30/07/2024
COPING WITH A HEATWAVE
Summer has finally arrived! 🥵
Worth another share:
> Horses (like us) can struggle to adapt when temperature quickly change by more than 10 degrees, so this sudden change can be harder for them then a gradual increase up to full summer heat
> Turnout overnight ideally, and consider stabling in daytime if your horse's field lacks shade/shelter. Brick or block stables are cooler than wooden
> Don't assume its only exercise that can cause heatstroke - horses with thick coats can overheat outside without shade
> Take your horse's temperature if in doubt - if over 39 deg, you need to cool them, if over 40 they're at risk of heatstroke and you need to cool 'aggressively' with plenty of cold water over the big muscles (vets and physiologists agree)
> Ensure clean fresh water is available at all times
> Exercise your horse during cooler periods e.g. early in the morning or late in the evening (but adjust this to keep them adapted to what they'll face in competition if they compete...e.g.)
> If you are due to compete in the middle of the day, you'll need to adapt your horse to this but do it gradually
> Adjust your horse's exercise routine with reduced duration and possibly intensity too if you're unable to exercise them during cooler periods
> If your horse gets very hot during exercise, cool them with - ideally iced - cold water sloshing or hosing without scraping off (thermoregulation expert Dr David Marlin has studied the research and concludes that scraping wastes time when aggressively cooling and its more beneficial to keep sloshing cold water onto the horse, not scrape off the hot water, which will run off anyway)
> Use sun protection cream for pink noses/legs
> Consider clipping very hairy horses, especially if you find them sweating standing still
> You may need to increase your horse's salt intake in the feed if they are sweating more
> Watch out for feed and/or supplements going off - especially those with a high oil content - which can reduce palatability
> Soak forage and mashes/sugar beet out of the sun, and for as little time as you can to ensure they stay fresh
> Don't forget to look after yourself too, with suncream, plenty of fluids and shade!
Please feel free to share,
🐴🍏☀️🥵
