dillema -- what to do?

EquineJessie · 07-26-2006, 09:55 PM

Hey everyone... I need some advice out here...

As some of you know, I start colts and I've got a lot of people wanting me to work their horses. Pretty much my dream come true but I'm having a problem.

It's so hot out here that it'll be 80 degrees at five in the morning. The highs have been from 105-116 degrees and where I work there is no shade. (temp is measured in the shade so in the sun the highs are 115-130 degrees.

This wouldn't be that bad except I get heat exhaustion really easily. I'll start getting nauseous and headaches by 6:30 in the morning after only working a half hour. Frozen water bottles, fruit, and gatorade and whatever else I can fit in the ice chest helps but there's really no place to cool off and at some places there isn't a place to rest in the shade. I'll also get heat rash which totally sucks.

Of course, I have to wear jeans and boots and a hat so it's pretty darn hot. Anyway, I don't know if I can do this much longer. I literally almost always feel like I have the flu until I can take a cold shower or something. What do ya'll think I should do? As I see it, I can either not work when it's going to be really hot or just keep plugging away. When the highs are in the 90's it's not so bad although I'll still get sick real early in the morning.

Soooo, I'm real sick of being sick all the time but I really want to keep all my clients. If I want to keep my horse and buy a reliable car (mine breaks down all the time) I need to keep working. And I really do love it when I'm not wanting to throw up.... But it's gotten to the point I dread going out to work the horses. What do you all think?

Sorry this is so long.

Endorphins4u2 · 07-26-2006, 10:26 PM

Can't have your cake and eat it too...

My advice is to keep your T-shirt wet....

This will also keep your clients..

(hey,it was one of the John's ideas)

EquineJessie · 07-26-2006, 10:34 PM

That is a wonderful idea. The only problem is, since my clients are all married women, I'd lose them on the double.

Endorphins4u2 · 07-26-2006, 10:38 PM

It was the thought that counts...

stay cool........

EquineJessie · 07-26-2006, 10:45 PM

Thanks! I'll try staying cool.

wyldterv · 07-26-2006, 11:01 PM

Jessie, tough nut to crack that one... first make sure you drink a LOT of water the entire time you're outside in the heat... even at 4am ! I'd be starting literally at the crack of dawn to utilize what 'reasonable' (if you can think of 80 as 'cool' )temps you have to their max. Keep some Propel ro Gatorade handy as well to keep enough electrolytes in your system and when you get up in teh am, EAT A BANANA, they're full of potassium! Eat one again a few hours after you're outside.

To try to keep cool, wet your hair totally in cold water,then wet a bandana in cold water, wring out and put it over your head, then put your hat on, that will help cool your head.

Take a bandana for your neck and keep rewetting it as well, that will help some too.

Rise your wrists regularly as well, run them under cold water, that is a major heat exchange place for your body, this will help temporarily cool you off!

Wear cotton clothing as it breaths the best or some of the more high tech moisture wicking fabrics. You might not want to wet your shirt BUT youCAN wet down a good sports bra, wring it out well and then put it on, ...

These are all tricks I've used when I am faced showing dogs in 100 plus weather outside. Just drink water and gatorade like crazy, stay away from soda and too much caffine as they dehydrate you!

EquineJessie · 07-27-2006, 05:15 AM

Thanks sooo much! Hopefully today will be a lot better.

ches · 07-27-2006, 08:08 AM

wyldterv has some excellent advice. The only thing I'd add is to hit up your local army surplus store for some "underarmor" which is made from a fabric that wicks sweat away and keeps the troops cool under their uniform in the desert. Also maybe try shorts and chaps or some thin, light pants with chaps instead of jeans.

For not too much money you can invest in a tent that will provide you with some shade (just the conopy, not the sides). Fans help, too. Keeping your extremities cool (hands/wrists, feet, head) will go a long way to keeping the rest of you cool.

EquineJessie · 07-27-2006, 02:42 PM

Thanks! I did manage to keep cooler today. Not so much light headedness and feeling sick to my stomach. Thanks so much!

