Here are some tips I use to stay cool during these hot summer months:
- Pull your hair back. When your hair is off of the back of your neck you will stay much more comfortable.
- Wet your hair, then pull it back in a bun. Your hair will stay wet, then as you get hot, take out the bun and put your hair into a ponytail. The wet hair feels great on your hot head and neck.
- Drink plenty of water. Once you are thirsty, you are already technically dehydrated so keep drinking water.
- Have Gatorade on hand. I don't like to drink Gatorade too often because of all the sugar, but it does help once you get the dreaded dehydration headache.
- Stay away from drinks with caffeine. They will dehydrate you instead of hydrate you.
- Ride early in the morning, or later in the evening.
- Wear breathable moisture wicking fabric such as coolmax.
- Work on perfecting your pivots, side passing, and backing. Things that require more brains than brawn. It will keep both you and the horse cool.
- I love those little hand fans that spray water, I can usually find them at the dollar store. It feels great to spray it into your face after a hot ride. It also works to desensitize your horse and it's safe because the fan blades are made from Styrofoam.
Deanna
7 comments:
GREAT tips...and don't forget sunscreen...TRUST me...OUCH! LOL!
Oh great tip! How could I have forgotten.
I dunno BUT I sure remembered today when I was out and had my shoulders uncovered and hair up in a ponytail!! Don't need to burn the burn...LOL! :) But then it's a lesson that unfortunately I seem to have to repeat every year or so...LOL!
Instead of Gatorade, Propel is a much healthier alternative for your teeth. My pal spent the whole summer doing hard core softball (that was a funny and unintentional pun) with Gatorade on hand at all times. At her fall check up, my friend, who I am pretty sure is extremely meticulous had, count 'em, 6 cavities. The dentist told her that Gatorade did that to teeth and to switch to Gatorade's line of fitness water. We don't go to a horse show without a cooler-full of Propel. Thanks for posting these handy tips!
LOL equinespirit! You have to protect that skin... I think that the sand in the arenas really reflect the sun. I call our outdoor arena "the beach" you get so much sun there.
Great tip on the Propel Misty's Mom. I was just going to BJ's to buy a case of Gatorade and after I read your comment, I skipped it! Thanks for doing my teeth a favor!
Deanna
Since I'm a melanoma survivor, I HAVE to wear sunscreen AND a hat AND fairly long sleeves! I forgot to drink my water one day and the next day I had severe chest pains and ended up in the ER! I take water mixed with Emergen-C and drink it now! I also wear my hair in a ponytail with my baseball hat!
All great tips Cheryl. I'm glad you are OK and back riding! I will have to try the water mixed with Emergen-C this summer, since I have to stay away from the sugary gatorade.
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