We water our horses well at the last river crossing before camp, then tie them up with their hay net. They are un saddled after a half hour or so, brushed, and taken back down to the river for a drink.
[QUOTE=tabula rashah;7926969]
PS- If you are getting “heat bumps”, swellings or a sore back then there’s an issue with your tack[/QUOTE]
^^ This!
Would there be any harm to leaving renegade hoof boots on a horse for a few days?
[QUOTE=tabula rashah;7926969]
PS- If you are getting “heat bumps”, swellings or a sore back then there’s an issue with your tack[/QUOTE]
What are heat bumps? I have never heard of this. The cavalcade of hideous equine maladies never disappoints in its endlessness.
I don’t think it really matters how long you leave on the saddle (within reason), but not offering water relatively quickly is poor horsemanship.
[QUOTE=Bluey;7926215]
Many cowboys here will loosen the chinches after they are thru and lift the saddles and let some air under there, but not take the saddles clear off for a bit.
They think their backs cool off too fast if they do, unless they hauled them for a bit first, then they will take the saddle off, just not right after riding a horse hard.
Now, I am talking of maybe for 15-20 or so minutes, not hours.
Horses get offered water at every chance to do so all along thru the day and at some times, in some places, hobbled to graze around a little.[/QUOTE]
This.
Agree, and why after a day in the mountains, our horses are left saddled for a half hour or so. Does not mean they are not looked after first, as they were watered and fed, before we sit down for a break.
Even if tack fits correctly, this practice helps a horse from becoming sore, even when ridden for a week on tough up and down climbs, 8 hour days or more
[QUOTE=Stonewall;7927272]
Would there be any harm to leaving renegade hoof boots on a horse for a few days?[/QUOTE]
The only hoof boots I would leave on for a few days, is glue ons
The entire idea of using hoof boots, is to allow the horse to be barefoot after the ride, thus check for any rubs and prevent thrush from maybe getting started
In the summer after a long trail ride, we dismount, remove tack immediately, do a physical check and then the horses are either tied to the trailer (or put in a coral depending on where we are trail riding) with water, hay and shade. Horses and humans cool off before loading back onto the trailer.
In the winter it’s the same scenario except coolers are thrown on the horses.
[QUOTE=tabula rashah;7926969]
PS- If you are getting “heat bumps”, swellings or a sore back then there’s an issue with your tack[/QUOTE]
That’s what I’ve always thought too. For me, swelling and/or soreness in the back after rides always=bad saddle fit…I’ve never mentally connected it to anything other than that? Am I wrong?
My horses generally have their saddles on for about 15 minutes after each ride (with the girth loosened) because my first concern is checking over their legs and picking hooves, then hay and water unless the horse needs cooling out first and after that untacking and checking for rubs, sore back etc. But then again sore backs and rubs are low on my list of concerns because every horse I’ve owned that I ride/rode extensively got the custom saddle fit treatment and 5 Star pad to go with it. I see that as an investment in my horse’s well-being to keep it sound, comfortable and sane. A horse with well fitting tack is not only going to save me money in vet bills but also more likely to behave and keep me safe out on long rides over the years I will own/ride it.
I can honestly say that since I’ve become borderline obsessive about saddle fit and proper padding over the last couple decades I’ve had zero instances of swelling or soreness in my horse’s backs no matter how quickly I untack them after a long ride. If it’s hot out I even gasp hose them off after a ride…they love it!
[QUOTE=Stonewall;7927272]
Would there be any harm to leaving renegade hoof boots on a horse for a few days?[/QUOTE]
Yes, I could see harm in leaving them on for days. I would worry about abrasions to the skin and heel bulb from grit that has worked its way into the boot, I would worry about moisture getting trapped in the bottom of the boot and causing thrush/infections.
Renegade Boots are an alternative to shoeing for barefoot horses that need protection while actually working, not a substitution for shoeing for horses that require traditional shoes and are designed as such.
