Ocala, FL Thirty-one elite international combinations representing 10 countries took to the WEC Grand Arena early on Thursday morning to contest the $32,000 Dover Saddlery Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3*. Irelands Robert Blanchette continued his impressive form, securing the win aboard Ridersmith LLCs Carnlea Premier Balou (Balou Du Rouet x Cavalier Royale). FEI Level IV course designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil set the challenging track[...]Read MoreThe post Irelands Robert Blanchette and Carnlea Premier Balou Top the $32,000 Dover Saddlery Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3* appeared first on World Equestrian Center.

Ocala, FL The young stars of show jumping took center stage late Thursday morning in the $32,000 1.45m Grand Prix CSIU25, where athletes aged 25 and under competed for top honors. Fifteen horse-and-rider combinations tackled the challenging track, but it was Gabriella Curry (USA) aboard GA Stables LLCs Esto De Viscourt (Qlassic Bois Margot x Mozart Des Hayettes) who emerged victorious. Renowned course designer[...]Read MoreThe post Gabriella Curry Pilots Esto De Viscourt to Win in $32,000 1.45m Grand Prix CSIU25 appeared first on World Equestrian Center.

Ocala, FL Derby Friday came early this week as World Equestrian Center Ocala adjusted the schedule to accommodate Fridays much-anticipated Standlee/USHJA National Hunter Derby Regional South Championships. Course designer Tommy Brawley set elegant, flowing tracks in the WEC Stadium for more than 70 top hunters competing across three exciting classes: the $12,500Golden Ocala36-39 Hunter Derby, the $10,000UF Veterinary HospitalUSHJA National 3 Open[...]Read MoreThe post Back-to-Back Wins for Maria Rasmussen and SVF Changeup in the $12,500 Golden Ocala 36-39 Hunter Derby appeared first on World Equestrian Center.

Park Palace Ponies, a riding school in Liverpool, will shutdown at the end of this month unless it can raise 300,000.The closure date has been set for Saturday 28 June 2025 and stable staff have received redundancy notices.If the fundraising target is achieved, it will secure the riding centres operations for three years.We understand people are tired and that fundraising fatigue is real, said trustee Karen Scott.But were asking one final time for support. This is about more than horses. This is about saving a community space that brings joy, purpose, and unity.Three-year planEarlier this year, a grassroots fundraising campaign raised 4,000. This was enough to cover public liability insurance and secure a council riding school licence. However, the amount fell short of what is required for the long-term survival of the riding school in Toxeth.This has been a heartbreaking time, said the riding schools chairperson, Pamela Allen. But were not giving up without a fight. This space means everything to our young people and our wider community. This is our city. We are L8.A statement sent to Your Horse said that three years is enough time for a long-term sustainability plan to be developed for Park Palace Ponies, working withSport England. Its aim would be to facilitate a transition away from the stables total reliance on grants and fundraising.Converted cinemaPark Palace Ponies was originally a pop-up starter riding school set up in 2017 in a former theatre and cinema, called Park Palace of Varieties. In 2022, the stables appealed for help to secure an alternative site in Toxeth.At that stage, Park Palace Ponies had introduced 3,000 children to riding.In recent weeks, the riding school has worked with theLiverpool Muslim Outreach SocietyandTeam Oasis.Its horses have also been taken out to meet the public at Granby Street Market, further reinforcing its commitment to community cohesion and inclusion.Donations to the riding school can be made here.Related contentInner city riding school calls for urgent help to prevent closureFrom squalid neglect to riding school starHow to tell if a horse is happyHow to cool a hot horse down quicklyThe post Last attempt to save Liverpool riding school facing imminent closure appeared first on Your Horse.

Well done to Ben Hobday and his Bsh graduate lonely van de riske winning the 150cm Grand Prix at Lincolnshire county yesterday..This horse deserved the Win been knocking on the door a while ..Super job Ben Sold by us as a 4 year old.#bshgraduate

