⏰ Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Extreme heat can be difficult for horses to bear. Here is a non-exhaustive list of measures to implement to help them cope as best as possible.
🚿 Showering
Showering your horse is the most simple, quick, and effective way to cool them down and provide relief during extreme heat.
A small tip: do not use a sweat scraper after the shower is finished, so they stay cool for longer.
For more information, feel free to check out Dr. David Marlin's publication 'To Scrape or not to scrape'.
☀ Sunburn and photosensitization
Protect horses by providing them with shaded areas and/or shelter.
Use UV masks and full-body covers.
Protect pink skin with sunscreen (frequent application).
Beware of photosensitization from certain plants or products, which can cause skin reactions.
🌾 Drought and poisoning
Grass becomes scarce with heat, so it is important to be particularly vigilant about toxic plants (such as ragwort, hawkweed, and dock).
If horses have little to eat, make sure to leave hay in the pasture.
🐎 Dry hooves
As the famous saying goes: "No hoof, no horse!"
Watch out for brittle hooves; regular farrier visits and the application of local treatments are necessary.
A biotin supplement (at least 6 months) can be given to help promote the growth of quality hooves.
🧹 Dusty environment
Avoid working your horse in an arena or ring that is not watered.
The stable must remain cool and well-ventilated.
And special attention must be paid to asthmatic horses.
💦 Hydration
A 500kg horse drinks on average 25L of water per day, and this amount can double during extreme heat or heatwaves.
- Ensure that your horse stays well-hydrated with clean, temperate water (preferably around 20°C). The water point should be in the shade.
To encourage the horse to drink, keep in mind that they prefer to drink from a large volume of water (from a bucket or water trough rather than an automatic waterer). The horse spends relatively little time drinking throughout the day, so they should be able to consume a large volume of water quickly.
And if you use an automatic waterer, ensure that the water flow rate is sufficient (i.e., at least 7 to 8 liters of water per minute).
Also, always provide your horse with quality hay and a pure salt block. These two factors directly influence drinking, and vice versa. - If your horse has sweated a lot, administering electrolytes may be necessary.
- A mash can also be given to the horse to rehydrate them (to rehydrate them locally – a mash cannot be considered a rehydrator.)
🚗 Transport
Avoid transporting during the middle of the day in the event of a heatwave or extreme heat.
Prefer transport at night or in cooler conditions, and remember to hydrate your horse regularly.
⚠ At-risk horses
Pay special attention to at-risk horses:
- Horses suffering from a condition (equine asthma, metabolic disease, etc.).
- Senior horses.
- Young horses.
- Horses with a dark coat (as their coat naturally absorbs more heat).
🥵 Heat strokes
During episodes of extreme heat, a horse can suffer from heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion is a hyperthermia related to poor regulation of internal temperature in horses during very high temperatures. Heat exhaustion is not to be taken lightly, as it requires quick and effective action to prevent complications for your horse.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include an elevated body temperature, a lethargic horse, excessive sweating (a frothy horse), a very hot to the touch horse, a staggering horse, a horse showing no reaction to the surrounding environment, a horse with prominent veins, a horse that is panting (panting = rapid and noisy breathing)... prompt intervention is essential to help the horse.
It is advisable to shower the horse thoroughly with cool water, and combine this with all possible means of cooling the horse to lower their body temperature.
In case of doubt, immediately call your veterinarian so that they can diagnose and provide guidance on improving the horse's condition.
Did you know? Horses with metabolic problems are more susceptible to heat exhaustion!
💧 Electrolyte supplementation for horses in summer
Heatwaves and periods of extreme heat are particularly conducive to sweating in horses and electrolyte loss.
Unlike humans, horses produce hypertonic sweat, meaning it is concentrated in electrolytes such as chloride, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. The balance of these macro-elements is essential to ensure proper cellular function throughout the body.
For example, an uncompensated loss of electrolytes can lead to disruptions in the neuromuscular system, resulting in cramps, fatigue, and possibly exhaustion. Electrolyte losses primarily occur through sweat, urine, and feces.
When the ambient temperature and humidity are high, a horse can lose up to 30 liters of sweat per hour during intense exercise, leading to a significant loss of electrolytes.
Generally, a horse can replenish its electrolyte reserves after a mild to moderate loss by eating forage and concentrates. In fact, grass hay provides sufficient potassium and is also a source of calcium, sodium, and magnesium. Providing a pure salt block and feeding a concentrate with adequate salt content helps meet daily chloride and sodium needs.
However, during activities causing moderate to heavy sweating (intense, prolonged exercise during hot weather, transport, etc.), it is recommended to supplement electrolytes by administering appropriate supplements, such as our Reverdy Electrolytes range.
Administering this supplement after exercise helps replenish the three main electrolytes, namely chloride, sodium, and potassium, lost through sweating.