EquusRider91 · 07-27-2006, 03:36 PM

maybe you could use one of those camel packs? If you get a real big one, it can hold a lot of water, and you just put it on your back, so you can ride and hydrate yourself at the same time. It has pockets too, so maybe you could put little things in there that'll help you stay cool, too. I hope you'll feel better in the hot weather

07-26-2006, 09:55 PM	#1
EquineJessie Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,565 Images: 276	dillema -- what to do? Hey everyone... I need some advice out here... As some of you know, I start colts and I've got a lot of people wanting me to work their horses. Pretty much my dream come true but I'm having a problem. It's so hot out here that it'll be 80 degrees at five in the morning. The highs have been from 105-116 degrees and where I work there is no shade. (temp is measured in the shade so in the sun the highs are 115-130 degrees. This wouldn't be that bad except I get heat exhaustion really easily. I'll start getting nauseous and headaches by 6:30 in the morning after only working a half hour. Frozen water bottles, fruit, and gatorade and whatever else I can fit in the ice chest helps but there's really no place to cool off and at some places there isn't a place to rest in the shade. I'll also get heat rash which totally sucks. Of course, I have to wear jeans and boots and a hat so it's pretty darn hot. Anyway, I don't know if I can do this much longer. I literally almost always feel like I have the flu until I can take a cold shower or something. What do ya'll think I should do? As I see it, I can either not work when it's going to be really hot or just keep plugging away. When the highs are in the 90's it's not so bad although I'll still get sick real early in the morning. Soooo, I'm real sick of being sick all the time but I really want to keep all my clients. If I want to keep my horse and buy a reliable car (mine breaks down all the time) I need to keep working. And I really do love it when I'm not wanting to throw up.... But it's gotten to the point I dread going out to work the horses. What do you all think? Sorry this is so long.

07-26-2006, 10:26 PM	#2
Endorphins4u2 Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Japan Posts: 718 Images: 170	Can't have your cake and eat it too... My advice is to keep your T-shirt wet.... This will also keep your clients.. (hey,it was one of the John's ideas) __________________ Pat ROCKS!!

07-26-2006, 10:38 PM	#4
Endorphins4u2 Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Japan Posts: 718 Images: 170	It was the thought that counts... stay cool........ __________________ Pat ROCKS!!

07-26-2006, 11:01 PM	#6
wyldterv Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bellingham, WA USA Posts: 12,567 Images: 309 Blog Entries: 18	Jessie, tough nut to crack that one... first make sure you drink a LOT of water the entire time you're outside in the heat... even at 4am ! I'd be starting literally at the crack of dawn to utilize what 'reasonable' (if you can think of 80 as 'cool' )temps you have to their max. Keep some Propel ro Gatorade handy as well to keep enough electrolytes in your system and when you get up in teh am, EAT A BANANA, they're full of potassium! Eat one again a few hours after you're outside. To try to keep cool, wet your hair totally in cold water,then wet a bandana in cold water, wring out and put it over your head, then put your hat on, that will help cool your head. Take a bandana for your neck and keep rewetting it as well, that will help some too. Rise your wrists regularly as well, run them under cold water, that is a major heat exchange place for your body, this will help temporarily cool you off! Wear cotton clothing as it breaths the best or some of the more high tech moisture wicking fabrics. You might not want to wet your shirt BUT youCAN wet down a good sports bra, wring it out well and then put it on, ... These are all tricks I've used when I am faced showing dogs in 100 plus weather outside. Just drink water and gatorade like crazy, stay away from soda and too much caffine as they dehydrate you! __________________ WyldTerv "I've been love ♥ struck!" Horsin Around and Doggin it 24/7, Life is GRAND! *Mustang Poncho,Dancer,Emmerson and Ms.Elle'* BlackFyre Farms-Bellingham, WA USA, http://www.freewebs.com/blackfyrearabians

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07-26-2006, 10:34 PM	#3
EquineJessie Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,565 Images: 276	That is a wonderful idea. The only problem is, since my clients are all married women, I'd lose them on the double.

07-26-2006, 10:45 PM	#5
EquineJessie Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,565 Images: 276	Thanks! I'll try staying cool.

07-27-2006, 05:15 AM	#7
EquineJessie Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,565 Images: 276	Thanks sooo much! Hopefully today will be a lot better.

07-27-2006, 08:08 AM	#8
ches Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,472 Images: 38	wyldterv has some excellent advice. The only thing I'd add is to hit up your local army surplus store for some "underarmor" which is made from a fabric that wicks sweat away and keeps the troops cool under their uniform in the desert. Also maybe try shorts and chaps or some thin, light pants with chaps instead of jeans. For not too much money you can invest in a tent that will provide you with some shade (just the conopy, not the sides). Fans help, too. Keeping your extremities cool (hands/wrists, feet, head) will go a long way to keeping the rest of you cool.

07-27-2006, 02:42 PM	#9
EquineJessie Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,565 Images: 276	Thanks! I did manage to keep cooler today. Not so much light headedness and feeling sick to my stomach. Thanks so much!

07-27-2006, 03:36 PM	#10
EquusRider91 Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 213 Images: 12	maybe you could use one of those camel packs? If you get a real big one, it can hold a lot of water, and you just put it on your back, so you can ride and hydrate yourself at the same time. It has pockets too, so maybe you could put little things in there that'll help you stay cool, too. I hope you'll feel better in the hot weather