsFarm]

Agreeing with @nutmeg
Same heat & humidity here & I’m dripping with sweat after feeding horses at 6A, the “coolest” part of the day. Believe me, not much effort is involved & it takes me well under an hour to do chores for chickens & 3 horses.

Forecast doesn’t let up on the heat & humidity for the next 10 days. With a good chance for rain on several of those days.
I’ve cancelled my weekly lesson for the past 2 weeks. I can’t imagine riding in this weather let alone showing.

My Driving Club has a Playday scheduled for Sunday at the local fairgrounds.
We can drive freely on the acreage - mostly gravel & asphalt roads - & play with a Cones course on the grassy arena.
I’m not going & a couple Club friends told me they’re out also.
Club FB page posted yesterday it “might be cancelled if temps go over 90”
Might?
WTFruitbat are they thinking?
Driving a horse on that ground, shod or barefoot isn’t something I’d subject mine to.
Club also planned a potluck lunch.
Sitting in the open-air roofed shelter in this heat is also not attractive.
Add most members are Seniors, several with health issues.
Sheesh!

[junesj68]

I’ve qualified for a final that is during Tryon summer 5 so we are planning on going at the moment. I’m focusing on my horse’s fitness and of course will scratch if it is too hot. Tryon conditions don’t look much different than NoVA conditions. I’m hoping that the weather works out to where temp+humidity is sub 150.

[Ponyplusaninch]

Honestly I’ve been griping about shows happening in OH during this heat. Like unless you’re ending all classes by 10AM, there’s no way the heat index is safe. And even then, why add the stress of heat on top of the stress of being somewhere new (like a show)?

I may have been more foolish when I was younger, but absolutely not what I’d do.

[LCDR]

I recall attending all of the equestrian events at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. From a spectator’s point of view the heat and humidity were close to unbearable despite all of the modifications made to try to mitigate harm to horses, riders, staff, and spectators.

Obviously the horses competing there were all in tip-top physical shape, and handled the weather stress pretty well.

I’d like to think that riders at any show will know their own horses’ limitations, and not risk their equine partners. I’ll just leave it at that.

[nutmeg]

Sadly the poster child for the Atlanta Olympics, Jus d’Pomme, had to hang around the longest in the heat for medals and interviews and I’m not sure he even had time to pee before sprinting for the plane. They lost him to colic a week later at home in Holland. I still carry that sadness.

[LovieBird]

Sadly, some people will still insist on showing and riding. They for whatever reason just don’t take the heat seriously.

[StormyDay]

So, for me personally, the heat with horse shows was not a huge concern when I lived in the ‘real’ south. Most of the classes are going early in the AM (some shows started at 6 or 7 in the morning) the horses are pretty used to the heat (much more than us humans with our AC) and I just did less overall… I’d warm up for maybe 10 minutes, do one or two rounds, and go home. My horse was less sweaty at the show than when we were schooling at home.
But some people don’t use their common sense and they enter their horse into a bunch of classes. I think the shows do need to crack down on that, especially during a heatwave.

Last Sunday it was 93 degrees with a ‘feels like’ of higher. I told my riding student to not worry about her jacket; I didn’t want her to faint.
The judge actually made a comment about how she appreciated the people who WERE wearing their jacket.

[Ahorseofcourse_NC]

I totally agree. But it makes me wonder at what point we should be holding the venues and the organizing bodies responsible for allowing these shows to happen and allowing people to put their horses in these situations when they know fine and well that the real feel temperatures are reaching into the 115 to 1 20°F range.

[NaturallyHappy]

My simple answer is no. Not my pony. Ain’t worth it.

[fivestrideline]

Heat exhaustion is believed to be cumulative.

At the bigger shows, running indoors or under cover is often an option and things like required stalls (with fans!), misting stations at the gates, and lights to run in the dark can help mitigate the impact of the heat.

Smaller schooling shows often lack these things, and can sometimes lack knowledgeable stewards/staff with the guts to kick someone out for riding an exhausted horse or leaving them in the steel trailer in the sun.

However, this is another case for class limits IMO. I understand add/scratch, but there should be a limit to how many classes a horse can do - with an additional cap for extreme weather I think. We are going to be dealing with wild fluctuations and hotter weather unless something remarkable changes politically… so it’s time for some rule changes IMO.

[Lusoluv]

I rode at the AECs in Lexington in late August '23. It was in the mid-90s the 4 days I was there. At least we only had 1 event phase per day and they did have volunteers driving golf carts around with cold water for riders and apples for horses. They also had many wash stalls available, water troughs and huge fans at the end of XC and tents w/misting fans after SJ. Since I’m a low level eventer my ride times were between 12:30pm and 3:30 pm each day. Not fun, but do-able. I wouldn’t show multiple classes per day or plan on doing this multiple times per month. The AECs was my bucket list goal and my horse was 7yr and fit.

[Davignport]

Perhaps if people would put the welfare of their horses over a $.50 ribbon, the horses would be better off. Sadly, it seems true horsemanship is lacking in many riders these days. More shows, more ribbons and more Instagram pictures has taken the place of doing what is best for your horse. Sad indeed.

[2DogsFarm]

@StormyDay

The judge actually made a comment about how she appreciated the people who WERE wearing their jacket.

Nice
Was the Judge wearing a jacket?
Even if he/she was, sitting under shade not the same as showing in a huntcoat, Tech fabric be damned!

Back in the Day - late 80s-mid-90s - my H/J trainer “strongly suggested” we keep coats on, even if waived.
This was back before the tech fabrics & vented coats.
Generally by the time the Rule was waived, my longsleeved ratcatcher (with choker!) was so pitted out I just kept my coat on.
Worst memory was doing back-to-back O/F classes & coming out of the second wondering if I’d puke or pass out first.

Unless you’re a Pro chasing YE points, showing clients’ horses or Sale horses, give it a rest!
Even then, consider the horses.

[albytb]

And remember folks—it’s only going to get hotter with every year!

My local horse trial happened last weekend, and I heard great reports that the venue prepared cooling stations, ice water buckets with sponges, etc etc to help the horses. But I do think shows with dedicated ride times at least keeps the horses out of the sun/under hot tack for too long

[StormyDay]

@2DogsFarm

@StormyDay

The judge actually made a comment about how she appreciated the people who WERE wearing their jacket.

Nice
Was the Judge wearing a jacket?
Even if he/she was, sitting under shade not the same as showing in a huntcoat, Tech fabric be damned!

Back in the Day - late 80s-mid-90s - my H/J trainer “strongly suggested” we keep coats on, even if waived.
This was back before the tech fabrics & vented coats.
Generally by the time the Rule was waived, my longsleeved ratcatcher (with choker!) was so pitted out I just kept my coat on.
Worst memory was doing back-to-back O/F classes & coming out of the second wondering if I’d puke or pass out first.

Unless you’re a Pro chasing YE points, showing clients’ horses or Sale horses, give it a rest!
Even then, consider the horses.

No they were not; and also it was a schooling show. Long stirrup 18 inch hunters.

[LCDR]

Reminds me of a fox hunt one unseasonably really hot day. The master excused coats and vests. About an hour later there was an unexpected rainstorm. Every white shirt immediately went into wet tee shirt see-thru mode.