My thyroid doesn’t work and I sweat excessively. It’s very difficult for me in high heat, humidity, and direct sun. I have fainted and gotten sick before.
But I guess I’m just a weenie lol
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Estes Park altitude is 7,500 feet. The highest point in Florida is in the panhandle at 345 feet. Apples and oranges. If you have asthma, perhaps you shouldn’t ride in Estes Park.
Then perhaps you should move out of Florida. Temperatures of 30°F are extremely rare in Florida. The coldest month, January, has an average temperature of 61°F.
Although climate change brought snow to the panhandle this winter.
As they say, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
Do you have anything constructive to offer the OP besides insulting members who are simply sharing what they do for themselves and their horses? There’s all this talk about how we are athletes. And we ask a lot of our horses. And we should keep in mind that their well-being is more important than a ribbon. And there are ways around heat and ways to mitigate. But the question was what was it like in May? Currently. Because I’ve lived here for 50 years. And the heat was different before. It is oppressive now. So you have to take things into context. Like your own health and age. And your horse and whatever limitations they might have due to allergies or the humidity. That is all. Calling people weenies for sharing. Their opinion is kind of. Gross. And says a great deal more about you and your fond memories of your own “grit”. Than it does about simply sharing their opinion. And their concern for themselves or their horse. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. And if you do, you should be prepared.
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I’ve seen horses die of heat stress. One was chased or attacked by a herd mate. He went to lay down in the water except that water was 95 degrees from sitting in the sun. The vet came and they couldn’t do much… if they start puffing like they ran a race, just standing out there grazing, that is heat stress. This was an older horse so he likely had pre-existing health issues.
The problem I have is that my water/electrolyte losses tend to exceed my ability to replace them… so even if I am managing the heat okay, I’m losing fluids and dehydrating. I may be okay riding but by the time I am cooling down the horse, I’m getting dizzy.
The horses seem to do better than I do, up to a certain point. They do get much higher respiration rates working in the heat and need a longer cold hosing afterwards. I make my feed into soup during the summer to encourage water consumption.
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I don’t live in Florida. I live in Alabama. Our winters, which are too short, are fabulous. But mainly I live here because the cost of land is cheap and property taxes are driven down by out of state corporations that own vast tracts of timberland. I only wish I could afford 30 acres, a 3-bedroom home, a good-sized barn and good fencing in Maryland or the Carolinas. Or anyplace that has shorter summers or less humidity. Not going to happen! Part of the trade-off is miserable summers, which keep getting longer. And with horses at home, I can do things early in the AM and pop back in the cool house. I don’t have to have a heat stroke to prove anything. Years ago, I remember a show I hauled to when it was 105. The horse and I survived but I am not doing that again.
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I’m not saying anything to anyone that I haven’t followed myself. When I say “move”…it is advice I have given to myself.
I grew up in S. Florida. Rode at UFla’s Horse Teaching Unit when Sandi Lieb ran it. Got a degree and got a job offer in Tampa. Decided Tampa was overrun by the “blue hairs” (you have to be a local to understand the terminology) and that the rest of the state was being over-run by northeners. You know the song, “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” That is how I felt. So I moved out 50 years ago to make room for people like you to move in.
So when people complain about the heat in Florida, I reply, “Yes, it is hot. It is Florida.”
So if you want to ride in the middle of the state, when it will be hot, I am saying to be prepared…for you and your horse…or don’t ride…or move.
I am not insulting anyone. I am suggesting that people face the reality of riding in Florida and to be prepared deal with the heat if you have health issues…and not to complain.
Excuse me if I defend Florida. Seems people just like to diss on Florida. I lived in Aiken, SC. The summer heat there is no different than what you get in central Fla. but no one seems to diss heat in Aiken.
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I don’t think anyone is dissing Florida. We’re all saying it’s pretty f’n hot between May and October and if you’re not used to it you might have problems. That’s a fact, it’s not a diss. We just had a week here where 6 horses died from heat complications. It got really hot.
