06/22/2025
โ๏ธ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ: ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐
A significant heat wave is on the way, and itโs more than just uncomfortableโit poses a real threat to horse (and human) health. When both temperature and humidity climb, a horseโs ability to cool itself becomes compromised. The signs of heat stress can be easy to miss until they become dangerous, which is why itโs critical to go into these hot days with a science-based plan. Knowing how to reduce risk through smart management, recognizing the early signs of trouble, and understanding how to respond quickly and effectively can make all the difference. Prevention is always easier than treatmentโso letโs stay ahead of the heat.
The first thing to consider is when it is acceptable to work your horse. There are two heat indexes commonly used: one was developed by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and takes the sum of the temperature (ยฐF) and relative humidity (%). The other was developed by the National Weather Service (NWS) and uses a more comprehensive formula. Considering the NWS guidelines are more conservative, I tend to follow their recommendations out of an abundance of caution.
๐๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฑ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฌ:
๐ข 125: Use extreme caution and avoid any exercise or activity while implementing preventive and vigorous cooling measures.
While these recommendations can guide your decisions, remember that many individual factors may influence heat toleranceโincluding fitness level, age, hydration, ride intensity, and acclimation.
๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐, ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ค๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ก๐๐๐ญ-๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ:
๐ง Provide unrestricted access to clean, plain water ideally between 59โ77ยฐF (15โ25ยฐC)
๐ณ Ensure shade is available
๐ง Add salt or electrolytes to the feed per manufacturerโs recommendations
๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ ๐ซ๐ข๐๐:
๐
Restrict activity to early morning or late evening hours
โฌ๏ธ Reduce ride intensity
๐ฟ Cool horses by continuously applying cold or cool waterโdo not scrape it off
โ ๏ธ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐ข๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ญโ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ค๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ก ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ญ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฌ.
โข Panting or flared nostrils
โข Rapid or labored breathing at rest
โข Elevated heart rate that doesnโt recover after exercise
โข Lethargy, dullness, or unwillingness to move
โข Dry, tacky, or dark gums
โข Muscle tremors or incoordination
โข Increased re**al temperature
If you see any of these signs, act immediatelyโmove the horse to shade, apply cool water continuously, and call your veterinarian if the symptoms persist.
Letโs be proactiveโnot reactiveโand make sure our horses stay safe and supported during this extreme heat.
Stay cool everyone!
Dr. DeBoer