If it is hot, I pull the bridle, offer water and pull tack. Usually while tied to the trailer in front of a hay net.
If it is really cold, I loosen the girth, throw a cooler on, pull the bridle, offer water and check over then pull the saddle and throw the cooler back on.
I don’t always untack my horses as soon as we get back. It depends on how hot they are (after a long ride, where they are very sweaty, I loosen the cinch and let the saddle sit on their back for about 1/2 an hour before untacking.
It’s just personal preference.
I’m surprised at how many people leave tack on - interesting! Granted, my trail rides aren’t usually too hard or strenuous and I always use the last bit of ride to the trailer as a cool-down anyway. I do remove bridle first and tie up to the trailer, then I take off my helmet, gloves, half chaps or whatever riding gear I’m wearing. Then I take the saddle off and put it on the rack (pad still on the horse), then come back for the pad, check the back, pick the feet, then use a hairbrush to give an all over body scratch! I figure it is like wearing pantyhose tights or something - I just can’t wait to scratch around my waistband when they come off - and so I use a hairbrush to treat my horse to the same. He seems to like it. 
There’s a creek where I offer my horse a drink on the way back to the trailer, and he’ll get hay on his ride home. I’m not one to dilly-dally after a ride - I mostly ride alone so there’s no need to linger; and if I’ve been riding with friends we mostly chit-chatted on the ride anyway, so time’s up! :lol:
During a long ride (or an athletic ride, like a fox hunt) we regularly dismount every hour for a few minutes (good for horse’s back and human knees ) if we can. Upon returning to camp we dismount, loosen the girth, and walk the last 10-15 min. This gives the horse a chance to cool off and and walk out any kinks before getting tied up (and loosing the ability to “walk off” minor stuff).
We generally immediately unsaddle and, if the horse is still wet, use a regular wool blanket for a cooler. Most of the time we don’t need that but we have it available. Because the horses have been cooled down by the walk we can immediately offer water and hay.
A side benefit of dismounting and walking in is a reduction in the risk of the horse getting “barn sour.”
I don’t see a benefit in leaving a horse tacked up but neither do I see much of a risk of anything adverse (all things being equal).
G.
Saddle comes off right away…if it is cold out…I might leave the saddle PAD on for a few seconds while I throw a cooler over their back. Then pull the pad right off. But honestly, don’t really do that anymore. All the studies done for the Olympics have debunked all thes old wives tales.
We hit our horses with ice water when they come off of xc at the big international events. These horses then go on and show jump the next day. Getting them cooled down fast doesn’t cause sore muscles. Same with letting them drink when they want…even if still hot. The studies done for the Olympics in Atlanta proved that horses can drink without risk even when very hot.
I should have explained that I see this when we’re horse camping. Don’t know what they do on a day ride. Probably trailer home tacked and let them stand around there for a couple hours. Thanks for saying that BFNE about the cooling off and offering water when hot. I read those same studies and I have a hell of a time explaining to others that what I’m doing is not going to cause colic, tying up, etc. In their mind the horse needs to be completely cool before being allowed free access to food and water. And God forbid you hose him down with cold water; you might kill him! Rolly eye emoticon here.
I take my helmet and chaps off first. Then all the horse’s tack off. This has been our SOP for many years. Day ride or all day ride while camping.
What is the reason for leaving the saddle on the horse for what-ever time ?
Mine gets offered water, his girth loosened, walked out a bit depending on the kind of ride or if its really hot out, then is untacked, then tied or put in a corral with hay.
In their mind the horse needs to be completely cool before being allowed free access to food and water. And God forbid you hose him down with cold water; you might kill him! Rolly eye emoticon here.
these myths have been resoundingly disproven. It is very poor horsemanship to deprive a hot horse of water, and cold-hosing/scraping is the best way to cool off a horse. Refer them to the studies they did decades ago- late 1980’s- when preparing for a hot summer olympics.
