Few of us really enjoy riding when the weather is wet, cold, and windy; nobody likes camping with horses in these conditions. But more important than the unpleasantness of the situation is the detrimental effect this type of weather can have on the performance of our equine partners.

It is not uncommon to see horses performing well below their normal abilities in rides held in bad weather. Unfortunately there can also be a significant rise in metabolic problems and even "crashes" requiring treatment. Frequently, riders are flummoxed -- they did everything they normally do, their horse was working well within its abilities, and yet their best friend ended up in some sort of trouble.

Wet weather or storms the day (or days) before a ride present extra challenges to our horses that we have to be aware of. As uncomfortable as we may be in wet boots and earmuffs, we usually have some kind of shelter from the elements, even if it's only a tent. The horses generally do not.

Frequently, they don't eat well. They may devour their grain, but the more important part of their diet -- hay and fiber -- is often wet and unpalatable, perhaps even spoiled. It may be difficult for the rider to assess how much hay is consumed under these conditions.

It is crucial for endurance horses to start the day with a full GI tract -- when they don't eat well, they are set up for failure. Add to this the general "depression" they often exhibit in poor weather -- heads low, listless attitude -- and it's easy to understand how appetite can be affected.

They may not drink well, especially if they are cool or even chilly. They won't feel thirsty, with Mother Nature sponging them off constantly! So it is possibly they are starting the ride the next day not as hydrated as we would wish.

Horses probably aren't going to sleep well if it rains. They most likely can't lie down in the mud, and it's hard to relax while being pelted with rain or alarmed by wind. (Often they will opt to spend the night in the rain instead of in their dry trailer.) They may begin the ride mentally stressed as well as physically uncomfortable.

What to do? Nobody can do much about the weather! All we can do is try our best to compensate for its effects.

Encourage drinking. Include extra salt in the food the day before the ride to encourage drinking. Keep the horse as warm as possible; if you're wondering whether you've put on enough blankets, you haven't! Not only do we want to encourage drinking, we want all those muscles toasty warm, soft, and full of blood; no clamped tails or tight hind ends. Keep the butt covered while saddling, and re-blanket as much of the horse as you can between saddling and getting on. Warm-up is even more important than usual in these conditions.

Promote hay consumption. Do whatever you can to encourage hay or fiber consumption. Give apples and carrots in the beet pulp, plus frequent feedings of small amounts of hay so that it can be eaten before it gets too soggy. (Wet hay is actually a good thing -- if they'll eat it!) Swap hay with a neighbor, since everybody knows horses always like somebody else's hay better. Even if you don't normally feed alfalfa, this occasion may be the necessary exception if your horse won't eat anything else.

Eating undercover. Try to provide some kind of cover to eat under if possible -- maybe even the floor of the horse trailer. Be very aware though -- wind can wreak havoc with tarps, making them more of a problem than a solution, and if you use your trailer for a feeder be absolutely sure the door is firmly and implacably secured! Consider using that spoiled hay as "bedding" to get their feet out of the mud.

Take a walk. Take your equine for walks, as much to provide some mental stimulation and company as to get them out of their churned-up living space. Let them eat as much grass as possible during these walks -- it both helps with the feeding issue and makes them a little less miserable!

Ride cautiously. On ride day, bear in mind that your partner may have spent an uncomfortable night, and that this might not be his best day ever. Muddy footing may make for hard slogging. Also -- should the sun choose to come out be aware that the resulting humidity is going to be off the charts, and cooling may become a major issue.

In this sport, you have to deal with what you're given. And just think -- if it rains, there likely are no bugs!