The Equestrians of the desert, learn how to live and ride in the summer heat. For new summer residents with horses, or Locals that are simply preparing for another stretch of intense Heat, Here is how most of us deal with it! Kimberley Kelly, Equestrian Property specialist with HK Lane/Christie’s International, has been working through the heat for many years. “I tell my new ranch owners, or summer riders that their daily riding life is about to change!” Kim states. As we get near, it’s time to stock up on the summer stable supplies, repair your shaders, double check your sources of water, and do your general property maintenance NOW before the heat really sets in! If you’re interested in some great horse properties, give Kim a call at 760-285-3578.
What changes for the Horses during the desert heat? First off, though hard to believe, my horses get very “bloomy” looking during the summer. They are shiny, healthy, and happy. Be sure that you provide them the following and they’ll LOVE their desert days..
- Access to fresh water, and lots of it. The heat makes it hard to keep their water cool, so frequent washings of buckets and water tubs is necessary. Algae grows over night it seems! Add a scoop of electrolytes each morning for each horse..amazing how much this helps them to recover after a work out. Salt Blocks are inexpensive and critical..provide them!
- Relief from the Sun: They MUST have a shade area of some sort. Even when out in pasture, a palapa, or lean-to, provides them with a break from the heat, offering a 15 degree cooler area to stand under. My mares will often be lying directly on the hot sand in the middle of the day in August! But..they still need the option to seek shade if they need it.
- Fly Repellent: Work double time desert equestrians, when it comes to removing manure from their pens or pastures. The flys thrive in the heat. Stock up now on fly spray, stable fly spray, and if you can hook up Misters and fans, go buy them now!
- Working or riding your horses in the heat: Change your hours of operation! Period! Just like you, your horses work extra hard, take longer to recover, and find it harder to perform as the temperatures rise. Be kind and thoughtful. Summer polo at The Empire Polo Club moves it’s games to as early as 7 to get chukkars over and horses back in the shade. Don’t ride them as long, and don’t work them as hard in the heat. Give them time to recover, cool off, and again..lots of water and electrolytes for working horses.
The beautiful things about being here in the summer are many & varied. If you have a second job, such as a realtor, the longer days are a gift! Horses in the early mornings, then off to show property. What?? It’s an interesting fact that our summer sales now equal just under 50% of the sales/year in our desert. I show Land, Equestrian properties, Condos and Homes throughout the desert heat, and just like my horses, I drink lots of water and seek shade when possible! Here’s a fantastic 20 acre working farm in Thermal offered for $1,500,000..