HEAT BEATERS

Editors and contributors from Horse and Rider magazine are spread all over the country, but even so, July's a scorching month just about everywhere. Some of our favorite keep-cool tips:

"In our oven-baked, super-dry heat, I've found that wearing long-sleeved cotton T-shirts, and keeping the sleeves damp, is a huge help (also protects my freckled skin from the sun, and prevents farmer tan on the arms). This only works in dry climates, of course-it'd be deadly in muggy weather!"
-Jenny Meyer, editorial director, California.

"I wear Cool Max shirts and jog bras. Hats are a must, as are UVA/UVB protective sunglasses. I've also invested in special fans that hook to hoses, so I can cool the air in the barn."
-Sue Copeland, consulting editor, Texas.

"I rely on the classic Western wear that evolved for utilitarian reasons. I shade my head, face, and neck with a vented straw cowboy hat, tie a bandanna, soaked in cold water, around my neck, and swear by long-sleeved Western shirts made of lightweight cotton Madras. The latter keep my skin from broiling and allow for evaporative cooling."
-Juli Thorson, lifestyle editor, Idaho.

"I fill a spray bottle with water and lots of ice, then use it to frequently mist both my horse, Memphis, and myself. I also love the small, personal cooling fans that run on batteries."
-Alana Harrison, production editor, Texas.

"We become sort of nocturnal. We start at 4 a.m. to get as much under-saddle work done as we can until it starts to get really hot, around 11 or 12. Until 5 or 6 p.m., we either do non-riding tasks or else work in a covered arena, out of the sun. Then we go back to regular riding, and continue until dark."
-Robin Gollehon, trainer and Team H&R member, Indiana.

"I freeze bottles of water and drop them into long tube socks, knotted at the open end. I place one inside my shirt, near the small of my back, as a personal coolant. Once the ice begins to melt, I drink the water."
-Amanda Peterson, editorial coordinator, Texas.

"I love MetroMint bottled water. The water itself keeps me hydrated, the mint provides a refreshing burst of coolness, and best of all, it has no calories-for no fear of chaps-fit trauma at the end of a multi-day show circuit!"
-April Fingerlos, contributor, Idaho.