07/11/2026
This is what I've been preaching for the last couple weeks. The movements might be slow but the quality of learning is still high.
This time of year I hear the same question a lot: *"Isn't it too hot to ride?"*
And sure, sometimes it's just too hot. ...To do *some* things....
If it's 99 degrees with high humidity and your plan is to lope circles for an hour until your horse is dripping sweat, today's probably not the day.
But since when does riding always have to be grueling exercise??
Some of the best lessons I've ever had with a horse happened almost entirely at a walk.
We've spent an hour working on moving one foot at a time. Picking up shoulders. Yielding hips. Softening to the bridle. Sidepassing. Opening gates. Standing quietly. Working on body control. Practicing a posted walk to build muscle. Things that barely raise a horse's heart rate...
The same goes for groundwork.
You can spend an hour teaching a horse to load quietly, stand tied, accept ropes, improve their leading manners, or work through something mentally challenging. Again, low effort activities. You can do them in the shade. You can do them in sun it really wouldn't matter.
I think we do ourselves a disservice when we believe every ride has to leave the horse breathing hard to be worthwhile. Some of the biggest breakthroughs happen when everyone's heart rate stays low enough to think.
Especially in the summer, I don't need my horses coming back to the barn soaked every ride. I need them coming back a little more educated than when they left. And for lessons, I don't need my students thinking learning means speed.
Sometimes education happens at a lope. Sometimes it happens standing completely still.
So, is it too hot to ride? Depends on what you consider riding I guess.