09/12/2024
๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ | ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐, ๐๐๐บ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ
Horses may cope with hot OR humid weather but when both these combine, their wellbeing can be put at risk โ and so can a humanโs too. ESNZ has adopted the FEIโs approach by using the ๐ช๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐น๐ฏ ๐๐น๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐
(WBGT) to make recommendations as to when and what actions are needed in hot and humid weather. The WBGT reading combines air temperature and relative humidity and these can be measured by most weather apps found on smartphones.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป? It is the responsibility of the Organising Committee (OC) to be aware of pending weather conditions and in conjunction with the Technical Delegate (TD) and Ground Jury (GJ), consider the provision of facilities to mitigate the effects and/or alter the format of the competition to ensure safe competition. However, it is ultimately the responsibility of the rider to care for the welfare of the horse.
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ถ๐ณ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ + ๐๐๐บ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ธ๐? By cross-checking the temperature with the humidity percentage on the WGBT Index, you will find a rating that guides the level of risk of overheating your horse.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฒ? Bear in mind that horses can often cope with more extreme conditions than humans can. So, a WGBT:
under 28 is considered normal and of no concern;
28-30 some consideration should be given to have shade available for horses and humans;
30-33 aggressive cooling is needed (see next point);
33+ is considered high risk and probably not compatible with safe competition.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ด๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด? The most effective way to rapidly cool a horse is to apply large volumes of cold water all over the horse and replace it as soon as the water warms. The colder the water is, the faster the horse will cool. Note that:
โข aggressive cooling will not cause muscle damage;
โข aggressive cooling should continue until the horse stops panting, its heart rate falls below 100 bpm and its re**al temperature falls below 40c;
โข shade, fans, misting fans and hose spray nozzles assist in cooling.
However:
โข wet towels draped over necks and rumps do not assist cooling and will actually trap heat in.
For more info, our full Policy for Extreme Weather Policy is available athttps://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/ESNZ-Extreme-Weather-Policy-2024.pdf along with other helpful information in the IRT Horse Welfare section on our website.
Dressage NZ
ESNZ Eventing
ESNZ Endurance
ESNZ Jumping & Show Hunter
ESNZ Para-Equestrian
