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!

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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).

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

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.

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.

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

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).

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

Not riding!

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.