b'Arizona Ask the VetREAL COUNTRY TOO HOT TO TROTthe magazineMike BarnaYOU MUST PROVIDE EXTRA CARE FOR Publisher YOUR HORSE DURING HOT WEATHER TO ArizonaRealCountryMagazine@gmail.com REDUCE THEIR STRESS AND MAINTAIN THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. Horses Erika Smith Royal normally cool themselves by sweating. The sweat evaporates from the skin surface and causes a Editor cooling effect. Less sweat evaporates during times erika963realcountry@gmail.com of high humidity. A horse that is working hard in a hot environment can lose two to four gallons of sweat per hour. Did you know that just 17 minutes Misty Voitovski of moderate exercise in hot weather can raise a Creative Director horses internal temperature to dangerous levels? They heat up three to ten times faster than humans. When you think you feel hot and sticky, try to Contributing Writers imagine your horse.Lee AndersonKeya Hunts-In-Winter Overheating Can Result From: horse can cool down two degrees in 10 minutes Justin LeglerBetsy Nunn Hot weather if you continually pour on cold water and High humidity immediately scrape it off. Jim & Bobbi Jeen OlsonRobert Piekow Poor ventilation You can add ice to the water to speed-up cooling Bill RobertsAlan Rockman Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight for very hot horses (rectal temperatures above Excessive work 105 F). Although some believe adding ice will Bob RoloffJohn Samsill Transportation "shock" a hot horse, research has shown that Hank ShefferMichele Wilson Obesity using ice to cool a horse is safe. Ice baths have been found to reduce core body temperature Signs of Heat Stress and lower heart rates after intense exercise, and If you see a combination of these symptoms, horses were also observed trotting more freely 801 W. Wickenburg Way get immediate veterinary help for your horse. after an ice bath.Body temperature in excess of 103 FahrenheitDont directly apply ice water over the hind end Wickenburg, AZ 85390 that does not decrease with several minutes (large gluteal muscles). Focus on areas where (602) 254-6644 of rest the blood vessels are more prominent: head, Restlessness, lethargy or depression neck, back and rib area. Be mindful of too rapid ArizonaRealCountry.com A heart rate of 80 or more that does not return cooling, as in some cases, this can lead to muscle to normal after several minutes of rest cramping. intersperse periodic walks for five to An erratic heart beat 10 minutes in order to allow for the release of A respiratory rate of 30 or more that does notheat from inside the horses muscles.return to normal after several minutes of rest Dont place a sheet or blanket on the horse when Sweating that is either excessive or ceasestrying to cool it. Blanketing will block water altogether evaporation from the skin. Excessive salivation or redness of the tongueFollow Arizona Realand mouth area The Horse Heat IndexCountry for news, events,Muscle spasms, stumbling gait or collapse This is a good time to revisit the Horse Heat Index. This index has been around in one form or another giveaways and more! To Cool An Overheated Horsefor years and provides good general guidelines for While you wait for your vet, use shade, breezesworking your horse. Its easy to use, and you dont and fans as much as possible.need a calculator.Strip off his tack and equipment and take a rectal Arizona Real Country is owned andtemperature. During heat stroke, the temperatureTo use the index, all you need to do is add the published by Barna Broadcastingmay rise up to 115 and the horses eyes may havecurrent temperature (in Fahrenheit) and the LLC. No person, organization or partya vacant staring expression. relative humidity (in % RH) together. The total can copy or reproduce the contentIf near a water source, use a hose to spray withnumber determines the conditions. For example, on our website and/or magazine ora steady stream of cool water. Keep the hose inif it is 77 degrees out and the relative humidity any part of this publication withoutone hand and the scraper in the other as youis 65 %, add them together for a total of 142. a written consent from the editorsconcentrate on his neck, inner legs and belly. DOWhen you have your total, see the table below for panel and the author of the content, asNOT let the water stay on the horse as this willrecommendations.applicable. The publisher, authors andonly trap the heat.contributors reserve their rights withSponge with cool water scraping it away andKeep in mind that, as with us riders, all horses are applying it continuouslythis cooling processdifferent. Some handle heat better than others, so regards to copyright of their work. should stop once the chest feels cool to the touchalways watch your horse for signs of heat stress. It is and/or rectal temperature drops below 103.5F. Aprobably best to avoid riding your horse when the continued on page 7ArizonaRealCountry.com August 2021 5'