30/06/2025
Make sure you and your equine friends are staying safe over the next few days 💚 South Coast Equine Vets/Natalie McGoldrick Equine
*** PLEASE USE SOME COMMON SENSE ABOUT WHETHER TO RIDE, LET ALONE TRAVEL, OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS (in the South of England, at least) ***
With temperatures set to be in the late 20s/early 30s for a few days, please do not ride, let alone travel to a clinic/competition, unless absolutely necessary. I’ve compiled a list of reasons why you would absolutely NOT travel to ride/compete over the next few days.
1. This is a “mini” heatwave - most riders can take a few days out of their competition schedules and not ask horses to compete in the extreme heat.
2. We have been having a few days of extreme heat, not consistently high temperatures, so our horses in the UK are absolutely not acclimatised to it.
3. Is your horse a heavier type, and/or overweight? Then absolutely do not travel to clinics/competitions in these temperatures.
4. Is your horse extremely fit? If not, then it’s a big no.
5. Will missing a competition or training session over the next 3 days affect your qualifications and leave you with no further qualifying competitions/rounds? If the answer is no, then the answer to travelling is also no.
6. Is your horse a veteran (over about 16)? Then it’s a no.
7. Is your horse only ridden once or twice a week anyway? Then it’s very obviously a no to riding in this heat for 2-3 days, let alone travelling to do anything in it.
8. Does your lorry have fans/air conditioning? If not, then please don’t travel in the heat of the day, even if it’s just to move a horse; leave very early in the morning, or very late at night. Also check your travel route to avoid stationary traffic as much as possible.
9. Are YOU unfit and/or overweight? Then it’s also a no, as not only will you be putting more strain on your hot horse if you tire, but you may also jeopardise your own health.
10. Do you know every early warning sign of heatstroke, and have cooling/misting stations and vets on hand at your clinic or event? If not, then it’s a no.
A reused photo from yesterday, of us getting a quick (winning 😉) jump in before the heat suddenly arrived. Alf is lean, fit, and a light type of horse, but I even worried about it getting a bit too warm for our second class yesterday.
Feel free to share, but not to copy and paste my words.