07/23/2022
Summertime Rules for Horses
Brian S. Burks DVM, Dipl. ABVP
Board-Certified in Equine Practice
This summer make sure that your horse is happy. First, provide plenty of fresh, clean water. Horses prefer cool water, though not freezing cold. Water troughs should be placed in the shade, if possible. If necessary, change the water several times per day to encourage drinking. At least daily, empty water troughs and re-fill.
Next, make sure that your horse can sweat and evaporate easily. Clip the coat if you are riding, or especially in older horses that might have Equine Cushingās Disease. If your horse is not adequately sweating, called anhidrosis, call your veterinarian.
Riding should be done in the coolest parts of the day, usually early morning. For horses in work, make sure that enough electrolytes are consumed, to encourage drinking and to replace losses due to sweating and other insensible losses (heavier, rapid breathing, for instance). Working or resting in the shade helps to prevent overheating. Transport should be early whenever possible.
Ensure air movement. The use of fans for stalls and run-in sheds enhances ventilation and reduces insects that cannot fly in the face of a strong wind. Make sure that the electric is grounded through a GFR and that they cannot reach cords and outlets. If you are hauling in a trailer, open the windows for ventilation.
Fly control will help prevent the spread of diseases (bot flies, habronema, EIA) and make your horse more comfortable. Horse flies bite hard, and hurt like the devil! Use fly masks and sheets as necessary, but be aware of the hazards and check underneath them at least daily. The use of fly traps, premise sprays, sterile flies will help to decrease the numbers. Manure management is a great way to control flies. Cleaning run-in sheds and paddocks daily deters fly accumulation.
Hydration
Horses drink about five gallons of water per day for maintenance in isothermic temperatures. When it is hot and humid, horses can easily drink 20 gallons of fresh, cool water per day. If your horse is picky about water, bring water with you when you show. You can also cover taste by adding flavor from Jello, Koo-Aid, or Gatorade. Adding electrolytes, or just plain salt, to hay or grain will encourage drinking. It should be noted that too much electrolyte may worsen dehydration, so small amounts several times per day is often best.
Heat Exhaustion
Body temperatures can rise above 1040F very quickly when exercising in heat and humidity. Sweat will not evaporate quickly when it is humid, making body temp higher. Other risk factors for overheating include obesity or poor fitness, heavy muscling, or a dark coat. For an overheated horse find shade if possible, and repeatedly douse him with copious cool water, using a scraper to remove it immediately. Continue until his temperature drops below 101Ā°F.
Signs of hyperthermia and heat stroke include lethargy, malaise, diarrhea, colic, panting, and increased respiratory rate. Affected animals will be dehydrated and can go into shock. Contact us immediately if you suspect your horse is suffering from heat stroke.
Sun Protection
Horses with pink around their muzzles or eyes suffer from sunburn. Human sunscreen is generally safe for use on horses on small areas of the body. Long-term ultraviolet (UV) ray exposure can predispose horses with pink skin around their eyes to cancer (squamous cell carcinoma), so obtain UV-blocking fly masks for these animals.
Trailering
When horses travel in trailers, they must shift weight with the motion, expending energy. It is almost as much work as a trail ride, so your horse will not arrive and be ready to work. Trailering also depresses the immune system, which can lead to pneumonia. Horses must put their heads down to clear mucus and debris from the airways, and most horses travel with their heads tied up. If your horse develops a cough or fever within a few days of travel, call an equine specialist immediately. During hot weather, open vents, and barred windows for the best airflow. Trailers parked in the sun become very hot, much like the inside of a car, so find a shady spot to park, and get horses off the trailer soon after you arrive at your destination. Horses should always be taken off trailers at least every eight hours to allow them to move around, cool down, and clear airway debris.
Infectious Disease
Where there are large numbers of stressed horses in small areas and common water sources, disease can spread rapidly. Be sure to vaccinate your horses for common respiratory viruses prior to leaving. A horse can cough and spread viral particles for up to 100 feet; avoiding nose to nose contact is good but may not be enough. Bacteria, such as Streptococcus equi, which causes strangles, may be carried on hands, boots, shovels, pitchforks, buckets, and other utensils, and spread to other horses. Many competitors arriving on show grounds are now required to have records of influenza and rhinopneumonitis vaccinations given every six months.
Travel Documents
Most states require a negative Coggins (equine infectious anemia) test within 6-12 months and health certificates prior to border entrance. A few states also require brand inspections, which you can schedule. In the electronic age, Coggins test results and health certificates, some of which allow veterinarians to take horsesā photos rather than drawing their markings, can be obtained online, and stored on your phone or tablet for easy access. Though 30-day health certificates are required for long-distance travel through several states, some regions now allow six-month āGo Passesā good for travel to neighboring states.
Fox Run Equine Center
www.foxrunequine.com
(724) 727-3481
Your horse's health is always our top priority.
