[JBandRio]

If it's humid, you must scrape. The air is already full of water, not much room for the water on the horse to evaporate. So, left to sit on the horse, it collects and holds the horse's body heat - not what you want to do. If the horse is very hot, hose and scrape several times until the water you are scraping off isn't so hot.

If you live in the desert areas, the humidity is so low that sweat/water on the horse quickly evapopates, and the faster moisture evaporates, the more of a cooling effect it has. That is why adding rubbing alcohol to water and spritzing your horse is a very effective way of helping him cool off - alcohol evaporates very quickly, giving a cooling effect.

[Lissette]

You should always sweet scape, well at least down here..It helps the horse not want to roll and it dries the horse faster

[Cantered]

Hi,
I say sweat scrape it.
I always sweat scrape a horse after I get them wet
I do believe in a sense it might be like a wet bathing suit..
But I say use it!
Maybe use it to get off most of the moisture, and then take your horse out and graze him the rest of the time?
I live in MA to by the way! =]

[Barn_Brat]

The sun will heat up the excess water causeing the horse to get hot...

[HawaiianPaint]

Interesting...I guess because I live in a drier climate this doesn't really come up, but I never thought about the heating/cooling effects of water being left on and not sweat scraped during the summer. I have a long plastic sweat scraper, use it whenever there is dripping water because I figure she'll dry off faster and if I'm just hosing off her legs/girth etc after a workout I'll take my hand and scrape the excess off. Only caution I've ever heard or made myself about sweat scraping (esp if you're using the backside of a shed blade) is not to press too hard...you only need to press hard enough to get the excess water out, dont need to bruise their ribs or anything trying to get every drip...its not called a sweat "instant dryer"

[gotta a horse]

I live in a drier climate and I always scrape but I usually bathe later on when it's not boiling out. More like 80-90 degree weather as opposed to the 97 degrees in the middle of the day. I also towel her off. I never turn her out wet, she's always dry. I am going to show a heifer next year so I am getting a livestock blow drier that I can use on her.

[zenith]

yeh i alwas scrap the water off
madi

[old horse mom]

To scrape or not? What kind of climate do you live in? If yyou are in a humid area, you want to get as much water off as possible-because some horses have a tendency to get skin problems- itchy, bald little areas that are crusty because damp moist hair/skin is a great place for fungus to grow. Excessive bathing and wet skin can contribute too. Good Luck ps who's winning at the barn??!!

[southern_horse]

wow really? when it's super hot out i ususally just let the water stay on my horse..guess that's not such a grand idea..but what yall are saying makes sense..

[lynnconnor05]

I live in Massachusetts, so its pretty humid. I would say that most people agree that you should sweat scrape, even though everyone has different reasons why. A bunch of people keep asking what you all say and think about the subject, so its been really interesting keeping track!!