How to Help Your Horse Avoid Heat Stress

 

The dog days of summer are upon us and along with them often comes very high heat indexes. Adjusting to the high heat can be a challenge for a few horses, but there are several things we, as horse owners, can employ to help our equine friends avoid heat stress.

Always provide ample amounts of fresh, clean water, which allows horses to adjust their water consumption as needed to replace fluids lost by sweat. To encourage horses to drink more, provide salt blocks or supplement salt to increase thirst. If horses are exercising regularly and sweating throughout the summer, owners can supplement their diets with electrolytes. You can either add them to feed or water. An isotonic salt solution can be made by adding 1 oz (~ 2 Tbsp) of salt per gallon of fresh water. However, if you opt for the latter, be sure to provide an additional fresh water source in case the horse prefers plain water.

The increased temperatures and humidity that we often see during the summer months in the Southeast can slow down or halt sweat evaporation, making it more difficult for horses to cool off. Recent research shows that a constant flow of cold water hosing can be very beneficial in cooling the core body temperature of horses within minutes.

Exercise can result in a rapid rise in core body heat. So, even when a horse has adjusted to increased ambient temperatures or humidity at rest, be sure to monitor exercise closely and try to plan rides during the coolest part of the day.

Offer horses frequent drinks of water during work in hot weather. Allowing them to drink during work helps maintain water balance and relieves the urge to drink a lot of water after exercise.

Another way to prevent heat stress is to ensure that barns, paddocks, and stalls are properly ventilated. Barn doors and windows can be kept open, when safe, to allow airflow, fans can also be installed to increase air circulation around horses in stalls or walk in shed rows.

Its also important to be on the lookout for signs of heat stress, which can include the following:

·         Weak or lethargic

·         Sweating profusely or not at all

·         Labored breathing

·         High respiratory rate that does not return to normal

·         High heart rate that does not return to normal

·         High rectal temperature

If you suspect heat stress, offering small amounts of water regularly and moving the horse to a shaded, well-ventilated area is often beneficial. If necessary, hose the horse with water, starting at the feet and working upward. If the horse’s temperature stays above 106°F for an extended period of time, contact a veterinarian immediately.