Safety on the trail and for your horse
Pay attention to how the temperature and humidity are affecting your horse, and ride accordingly. This is where "know your horse-know your limits" is especially important. On any ride, it cannot be emphasized enough that the important thing is to pay attention to your horse. On hot, humid days, don't pass up any opportunity to let your horse drink and carry a sponge to dip in the water and sponge his head and neck with when you are at a watering spot.
On a competitive ride or long trail ride of any kind, allowing the horse to graze periodically throughout the ride will help keep the hydration up as well. It's not a matter of manners-not allowing the horse to eat on the trail-it's a matter of common sense. He needs that grass with the water content it provides, especially if he is not drinking well that day.
Do the skin test on the horse’s neck to determine if he is becoming severely dehydrated. It only takes a couple seconds and will tell you a lot about how he is doing.
Pay attention to your horse’s pulse and respiration (P&R). If he has a real high respiration, pull the saddle off immediately. Carry a water bottle and get some water on him. Take your hat off and fan him with it. Cool that horse off any way you can!
Teach your horse to stand quietly. Get to know your horse and his limits by taking the time to do periodic P & R checks along the way. Not only are the horse's P & Rs affected by heat, humidity and stress, but also his attitude is greatly affected by these conditions. Don't ignore that! If your horse gets draggy or unwilling to perform as you expect, and normally is willing and cooperative, think about it. Is he telling you something? Remember that just putting a horse in a strange situation, such as new surroundings, or a competitive ride, will put added stress on him.
If he gets tired, take note. Don't push it. Back off and let the horse relax and get through the ride safely and as comfortably as possible. You want to be able to do many, many rides with your horse, and you want it to be a pleasant experience for him so that he develops a good attitude and enjoys competing and doing trail work. Remember to do your training and your conditioning before you get to the ride but keep your mind open to learning new techniques and skills in any situation. Make the rides an enjoyable learning experience for both you and your horse.