With temperatures rising throughout the world each year, more horse owners are faced with the issue of managing their horses during hot temperatures.
Due to their lower heat tolerance than humans, we are responsible for keeping them healthy and in good health in the summer.
High temperatures can cause horses to be uncomfortable, along with being stressed and irritable. Long-term exposure to heat increases the risk of suffering muscle cramps, colic or stress from heat.
So, we should constantly monitor our horses’ temperature when it is higher than their comfort zone (between 5 to 25 degrees Celsius (or 41 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit). A mature horse’s average body temperature is 37.2 to 28.3 degrees Celsius (99 to 101 degrees F).
It’s also crucial to look for the signs of dehydration with the test of pinching your skin. Contact your veterinarian immediately If you observe that your Horse is no longer making sweat, is breathing in a heavy way, or has become sluggish.
Keep in mind that foals, senior and sick horses need special attention during times of extreme heat.
Provide Ad Libitum Water
In the heat, horses must have cool (7 to 17 deg C , or 45 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit) and fresh drinking water. Horses at rest typically consume 6 to 10 gallons (27 to 45 litres) of water per day; however, this could increase significantly in hot weather.
Apart from their essential requirements, horses that exercise in heat may lose between 2 and 4 Gallons (9 between 18 and 18 litres) of sweat each hour. Electrolytes such as sodium, chloride, and potassium are present in sweat along with water.
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It is crucial to replenish the water and electrolytes that sweat loses to avoid dehydration. It is easy to do this by placing salt blocks over the field of the Horse or by offering electrolyte-infused drinking water following exercise.
If your farm has automated water troughs that are inspected regularly to ensure that the water is clear and there is no blockage to the flow of water.
Additionally, ensure that the troughs are set so that dominant horses don’t hinder other horses from the water source.
Provide Shelter From the Sun
Following ad libitum water shelter is the second best protection against the effects of heat stress on horses. Many owners have shared that horses seek havens more frequently during hot weather.
There are many natural ways to protect yourself from the sun, including large trees. Horses prefer sitting in trees over running through sheds since they can enjoy cool breezes while in the shade.
If you plan to construct a run-in shed, be aware that the sun’s location changes during the day. So, you must position your building in an orientation that ensures your Horse is protected from the sun.
It could be necessary to secure horses throughout the day to ensure they are cool and safe from flies during the summer heat. Horses should be turned out at dawn until noon, and returned at 5:00 p.m., according to veterinarian Heather Farmer from Lake County, Florida.
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Be smart about when you ride
If you cannot get off early in the morning or late into the night during the summer heat, try to get off as late as possible. If you are required to ride in the period between 10 am between 4 pm and 10 am, limit your riding time to a short amount, and do not over-exert your Horse’s ability level.
You may also opt for riding on cooler places like woodlands or beaches if you have access to these. Your Horse will appreciate it.
Remember that horses can’t deal with the heat as we do, so ensure their health is first.
As we’ve already said previously, the huge muscle sections of horses produce lots of heat when they are training. According to research by researchers at the University of Guelph, horses experience more heat stress than humans when they exercise.
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Regular Baths in the Highest Heat
If the sun is the harshest, you might consider washing your Horse to assist in letting him shed energy, particularly after exercising. Sweating can generate more incredible body energy than the Horse can lose. Cool water applied to the Horse’s skin assists in drawing extra heat out of the body.
If your Horse has been through an intensive exercise, Heather Farmer recommends starting with the chest and neck regions. This cools the blood flowing through the jugular vein to your heart. It can speed up cooling throughout the body.
When you bathe your Horse, get rid of any excess water by using a scraper. Any remaining water in your coate will warm up rapidly exposed to sunlight, creating the opposite cooling effect.
Don’t let your Horse during the daytime since temperatures can fall after sunset. Be sure to allow enough period to enable your Horse to get dry to prevent him from getting colds.
Fitness Tips for Horses
Today’s horse world faces a growing problem of equine obesity. In addition to the health risks of being overweight, carrying around a lot of fat and excess fat increases the chance of horses becoming overheated.
Many owners of horses don’t realize that their Horse is overweight. Therefore, everyone should take the time to study how to assess the weight of a horse.
Getting a horse fit is a lot more complex than keeping it. That’s why the early identification of the problem is crucial to success.
Avoid Trailering in High Heat
Travelling can be stressful in many horse breeds, which results in increased body heat and a greater likelihood of suffering from heatstroke. If it’s inevitable the Horse has to go on a trip. During an extremely hot day, make sure to depart at the earliest possible time to avoid the heat of the day.
Before you leave, be sure that your Horse is rested and give him ample water. To ensure that the airflow is as good as it can be within your lorry or trailer, close all vents and windows of the vehicle.
Don’t put your vehicle in direct sunlight with horses inside the trailer. Find an area shaded or take horses to the side of the truck.
To aid your Horse in coping with the trip, plan frequent stops and provide him with water. Choose the most efficient route to reach your destination to ensure that stress levels are kept at bay and reduce your exposure to the heat.
Excess hair should be clipped away
Winter coats are usually shed by horses in spring to prepare for warmer weather. However, there are times when a horse has more hair than is required at this time of the season, which requires human intervention.
For instance, some ponies and native breeds generally have thicker coats for summer than other breeds of horses. Winter coats cannot be shed by horses who suffer from Cushing’s syndrome, a hormone disorder.
Fly sheets with light colors should be used
The coats of horses with darker colours naturally absorb more solar heat than horses with lighter coats. In this instance, an air-conditioned white fly sheet helps disperse sunlight towards your Horse’s body and keep him calm. You can protect yourself against harmful radiation by finding sheets with UV protection.
Make sure you don’t blanket your horse during extremely hot or humid weather. The high humidity can hinder your animal’s capacity to cool itself by sweating because it is saturated with water. A blanket placed on your Horse could further hamper the loss of the water that is absorbed by the skin.
Add Ice to Your Horse’s Water
While it might sound like a lot of work, research has proven that providing icy water is a reliable and safe method to cool hot horses. Although some horses may be reluctant to drink if the water is cold, others are awed by it.
Per the University of Minnesota Extension, The University of Minnesota Extension states that a horse is considered to be overheated.
when the rectal temperature is more excellent than 39.4 degrees Celsius (103 degrees Fahrenheit).
It has also been proven that horses who have participated in intensive training can benefit from taking ice baths afterward.
Applying ice water to the prominent blood vessels in the neck, head, back, and ribs is the most efficient method to get an effect of cooling.
It is also possible to use towels submerged in ice to cool down a horse quickly. Lay several towels on your Horse’s back for quick recovery after exercise.
Install an Electric Fan
If your Horse is inside during the summer months with the most heat, your barn must have good air circulation. Airflow is a way to channel warmth away from your Horse’s body which aids in the cooling process.
Apart from opening all windows and doors, you could think about setting up an electric fan. so that you can keep the air moving throughout the structure.
The fan must be placed in a secure location so that horses cannot reach the unit or the power source. Be aware that the sound or impact of the fan may make horses nervous at first, and you should keep a monitor over them for a few days.
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