KEEP YOUR COOL THIS SUMMER

Managing your horse’s exercise in the heat 

Courtesy CEVA

Summer usually fills our calendar with public holidays and family focus, and as equestrians we have no doubt that spending more time with your horse is on the cards! 

But the downside is that summer also brings heat, which can mean that even small rides out on the trail can build up the sweat levels – both for you and your horse. And while sweat is not necessarily bad (in fact, it is necessary to cool you and your horse down), excess sweat and exertion can lead to heat stroke and dehydration, resulting in a visit with your vet. 

Here are some handy tips to keep you and your horse safe when riding in summer weather: 

1. Know your horse’s medical status & what is considered abnormal 

It is important you know your horse’s typical temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate throughout different seasons. Ensure you have an appropriate rectal thermometer in your medical kit and keep a record of their heart rate and respiration rate before and after work, as well as after cool down (which should be similar to the before work readings). This will allow you to identify when something is significantly abnormal and help you with your decision to seek emergency support. 

Typical health measures 

Resting Heart Rate (adult horse): 30-40 beats per minute 

Respiratory Rate (adult horse): 8-15 breaths per minute 

Temperature: 37.4-38.4 degrees Celsius 

2. Recognise the signs of dehydration 

Dehydration doesn’t occur just because of sweat, but excess exercise and sweating may result in dehydration. A simple test you can perform is the “tent test”. This is where you pinch the skin on neck (about mid-way), or high or low on the shoulder. A healthy horse should see the skin snap back into the original position immediately. If the skin stays “tented” for 1 or more seconds, this is a sign of lack of fluids.  

Other signs include: 

• Lethargy & depression 

• Dry or tacky gums & lips 

• Sticky or thick saliva 

• Weakness and collapse 

3. Keep horse electrolytes on hand for extra sweaty days or rides 

Sweat doesn’t just mean the loss of water, but also the loss of important electrolytes, like sodium, potassium, and chloride. These electrolytes are important for nerve and muscle function as well as other bodily functions, so ensuring we restore what is depleted with heat and work is important. On those sweatier moments, providing electrolytes plus water will help reset some of those imbalances caused by warmer days or workouts and help prevent or decrease the likelihood of emergencies. 

Handy tip: Energetic Isotonic Oral Powder for Horses is an electrolyte powder that you mix into water. It comes in a handy foil pack that you can pop into your saddle pack on your trail ride – meaning you don’t have to carry a water bottle for yourself AND your horse, just mix what you need when!  

4. Perfect your cool down routine 

This should be part of your routine after any working session but even more critical when the external heat is at it’s highest. Hose down, provide shade, and monitor their vitals until they are back within normal ranges. 

And don’t forget to look after you tack! The sun, heat and sweat can damage your gear, and risk making them uncomfortable or even unusable.

Look after yourself, your horse and your gear this summer and keep hydrated!

With heat comes sweat, and its own range of complications. Here are out top tips to reduce the impact of the heat on your horse.

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