06/18/2024
More great advice for all animal owners!
This week is going to be HOT!๐ฅต And this means we are asked, โIs it too hot to ride?โ Here is some information about horses and the heat.
๐ Per the American Association of Equine Practitioners: When outside temperature + relative humidity =150 or above, it's hard for a horse to keep cool because their ability to sweat is compromised โ especially if the humidity contributes to over half of the 150.
๐ง Provide access to plenty of clean water. Check water levels regularly as it's a good way to monitor water intake & refresh the water supply. One may consider providing an additional water bucket containing electrolytes or administering oral electrolytes.
โ๏ธ Make sure horses in turnout have access to shade so they can escape the sun.๐
๐จ Airflow is key for stabled horses. Open doors/ windows and utilize fans whenever possible, but be sure that wires are not causing additional hazards.
๐ Try to ride during the coolest hours of the day. If it's unavoidable, keep your mid-day rides short. A horse maintains normal temperature in hot weather by moving heat through the muscles and out through the skin in the form of sweat.Horses that cannot sweat, known as anhydrosis, will usually overheat.
๐ฟ Post-ride: help your horse cool down quickly by hosing his neck & chest first with cool water. Then hose the whole body, sweat scrape, and hose again.
๐๏ธ Keep an eye out for symptoms of heat stress and contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice:
-Labored breathing and/or rapid respiratory rate
-Above normal temperature at rest
-Unusual sweating (too much or too little)
-Decreased appetite
Just to name a few.
Special care should be taken of foals and horses with heavy muscling, excess fat or are in poor condition. In some cases, one might consider clipping horses that still have a long hair coat.
Maybe over these next couple of days consider unmounted barn activities such as organizing and restocking your first aid kit. Or double checking you have the required paperwork for the next horse show. Or just being with your horse.
Simply, be attentive to your equine partner and your own needs during this heatwave. Be safe!
