Summer is arriving in the Northern Hemisphere, the days are getting longer and the temperature is rising.
While most grooms are quick to adjust our schedules to care for the horses in the heat, sometimes we don’t adjust things to take care of ourselves.
Here are some easy tips from our US Coordinator and long time supergroom, Courtney Carson, to help you stay on top of your game in the summer.
1. Drink Lots of Water
This should come as no surprise. We want our horses to drink more water when it is hot out, so why shouldn’t we do the same ourselves?
Staying hydrated will help prevent fatigue and injury throughout the summer months.
Get a large water bottle. Most of the designs now will keep ice cold for hours, making your water nice and refreshing. If you are goal oriented there are bottles with times and lines printed on them so you stay on a schedule.
If you don’t like drinking too much plain water there are several alternatives. Electrolyte replenishing drinks like Gatorade or Lucozade can be used, but remember that it is better to add this to your water and not drink alone.
Other companies such as Liquid I.V. make packets you can add into your water to both flavor it and add electrolytes.
2. Paying Attention to What You Eat
It can be hard to eat proper meals when you’re busy, but it’s important to make sure you’re still getting enough calories. Eating snacks throughout the day will help to prevent your body from running out of fuel during the long days.
Trying to eat something small every couple of hours instead of a big meal in the middle of the day will help to keep your energy up.
Have plenty of snacks that aren’t “empty calories” on hand throughout the day. Fruits and vegetables are always good options if you have the means to keep them cold and fresh during the day.
3. Getting Enough Sleep
It is so easy to get stuck at the barn for extra hours when the days are long. There always seems to be one more task, one more load of laundry to hang out to dry, or just one more chore to get done.
Then if you want to go out for dinner or drinks with friends after work that is another couple of hours you’re awake and active.
While being social is fun and an important part of work-life balance, no amount of caffeine or supplements will replace sleep.
Your body needs time to rest and recover in order to function at a safe level and prevent injury.
An average of 7 hours of sleep a night is what most doctors recommend for an adult per night.
While you’re sleeping your muscles have a chance to rest and rebuild, which is a very important part of staying healthy in such a physical job.
Getting enough sleep also keeps your mind sharp so you don’t miss things with the horses, whether it is your reaction times while working with a fresh horse or noticing a change in their gait or demeanor.
4. Take Time for Yourself
The worst thing you can do for yourself though is push through extreme fatigue or an injury.
This may mean taking an afternoon off for yourself. Just remember that an afternoon or a day off is easier for yourself and the entire team than weeks off to rehab an injury.
Find a good physio or chiropractor in your area that will work with your schedule while you’re home if you need to. Maintenance on our own bodies is just as important as it is for our horses.
