My two sisters live in Texas and even though neither of them are riders, they both have used the phrase “rode hard and put up wet” when they are describing someone who is working too hard and not taking enough time off.
The urban definition has me picturing some overworked city dweller commuting an hour or more to her job, putting in 8-10 hours of repetitious work, then the long commute home during rush hour traffic. Too exhausted to cook or eat, she collapses in her recliner still in the clothes she wore to work.
The phrase, as we horsemen know, was borrowed from the negative description of a rider working a horse to near exhaustion, then jerking the saddle off and turning the sweaty horse out with no grooming. Of course none of us do that but we might be guilty of not taking the time necessary to cool down a horse properly after work.
A cool down is especially important in the cold weather that seems to be blanketing the entire country. I’m hearing 4 degrees in Florida tonight?
When a horse that has grown any sort of winter hair coat is worked hard, he sweats more, has trouble cooling out and drying off so and is set up for chills, muscle stiffness, and overall blahs.
Some things to think about:
Use a quarter sheet to protect the hindquarters during work.
Consider a body clip and blanketing.
Use a body wash or brace to remove sweat before cooling and grooming.
Use a cooler when hand walking a horse to cool him out.
Have a great ride and take care of that good horse,
Hi Cherry, Im Paula. I read your THOUGHT’S everyday. i have a QUESTION.. my horse LOVE’S to ROLL!! FINE! I DON’T know WHAT’S causing him to NIBBLE @ himself.. is he getting FLEAS from the SAND/DIRT.. as I/HE live @ the BEACH?? Im going to BUY MANE and TAIL… OR because of the DANDER, Im THINKING HEAD and SHOULDERS for DRY SCALP?? What do you RECOMMEND?? Also, WHAT do YOU THINK about PUTTING on the GROUND 7’s DUST, OR.. LYME?? It would be WONDERFUL to HEAR from YOU?? Thank You, Paula.
I’ve put this in the queue of questions as a new topic – there are about 50 ahead of yours…..until then, Cherry Hill