Avoid riding your horse when the combined air temperature (F) and relative humidity is over 150, especially if the horse is not acclimated to the heat. To cool an overheated horse, sponge it with cool water. Repeat this until the horse is cool.
The horse's comfortable temperature is generally between -7 and 25 degrees Celsius - provided that the air is dry. However, our four-legged friends can reach their limits, especially in humid, hot conditions above 30 degrees. For everyday life, rethinking is the order of the day.
If a horse is breathing heavily and it's not from exertion, then she's probably overheating. Please note that while horses sweat when they're a bit too warm, they're unusually dry when they're dangerously hot. A lack of sweat can be a sign of overheating.
But they really liked the 12 to 19 degree zone. To those of us in Fahrenheit areas, this means that clipped horses are most comfortable exercising in 50 to 60 degree weather. Unclipped horses are perfectly capable of surviving- and thriving- in temperatures down to -40 degrees.
A much more serious condition is heat stroke, where the affected horse's skin is hot and dry, breathing is extremely rapid, and the horse's body temperature may reach 106-110 degrees F. If untreated, horses experiencing heat stroke may collapse, go into convulsions and die.
Shade for your horse
Shelter is incredibly important in all weathers, but it's particularly important to provide shade and shelter to protect horses from direct sunlight. This can be provided by shelters and trees, and shade should be accessible throughout the entire day.
Overheating can lead to heat stroke, so it's vital to keep an eye out for critical signs of this condition. Generally speaking, horses shouldn't be in weather that's hotter than 90 Fahrenheit.
The normal range for temperature is between 37.5 and 38.5 degrees Celsius and if your horse's temperature is above this range it is very important to get veterinary advice quickly.
A normal temperature for a healthy horse is between 37 and 38 degrees Celsius (or 99 to 101F). If your horse's temperature is significantly higher or lower than the normal parameters, a vet should be called ASAP.
The horse is very well adapted, even though it's a large animal. Technically, horses should be better off in cold temperatures because of their size, but they do well in the heat because they have an incredible capacity to sweat.
Research on horses working in the heat considers 28-30°C and above as 'hot', but don't forget that humidity also makes a difference. High humidity reduces the effectiveness of evaporative cooling through sweating. It's a good idea to monitor temperatures and humidity throughout the summer months.
Toxaemia means the circulation of toxins, be they chemical, viral or bacterial, in the blood stream. Such conditions as pleurisy, pneumonia, diarrhoea, retained foetal membranes after foaling are all common causes of equine toxaemia. Peritonitis associated with colic is a common cause of toxaemia.
Summer heat can be really dangerous to horses, especially if they are unfit or over exercise. Horses suffering from hyperthermia (an abnormally high body temperature) can quickly become dehydrated, lethargic and weak. Severe heat stress can cause colic, diarrhoea or collapse, so it is important to keep your horse cool.
Heat stroke, also known as heat exhaustion or hyperthermia, can occur when horses work in excessively hot or humid conditions and is a condition that must be treated immediately.
The average length of the estrous cycle, or the period from heat period to the next heat period, is 21 days, but the estrous cycle can vary from 19 to 26 days. The duration of estrus is five to seven days (actually about six days), but it can vary from two to 10 days.
When staying in the sun or under the mist curtain, the horses showed higher levels of relaxation compared to the shaded areas. Perhaps the horses which displayed a higher ability of thermoregulation in the sun remained there, while those who felt discomfort in the sun more often used the shade.
However, you need to ensure that your horse can exhibit natural equine behaviors as much as possible. Let them get out every day if they tend to get stiff, as just standing in a stall will make it worse.
Just like us, many horses need some time off occasionally to rest and recover. And often, you'll find that they come back into work feeling like a new horse. Just like how you feel after a week or two spent laying on the beach! But it isn't always the right time, and not all horses do well with long breaks.
If you have the facilities, stabling horses through the hottest parts of the day, providing their stable remains cool, is an option to consider. However, inadequately ventilated stables can become uncomfortably hot and stuffy and your horse's management must be changed gradually to reduce the risk of colic.
For most hot horses, it's a good idea to avoid spending too long going in straight lines. With few exceptions, a better tactic is to keep them occupied with plenty of changes of bend, pace, and direction. This helps to keep their attention and focus on you, and gives them less chance to get strong or too fast.
A: An aversion to the spray from a water hose isn't uncommon among horses.
If your horse is hot after exercising and does not properly cool down, he is not going to get enough oxygen or blood circulation, which traps heat in his muscles. In severe cases, this can cause neurological deficits or heat stroke. This can also put him at greater risk of pulling muscles.
Know signs of fatigue and overheating in your horse and stop before more severe signs of heat exhaustion begin. Persistent high respiratory rate that does not come down with rest over 10-30 minutes (normal is 20-40 breaths per min). Change in mental activity and decreased energy level.