Saddle Sore Ranch

It is time for another PATH Intl. Standards Saturday and today, we are featuring Standard M4, which is one of the Medical Standards. These standards apply to centers that have any role in the medical session, regardless of whether the health care professional is contracted or is an employee of the center. If the center provides horses, arena space, volunteers, and/or PATH Intl. Certified Instructors or Equine Specialists in Mental Health and Learning, then the center is conducting a medical service and must comply with these standards.

See a summary of all the PATH Intl. Standards here: https://loom.ly/3jUs0mQ PATH Intl. Members receive free access to the PATH Intl. Standards for Certification and Accreditation manual. Join here: https://loom.ly/SVeeKhw or purchase a print or electronic copy here: https://loom.ly/MlsCdpc.

Our equestrians are not just riders—they are artists, athletes, leaders, and dreamers.

One of our longtime riders is kicking off another season with Ruby Dance Co., and we couldn’t be more proud! It is such a joy watching her grow both in and out of the saddle.

Keep reaching for the stars—we’ll always be cheering you on! ❤️

Can you name this rider 😉

Be safe out there, all lessons have been canceled due to this accident & traffic. Sending prayers to everyone involved.

There is a number you should know before you march into your summer lessons.

Take the temperature in Fahrenheit. Add the relative humidity percentage.
That's it.
That number tells you a lot about what HEALTHY fit horses can handle related to heat.

For example: later this week my forecast says:
101 degrees F with 37% humidity so that's 101+37 = 138
That means we are not working horses!

Since horses rely on sweat evaporation to cool their body, under 130 and horses can generally regulate body heat effectively.

Between 130 and 150, heat stress risk goes up. If you're working horses in this range, you should be monitoring closely and cooling down intentionally after every lesson.
Above 180, horses physically cannot cool themselves. Work at that point isn't just uncomfortable for them. It's dangerous.

These numbers aren't something I made up. They come from the American Association of Equine Practitioners and have been adopted by US Equestrian as their official heat guidance for competition. But we should be applying this idea to lesson too.

Plus from everything I have seen, a large population of lesson horses are older and tend not to be quite as fit. Those two factors alone are huge when considering the heat. Additionally, if you have horses that have metabolic conditions and/or take medications, those things can also impact how a horse regulates their body temperature.

I know canceling lessons is hard. There's the communication piece, the rescheduling aspect or the planning of unmounted activities. And it's ok to question "do I really need to?" piece. But its better to that have that conversation with your riders/families than one with the vet trying to manage a horse in distress.

What does your program use to make the call on hot days?
Do you have a set number, or is it more of a gut check?

Sources:
American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) heat index guidelines, as adopted by US Equestrian
University of Georgia Equine Program, "Managing Horses in Hot Weather" (2025):

Spirited Souls!
The full moon is fast upon us & space is limited. Don't miss out on this fun evening of connection, horses & friends!
Contact me for more info!

"He's being lazy."

Or maybe he's hot.

When temperatures rise, a horse's body is working overtime to cool itself. Blood is redirected toward the skin to release heat while muscles are still being asked to perform.

That creates a physiological balancing act and sometimes what we see as a training issue is actually a heat-management issue.

What heat related problems might that look like:
➡️ Shorter strides
➡️ Reluctance to move forward
➡️ Difficulty maintaining pace
➡️ Slower responses to aids
➡️ Irritability or increased sensitivity
➡️ Pulling toward the gate, barn, or shade
➡️ Loose manure or signs of digestive stress

These behaviors don't mean a horse is being "difficult".

It's providing information.

This is an important conversation to have with your riders. When a horse who is normally energetic feels flat or sluggish, riders often assume they're doing something wrong.

Understanding the "why" behind what they're feel can help build empathy, confidence, and better horsemanship.

☀️ What changes do you notice in your horses during hot weather?