Suppose your horse lives outside and suppose you live in an area where it rains 8 months out of the year. We’ll I do and even though horse has a run in shelter stands outside in the pouring rain like a dolt. She has a turnout rug but it really isn’t cold enough for one being in the low 50s during the day. If you need or want to ride would you just go and do even if horse is soaked or no? I’m kind of on the fence on this as it would seem to me that a saddle pad would rub or make her sore.
So would you? Do you?
Oh sure, absolutely.
If the saddle + pad don’t rub when they’re sweaty, it shouldn’t rub when they’re wet. There are bigger problems to look into if it rubs during either occasion.
In the spring, when it’s warm and muddy, if mine have covered themselves from head to toe in mud I will regularly hose them off instead of brushing, because laziness. :lol:
Happens here plenty. I tell my boarders to pick out feet, rub hard and vigorously with a towel to clean within reason where the saddle, bridle and girth sit, go ride and cool out fully before turning the muddy beast back out. Only way they’re going to get anything done in this weather! :disgust:
If you are getting fit for a competition sometimes there is no choice. Dry the saddle/girth area as well as possible, cringe as you slip a bridle on that barely dry head, hope your reins don’t get too greasy wet, and carry on.
I’m with everyone else. Towel dry to clean them up a bit and tack up as normal, not much different then sweat.
During the summer it’s common practice for me to spray them off BEFORE riding. Never have had a rubbing problem. As long as they’re not muddy, go for it. Or get a no-fill turnout sheet.
If you notice your saddle pad rubbing you may want to try a wool or sheepskin pad, but I have not had this issue even with plain English pads.
I have no issues with riding a wet horse. Groom the areas where the tack will sit and ride on.
I went to ride today in between hard rains. I was so glad that maresy was merely wet and not muddy.
As others have posted, if it’s a muddy horse and warmish temperatures, I will hose the horse prior to riding.
Yes and yes.
I do it after a good brushing as rain usually means lots of mud. 
Also yes and yes.
Not much different than riding a sweaty wet horse …
Just make sure there is no grit and sand under the saddle and girth area.
I do it regularly, and like other posters, I often, in the summer, hose off the horse and ride them wet when its hot. Or we swim. No issues, just make sure the mud is off!
This is what waterproof sheets are made for. Clean, shiny horse, dry back, no dirt or mud to deal with. A good waterproof sheet is the most important piece of horse clothing I have. Can’t imagine not having at least two turnout sheets for every horse.
I used to wash both Cloudy and Callie on Saturday mornings at the barn, then tack them up and ride them. No problem with anything. And at another barn, on several occasions they were wet with sweat and had rolled before I got off work and went there to ride, so I hosed them off and rode them. No problem there either.
You’ll spend more time cleaning your tack and saddle pads, but I’ve had no other issue with riding a wet horse.
I’ll be one of the lone voices of “rarely, I can’t think of a time”. I keep mine at home so it makes it easy for me to have a dry horse prior to riding. When I boarded it was primarily at show barns where riding a wet horse wasn’t done. Probably more to do with clientele, boarding services etc. I can’t really think of “why” I don’t, it’s just how I learned.
[QUOTE=Pennywell Bay;7922446]
When I boarded it was primarily at show barns where riding a wet horse wasn’t done. Probably more to do with clientele, boarding services etc. I can’t really think of “why” I don’t, it’s just how I learned.[/QUOTE]
No turnout? LOL. That was my experience boarding - horses were always dry, and never muddy, because they almost never left their stalls. :no:
I agree with the others - aside from sand/grit, there shouldn’t be any major issues. Sure, you could use a waterproof sheet as well. I have one horse that abhors blankets, so it just wouldn’t be worth it for me, but if you have a well fitting sheet or two, you can save a lot of hassle.
Surprising
[QUOTE=Pennywell Bay;7922446]
I’ll be one of the lone voices of “rarely, I can’t think of a time”. I keep mine at home so it makes it easy for me to have a dry horse prior to riding. [/QUOTE]
On this thread, riding a wet horse seems common. Like Pennywell, I can’t think of a time. I always had horses at home so I could adjust ride time or bring em in to dry off before riding.
Sure, we’ve gotten wet while riding but I can’t think of a time I’ve tacked up a sopping wet horse. That is a circumstance where I’d be thankful to have a low maintenance synthetic saddle.
