Gage County
1115 West Scott St.,
Beatrice NE 68310
Phone: (402) 223-1384
FAX: (402) 223-1370

News Column

Paul C Hay, Extension Educator

Help Horses Keep Their Cool During Hot Temperatures

Like humans, horses need to keep their cool as the temperature rises. Horses need plenty of cool, clean water, adequate feed and plenty of shade to help them deal with heat of summer.

To reduce heat stress, schedule activities, work periods and transportation during the cooler hours of the morning or evening. Try to avoid roads with slow, stop-and-go traffic. Reduce risk of dehydration and heat stress by giving horses access to water before, during and after transportation in hot weather.

Heat loss for all horses becomes difficult when temperatures exceed 90 degrees F, which has been quite common this summer. Avoid excessive exercising during very hot periods. When humidity is high, temperatures lower than 90 degrees F can cause problems. Give horses short, frequent drinks of water during work in hot weather to maintain water balance and relieve the urge to drink a lot of water after exercise. An average-sized riding horse should have about 12 to 14 gallons of water per day. In times of heavy work or hot weather, this can increase two to three times. After a hard workout, water horses out gradually. Even non-working horses will double their water intake during hot weather, so be sure plenty of water is available to horses in pasture, paddocks and stalls.

Also remember to keep horses cool when showing them. Keep horses in stalls with the fans running or under shade. After riding, gradually cool down horses by walking them around, then hosing them down or giving them a water and alcohol sponge bath. Normal body temperature for an adult horse is around 100 degree F. Heat-stressed horse body temperature may get as high as 106 to 100 degrees F, which is extremely dangerous. A horse in good body condition will be able to maintain body temperature easier than one too thin or over-conditioned. All horses can overheat from excess work, lack of water or lack of salt. A horse with heat exhaustion may act depressed, weak, lose its appetite, refuse to continue to exercise, may not sweat or become dehydrated. If these signs occur, contact a veterinarian. Put the horse under shade or in a well-ventilated area and cool it down with water or an alcohol sponge bath until the vet arrives.

Horses in lots or in pastures need exposure to wind and shade to help protect them from the heat. Make sure that buildings where horses are stalled have good air movement. Temperatures in closed buildings or closed trailers during transport can quickly rise to dangerous levels during hot weather. Portable shades made with poles and snowfence should be high enough to allow plenty of air movement and different areas to stand or lie as the day changes.

Horse comfort is a factor in keeping horses cool. Keeping flies, mosquitoes, and other insects under control is an important factor in heat stress control. Horse stress levels increase when insects bite, just like for you and I. Planning ahead can ensure that your horse is well taken care of and will be able to perform when you are headed out for a ride.

View other Gage County News Columns & News Letters: http://gage.unl.edu/news/news.htm

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Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.
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