Were excited to announce that Ros McClelland from Stbben will be joining us at our Totnes store for a special in-store saddle fitting event on Friday 4th July!Whether youre looking to check the fit of your current Stubben saddle or explore new options with the world-renowned Stbben brand, this is a fantastic opportunity to receive personalised, professional advice right here at Redpost.Meet the Expert: Ros McClellandRos is a highly experienced saddle fitter and brand representative for Stbben, one of the most trusted names in equestrian saddlery. With years of hands-on experience and in-depth product knowledge, Ros brings expert insight into what makes a saddle work for both horse and rider.During your session, Ros will assess your horse, check your current saddle (if you have one), and recommend fit adjustments or alternative models where necessary. Whether youre a competitive rider or an everyday enthusiast, youll benefit from Ross tailored advice and support.Event Details Location: Redpost Equestrian, Totnes Start Time: From 9:30am to 3:30pm Where: Our on-site arena Session Duration: Approx. 1.5 to 2 hours per appointment Booking Info: Slots will be allocated on a first come, first served basis so early booking is essential!Why Saddle Fit MattersAn ill-fitting saddle can cause discomfort, behavioural issues, and even long-term damage for your horse not to mention impacting your own balance and comfort as a rider. Regular saddle checks, especially when your horse changes shape or workload, are vital for ensuring peak performance and wellbeing.Book Your Slot TodayAppointments for this special fitting day are limited and filling fast. Whether youre new to Stbben or already a fan of their craftsmanship, dont miss this opportunity to fine-tune your tack with one of the best in the business. Book your saddle fitting now or contact our team for more information.The post Stbben Saddle Fitting Day first appeared on Redpost Equestrian Blog.

