b'Vet continued from page 5combined air temperature (F) and relative humidity isIf you are riding your horse in the heat, takeover 150, especially if the horse is not acclimated some simple steps to make sure that he stays asto the heat. cool as possible.Always allow your horse to drink while hes 120 or Less:Your horses cooling system isexercising. Theres an old myth out there that functioning very effectively. You are safe to do all thesays horses shouldnt drink while their working, riding and training you like with no real worries. but that myth is not only wrong, its dangerous. There are no health risks associated with letting 120-150:Cooling efficiency is decreasing througha hot horse drink cold water. And there\'s no such this range. Horses will sweat up with work, so makething as giving your horse "too much" water. Some sure they have a chance to rest and cool off over thebelieve that horses should not be allowed to drink course of a long ride or heavy work. unrestricted amounts of water when hot due to hyper-distension of the stomach leading to colic, 150-180:A horses ability to regulate itsbut the truth is that a horse\'s stomach can holdwater per day in cool weather, while in hot weather, temperature is greatly reduced and heat stress is morebetween two and four gallons of fluid withoutrequirements for maintenance and to compensate likely, so be careful. Stick with light work and keepbecoming excessively distended. for losses in sweat may prompt intake of 20 gallons watch for signs of overheating. Make sure to cool yourMake concerted efforts to cool your horse down,or more per day. Horses in a herd should have access horse down properly afterwards. particularly if exercise is going to be prolonged.to a couple of water tanks spaced a distance apart so Water is your horses best friend when it comes todominant horses dont prevent a thirsty, more timid 180 or More:Your horse has lost the ability tocooling.Hose baths or sponging the horse with ahorse from drinking.regulate its temperature. Over-working a horse incold, wet sponge followed by scraping can help.these conditions can be dangerous, even fatal. DoRemove insulating materials, such as saddles,Horse feed contains lots of salts, and, assuming that your horse a favor and take the day off. blankets, or pads as soon as possible. the horse is eating normally, and the feed is good, there Clip your horse if hes got a heavy coatitll helpshouldnt be any need for supplemental salts. Giving water evaporate more easily. a scoop of electrolytes in the feedor a tube of paste Pink skinned horses can sunburnconsider usingin the mouth isnt harmful, but its not really doing sun-blocking ointments, such as zinc oxide, onmuch, either.You can make your own electrolyte mix pink muzzles. by combining equal parts of iodized salt and Lite salt, and save a bunch of money in the process. A During the day, make sure that your horse has freetablespoon a day should be more than enough.access to fresh water.Be sure to check the water temperature. Pipes bringing water to automaticFor a horse that doesnt drink well, offering a systems can get hot, and the water in a shallowwatery gruel of a supplement (such as a complete container can be too hot for the horse to drink.feed pellets) rather than feeding them dry can help An average horse needs five to seven gallons ofincrease the horses water intake. Midwestern University [ Equine and Bovine Center ]We Are Your Veterinary Team.The Equine and Bovine Center is your source for comprehensive, high-quality, and affordable primary and specialty veterinary services for large animals.Working as a team, Midwestern faculty veterinarians and students use the latest technology to provide a wide range of health services at our Glendale clinic or onsite.Call 623-806-7575 to schedule an appointment.Midwestern University 5725 West Utopia RoadEquine and Bovine Center Glendale, Arizona 85308 part of the Animal Health Institute 623-806-7575www.mwuanimalhealth.comArizonaRealCountry.com August 2021 7'