Overheating Horses?

Overheating. Not only people, cars and dogs suffer this but horses, too.  Overheating is one serious case that we don’t want to suffer with because it is way too distressing and it can lead to sudden death.  During the hot months of the year what you should remember are the preventive measures that might lead to health problems for your horses and one of them is to prevent overheating.

Sometimes these conditions can slip out of our control and affect the system of our pets.  So, make sure to be aware of the symptoms of overheating –just in case. The first thing to do is to keep the thermometer present at all times, tuck it in your pants or put each stable one.  You need to have a monitored temperature check on your horses to maintain their safe condition.  To horses, remember that their normal temperature is 100F and beyond that is already considered prone to develop heatstroke.   During walks, they would seem tired and unwilling to continue, blowing hard, uninterested, producing too much saliva and even none! These signs tell you that it is time to free him from his distress.

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What you need to do after these observations is to keep him immediately out of the hot area.  Keep him in his stable and make sure it is shaded with proper ventilation.  Proper ventilation is not enough to just let the air blow directly at your horse but to maintain adequate and fresh air circulation.  So, open those windows and barn doors and clean the soiled beddings.  This way, fresh air comes in and fumes are drawn out. 

Keep your horse well-hydrated to prevent heatstroke.
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Remember that heat risks one’s hydration level so keep your horse hydrated by requiring him to drink plenty of water each day and much more during the hot summer days.  Do not keep stagnant waters unchanged because it will only get hot and invite insects so, keep those buckets changed every time with fresh and cool water.  There is one trick to know if your horse is already dehydrated if you flap its neck skin.  If it pops back into place, he is okay otherwise he is not. So, be aware.

Another thing is to keep him from getting exhausted.  Just imagine yourself working heavily under the heat of the sun, no rest, no shade, and no water.  Even though you insist on working too much with your horse he will still not be able to continue and make it because of the discomfort the heat is causing him.  So, just keep him relaxed and think about what makes him more comfortable.