Heat Stress

“Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina . . .” until it gets hot!  As North Carolinians, we love the summer.  We enjoy being outdoors, camping, swimming, hiking and riding; however, there are a few things that need to be taken into account when deciding whether or not to hit the trails with your horse during the long summer days in NC.

 Hyperthermia, heat exhaustion and heatstroke are all heat related conditions that should be avoided.  Since horses primarily cool themselves by sweating, the higher the ambient temperature and relative humidity, the less likely the animals are to cool themselves during periods of exercise.  As sweat evaporates off of the skin, it cools the body.  High temperatures coupled with high humidity cause increased sweating without the ability to evaporate effectively.  Before saddling up, consider the ambient temperature in degrees °F AND the % humidity, add them together, then consider the following:

·      If the temperature plus humidity is < 130, then the horse’s ability to cool itself will not be compromised.  Exercise and working may continue with no problems.

·      If the sum is 130 – 150, the ability is decreased somewhat and precautions should be taken to make sure that the horse does not overheat.

·      Sums over 150 indicate that the ability to cool is greatly reduced so exercise/work time AND the intensity of the sessions should be shortened.

·      If the sum is 180 or over, cooling ability is almost nonexistent and heat stroke is likely if animals are stressed.

Throughout the summer ride during the early morning or late afternoon hours when temperatures are typically cooler.  Provide fresh, cool water throughout the workout session but make sure that the horse is taking smaller sips and not large gulps of water.  After your session, cool your horse with a spray-down ensuring that you scrape off the excess water immediately.  Work in the shade if possible and use fans to create airflow in barns and stalls if little to no airflow exists.  Check your horse’s vital signs if you suspect overheating.  The rectal temperature should be between 99.5 °F to 101.5 °F at rest and no higher than 103 °F during work.  Normally, their pulse should be 30-44 beats per minute at rest and their respiration rate 8-12 breaths per minute.  Anything higher than these numbers should be monitored closely, work should be terminated and if vitals do not return to normal within 15-20 minutes, a veterinarian should be called.

Our state has a lot to offer equestrians throughout the year so by all means, take advantage of the opportunities, just be cognizant of the temperatures and humidity, adjust activities as needed and stay safe.