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Working your horse in hot weather
via: http://southfloridahorse.org/hot_weather_riding.php
Exercising your horse in very hot weather can be a risky business due to
the threat of heat stress and potentially heat stroke. Heat stroke is
an extremely serious condition for horses which can cause them to
collapse and may prove fatal if left untreated.
Any horse can suffer discomfort in hot weather and there are various
factors to take into account. Horses, just like humans, are individuals
and have individual needs. Breed, size, coat length, normal body
temperature and overall fitness all play a big part in how much heat a
horse can cope with before heat stress occurs.
There are precautions a rider should take to reduce the risk of serious conditions developing:
Ride at the coolest time of day
Early mornings are ideal, when both air and ground temperatures are at
their lowest points. Although air temperature drops in the evening, heat
stored in the ground can still elevate a horse`s temperature.
Essential exercise only
Limit exercise to only what is absolutely essential to maintain the
horse`s fitness and wellbeing. Warm up carefully, keep to a steady pace
and avoid any sudden exertion, it is just as dangerous in hot weather as
in cold.
Monitor breathing and sweating
As a horse`s temperature rises, the breathing rate will increase and
become shallower, resulting in discomfort and lethargy. By observing
your horse`s normal breathing rate, it should be possible to know when
there is something wrong.
All horses sweat, it is part of their natural cooling process.
However, a full body sweat can indicate heat stress and a total absence
of sweat, known as Anhydrosis, is a sign of both overheating and
dehydration. Both are very serious problems.
Sweat scraper
Cool down
Towards the end of the exercise period, cool down in the usual way, it
is just as important in hot weather as at any other time. A steady walk
on a long rein with a loosened girth is one way. Better still, dismount
and walk the last half mile.
Washing down
Once back home, remove
saddle
and
bridle
as soon
as possible and wash the horse off with cool water in a shaded area. Pay
particular attention to the back, flanks and legs. Continue until
sweating has stopped and breathing appears normal.
Horse shampoo.
Water
Once the horse appears comfortable, offer plenty of tepid or cool water.
Avoid icy cold water as this may cause the horse to colic.
Electrolytes
During exercise in hot weather, horses lose a lot of their
natural body salts due to sweating. These must be replaced by using
electrolytes
which can be added to drinking water or horse feed.
The most important thing of all is to use common sense where your horse
is concerned. If it is very hot and there is no essential reason to
exercise - then don`t! Get to know your horse really well, observe how
he behaves or reacts to a variety of situations, how much he normally
sweats and his usual recovery time after exertion. Learn how to monitor
his temperature and heart rate correctly.
This is particularly relevant in competitive yards, where occupants are
religiously monitored, observed and treated accordingly. Racing grooms
know their horses especially well and can tell exactly how their charges
are feeling on any given day. Chances are that many
are given out on this basis! The main point is that the more you know
about what is `normal` for your particular horse, the faster you will
know that there is a problem and the quicker you can deal with it.