Florida is great for many things. Winters are great. Summers can also be enjoyable if you know what to expect and can plan accordingly. It is hotter than blue blazes every summer. And for people who come and visit briefly in that time period, they will be shocked.
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People like me ? lol. Okay. I was a child. I came here at 6. I am the steward of my farm. I live here. I didn’t cut and run. Kudos to you for your childhood but save me the false mea culpa for you calling people trying to explain the CURRENT heat weenies. I grew up in south Florida. Miami. I remember Kendall and the Redlands as horse areas. Of course things change. You don’t know me. So please take your fake outrage at someone trying to just share their experience WHERE THEYVE ACTUALLY LIVED UNTIL CURRENYLY and set it aside. You cut and run. You moved. Why the weird outrage about other people’s experiences? Actually. I don’t care. Have the day you deserve. Best wishes.
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I assume at the age of 6 you did not buy your farm and you moved to the great state of Florida with your parents.
Thank you. I will. I am sitting outside with no humidity enjoying some beautiful 70F breezes while sipping an adult beverage.
Returning to the topic, there was a CDI at WEC in late May. All of the classes were held in the stadium. It was delightfully pleasant when they started around the big tour around 6pm. There was a decent breeze and the stadium provided good shade. My guess is they will do something similar for the GP championship.
As a spectator, I prefer the stadium to the grand arena. You can see a little better, the horses aren’t a dot in a giant sandbox.
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Thank you for the civil discussion.
I guess it feels that people are dissing Florida when I hear people complaining about the heat. It is what it is. It is HOT. Yes, I know. It is [edit] HOT…very HOT. I know. One needs to do appropriate horse management suitable for the climate.
Having a 1700 lb black Fresian in S. Florida may not be the best environment for that horse. People seem to complain because they can’t follow the horse management practices suitable for their former farms in the NE United States…including lack of timothy, dissing coastal bermuda, the sandy soils…etc. Sorry. It just gets old.
I did not leave because of the heat but because all the open land was being paved over and overbuilt for northern arrivals.
Coastal Bermuda is implicated in ileal impaction in colics. It’s green in my pastures. Along with Bahia. That’s my pasture. I don’t feed it dry. (As hay) I love Florida. I will die here. No one is bashing Florida. We are discussing the changing of the climate. The heat. How to manage it. What you would do if you elected to show. The original question. .
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If you have these questions, then I would suggest reaching out to UFla Ag School. They were very helpful diagnosing a diseased mango tree in mom’s back yard.
UFla offers courses on horse management including management for heat. I am sure the professors would gladly put on a talk for some of the local horse groups.
Here is a paper by Dr. Carissa Wickens, UF’s State Extension Equine Specialist, with detailed guidance on managing horses during extreme heat.
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Sorry don’t need to. I’m a good steward of my horses. And I ACTUALLY LIVE HERE. Carry on. And maybe address the OP. Instead of all whatever this angst you have is
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Well that counts me out. I grew up in S Fl on the edge of the Everglades and have lived in FL my entire life.
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God bless you for putting up with the sprawl. I grew up walking distance to the ocean. Anything west of Federal Hwy…was…west. I used to ride in what became suburbia off Bird Rd and SW 142 Ave. west of the Tpk. The Sawgrass didn’t exist.
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Ok. Got it. No need to read any papers published by the profs at UFl.
I just went on a pasture walk for my area…I thought it is always good to keep up with information.
Here is a link on the studies on forage…which are climate specific…so, for those reading who might be interested.
Never said that. Don’t ASSume I’m uneducated. I live here. It’s why my horses thrive. And I manage them in this climate and my pastures and their forage properly. Maybe have another adult beverage and address the original question
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Let me get this OP’s thread back on track. Sorry for the bs. Listen. WEC is beautiful. It’s like a Disneyland for equestrians. People that show there year long manage things. Just do this. Evaluate your own self regarding the heat. Think about your attire. How to keep cool. Manage your horse and whatever limitations they have regarding the heat or the acclimation to it. See the time of day when you ride. And above all. Good luck. I hope you have the time of your life.
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That seems like excellent advice to me 
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