Table of ContentsToggleWhat Causes Heat Stress in Horses?Detecting Heat StressHow to Treat Heat StressHeat IndexDangerous DehydrationKey TakeawayWarmer summer days can provide the ideal weather for leisurely rides on your favorite mount, but heat can take a toll on horses, just like people. When exercising or working your horse in temperatures in the 90s and 100s, overheating and heat stress can endanger your horseand even turn deadly. Watching for heat stress signals is vital to your horses health.With intense exercise in hot weather, the horse can become completely covered in sweat and need help cooling down. Photo by Shelley PaulsonBelow, well examine what heat stress looks like, the warning signs, what to do if your horse overheats, and how to prevent dehydration from heat stress.What Causes Heat Stress in Horses?Horses primarily create heat while digesting their feed and during any activity that requires their muscles to work. Even light activity in extremely hot, humid weather could cause your horse to overheat.You may notice that your horses blood vessels appear larger and distended when its hot outside. This reaction is normal, as it shunts the blood to the skin to rid the body of excess heat; however, this doesnt provide adequate cooling if the air temperature is warmer than the horses body temperature.Other than humans, horses are the only mammals that sweat. During hotter conditions, they primarily use this mechanism to wet the body and allow cooling via evaporation. The problem occurs when the sweat doesnt evaporate to allow adequate cooling, potentially leading to heat stress.Horses are pretty efficient at dissipating heat compared to species that dont sweat, says Kris Hiney, Ph.D., associate professor and Equine Extension Specialist at Oklahoma State University. But they can still get heat stress [during] prolonged periods of high temperatures or working in high temperatures. Very young or infirm horses are more likely to suffer from heat stress.Detecting Heat StressHot skin and profuse sweating or less sweating than expected for the activity could be warning signs of heat stress. Hiney advises looking for high body temperature, an elevated heart rate, and a respiration rate beyond whats expected for the workload.Working in hot temperatures may not be completely avoidable, she says. [But] its important to recognize the signs that your horse may be overheating.Hiney recommends practicing the following techniques ahead of time so both you and your horse will be familiar with them when needed. Use a rectal thermometer (keep one with you if youre far from a barn) to monitor heat load. Body temperature will normally increase with exercise, and body temperatures of 104 degrees to 106 degrees Fahrenheit are common for some events. However, horses with these body temperatures need to be cooled carefully. If a horses temperature is over 106 degrees, take immediate action to cool the horse. Temperatures reaching 107 degrees may require veterinary assistance. Check your horses heart rate, either with a stethoscope or manually. When the horse is allowed to rest, his heart rate should noticeably begin to drop. It should return to 40 to 50 beats per minute within 15 minutes. Failure of the heart rate to drop quickly indicates heat stress.Flared nostrils and heaving flanks while breathing are not only from work, but also from the increased heat load, Hiney explains. Allow the horse to rest and watch carefully for a reduction in breathing rate and intensity. Assess the amount and location of sweat. Normal sweating patterns include along the neck, flanks and between the hind legs. With intense exercise or extreme temperatures, the horse may be completely covered in sweat and will need help being cooled.A horse that has ceased sweating is most likely suffering from heat exhaustion and is in critical need of care.How to Treat Heat Stress If you suspect your horse is overheating, its vital to stop exercising and move him to a cooler setting right away. You will likely need to help him cool down to prevent heat stress from turning into heat stroke, which can have dire consequences.Evaporation through sweat is the major way horses dissipate heat, but high humidity levels will limit the effectiveness of sweating, says Hiney. Increase airflow to the skin by removing all tack and equipment and use a sweat scraper to remove excess sweat.Cool running water can greatly aid in cooling, she continues. Apply water or even ice along major blood vessels like the neck, chest and inside of the legs. Blood will cool as it passes through these areas and then return to the trunk of the body to help dissipate the heat load. Continual application of cool, running water will prevent the warming of the water on the horses skin. Otherwise, use a scraper to remove the warm water and increase the rate of cooling. Water left on the skin will warm rapidly and trap heat against the horses body.Remove tack and apply continuous running water to help cool the blood and lower a horses temperature if you suspect heat stress. Photo by Phil Cardamone/Adobe StockHiney says that you can still help your horse cool down even when you dont have access to running water by using a sponge to wet the major blood vessels. Again, you should concentrate on the neck and chest. She also suggests adding rubbing alcohol to the water to increase evaporation and aid in cooling.If you need to cool your horse while riding if youre not near running water, Hiney suggests using a squirt bottle to apply cool water along the major exposed blood vessels in the neck and chest. You can refill your water bottle from streams, lakes or stock tanks.Air movement is another major way that animals lose heat, she says. Supplying fans or keeping the horse in a breezy area is ideal. Fans with higher velocities provide more effective cooling. If you have access to electricity, put a fan near the arena to aid in cooling during rest periods. This fan can greatly assist with continuing normal training during the summer. Even so, be sure that the horses heart rate and respiration rate have dropped before returning to work.Simple strategies like keeping the horse in the shade or riding in shaded areas prevent heat gain directly from the sun, Hiney adds. Standing under trees is even more useful, as the horse will radiate heat up to the leaves, which are continually cooled by their own evaporation.Taking a break in the shade is important during a hot ride. Standing under a tree helps even more as leaves provide evaporative cooling. Photo by CPDPrints/Adobe StockShe warns that heat stress can quickly turn to heat stroke. If you feel this is happening, cease work, strip tack off the horse, and get him into the shade immediately. When facing heat stroke, veterinary care with IV fluids may be necessary.Heat IndexThrough appropriate management, heat stress can be prevented. Start by paying attention to the heat index in your area to understand when its dangerous to work your horse. Although different horses may tolerate heat differently, follow general guidelines to ensure youre not putting your horse in danger.Pay attention to heat and humidity, Hiney advises. A good rule of thumb is to add the values of the temperature [in degrees Fahrenheit] and humidity [relative percentage] to get the horses comfort index. Horses cool themselves normallyunless dehydrated or fatiguedif the combined values are below 130.If the combined temperature and humidity is over 150 (such as 90 degrees Fahrenheit with 60 percent humidity), horses will need assistance in cooling, she continues. If temperatures and humidity are expected to reach 170, it may be best to plan early morning riding or skip intense work. Even riding in the evening may not see a large drop in temperature until the sun has been down for several hours.Dangerous DehydrationHigh heat or excessive sweating can cause dehydration in horses. If your horse doesnt replace the fluid lost during sweating by drinking adequate water, he can become dehydrated, which can be life-threatening.Horses can become dehydrated in as little as two to three hours under the right conditions, says Hiney. Horses need to be well-hydrated before beginning to work, for example, horses that have come off of a long trailer ride.In hot weather, horses can become dehydrated in as little as two to three hours. Make sure your horse begins work as well-hydrated as possible. Photo by Pimmimemom/Adobe StockShe explains that some warning signs of dehydration include prolonged capillary refill time (checked by pressing your finger into the horses gums) and tenting when skin is pulled from the neck or over the eye. The horse may also have a gaunt or tucked-up appearance. Colic and overheating are possible, but if the horse gets an electrolyte imbalance due to dehydration, tying up and even death could occur.The primary mechanism horses use to dissipate heat is through sweating, says Hiney. Sweating leads to dehydration if the horse isnt allowed to replenish, and the rate of sweating can outstrip the ability to keep up.Warm body temperatures encourage horses to drink, so allow access to water in the cool-down period, she continues. Allow frequent sips of cool water. Saline can also help replenish water and electrolytes, but be sure to have plain water available, too.Key TakeawayLuckily, horses usually bounce back after a bout of heat stress or dehydration without any lasting effects. However, both can become very serious conditions in a relatively short span and, if left untreated, can lead to death.Its best for your horses health to not allow either to begin with by ensuring he always has access to clean, fresh water and avoiding exercise in extremely hot weather.Ride in the morning when its coolest, and reduce ride time and intensity when its hot and humid, or refrain altogether if the temperature and humidity are above safe levels. This article about heat stress appeared in the July 2023 issue of Horse Illustratedmagazine.Click here to subscribe!The post Heat Stress in Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.