b'Arizona Ask the VetREAL COUNTRY DESERT DANGERSthe magazine THE CHARM OF THE SOUTHWESTERN DESERT IS INVITING, Mike Barna especially in the spring, when you can enjoy spectacular blue skies, Publisher wildflowers, and panoramic vistas on endless trails but ArizonaRealCountryMagazine@gmail.com sometimes behind this paradise lurk hidden dangers. To help keep your horse healthy and sound, know what to look for, and be prepared for the high temperatures Erika Smith Royal of summer.Editor Trailering erika963realcountry@gmail.com Hauling your horse in the Southwest can be challenging due to the vast, hot, dry, windy terrain. Open your windows and vents. Ventilation helps ward off respiratory Misty Voitovski problems in your horse, which can quickly lead to a fatal case of pneumonia. Invest in window screens, and apply Creative Director a fly mask to protect your horses eyes from road debrisIf you are relying on natural or a man-made water source and flying pests. If its especially hot, plan to drive in theon the trail, always call or checkin advance to verify cool morning and evening hours, and layover during thethat the water source is available and usable during the Contributing Writers heat of the day. days that you plan to ride. Too often riders expect a water source to be available only to discover the water source Lee AndersonSam BuchertOn hot days and long trips, consider giving yourhas dried up or is unusable. Some parks require that you Billy White Bird Haughthorse electrolytes to replace the salt lost in sweatwater your horses at least 100 feet away from a natural before you leave. At the same time, give him plentywater source so take a collapsible bucket or lightweight Kris JohnsonJustin Legler of fresh, electrolyte-free water. Electrolytes can causecontainer to water your horse.Betsy NunnJim & Bobbi Jeen Olsondehydration if your horse doesnt consume enough fluids. Dehydration and stress that can result from long trailerCactusRobert PiekowBill Roberts trips through a dry climate can lead to colic. Before yourWhen riding in the desert its common to run into mild Alan RockmanBob Roloff trip, consult your veterinarian about ways you can reduceor serious problems as the result of a mishap with cholla your traveling horses digestive upset. cactus. Cholla cactus segments are easily brushed off John SamsillHank Sheffer onto your horse or you. Your horse can easily flick up a Michele Wilson Tie your horse in the trailer so he has room enough tosegment from the ground to his leg or belly. Cholla cactus lower his head and clear out his sinuses, but make sureis nicknamed jumping cactus, as it appears to jump he cant catch a hoof in the lead rope.When trailering aonto a by-passer. Cholla cactus numerous barbed spines 801 W. Wickenburg Way long distance, take a rest stop every three to four hours.immediately cause pain, and theyre difficult and even Unload your horse during breaks if its safe, and offermore painful to remove, due to their barbed ends.Wickenburg, AZ 85390 your horse water to help keep him hydrated.Consider yourself lucky if all you have to do is pick out (602) 254-6644 Overheating/Dehydration a few spines. A veterinarian may have to remove the Probably the most obvious challenge in desert areasspines from your horse after administering a sedative and ArizonaRealCountry.com is making sure your horse has an adequate supply ofyou may end up in urgent care. To avoid such a painful fresh, clean water at all times. Overheating can leadencounter, know what cholla looks like, and give it a to heatstroke; dehydration can lead to colic. Intensewide berth. Keep an eye out for cacti pieces along the heat can quickly compromise a horses hydration, sotrail. You can consider applying leg boots to your horse automatic waterers in turnouts are an obvious solutionfor protection, but keep in mind that boots retain heat but remember that anything mechanical can fail, socausing discomfort on warm and hot days. whether you use these, buckets or a trough, youll need to keep vigilant watch to be sure theyre in working orderSome horses are merely aggravated when they come in Follow Arizona Realat all times. Also, use insulated water systems that keepcontact with cholla. The danger is when a reactive horse water cooler and limit evaporation whenever possible. encounters a piece of cholla. The horse can panic in a Country for news, events,blind rage running up against more cacti or unseating Proper planning, conditioning, and common senseeven an experienced rider.giveaways and more! will help reduce the potential for problems on the trail. Humans require a minimum of one gallon of water perVenomous Pestsperson per day. Horses require a minimum of 10 gallonsIn the deserts warm climate, you may likely keep your Arizona Real Country is owned andof water per horse per day, and in the desert they willhorse outside in an open corral, rather than in a stall, published by Barna Broadcastingneed more than their normal consumption of water.where hes at risk for getting stung or bitten by red ants, LLC. No person, organization or partyThis minimum requirement varies depending on thespiders, and scorpions. You can safely kill red ant nests can copy or reproduce the contentweather and the type of activities you are participatingby poisoning them with a mixture of sugar, water, and on our website and/or magazine orin. You may want to give your horse electrolytes threeboric acid. Most spiders wont cause your horse too much any part of this publication withoutto four days before your ride. You will also want to taketrouble. However, brown recluse and black widow spider electrolytes with you on your trip. bites can be dangerous. Poisonous spider bites can cause a written consent from the editorspain, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing that must be panel and the author of the content, asOffer plenty of water. Allow your horse to drink his filltreated with antibiotics or antivenin. Scorpion stings applicable. The publisher, authors andof water before starting and ending the ride. Do this forusually just cause pain and swelling, but if the horse has contributors reserve their rights withevery ride, but especially during warm weather, longbeen previously exposed to scorpion toxin, shock and regards to copyright of their work. rides, and elevation gains on the trail. Ride when its cooleven anaphylactic shock can result. If you suspect a bite, in the early morning or very late in the afternoon, and letcall a veterinarian immediately. Scorpions probably pose your horse take it easy during the heat of the day. more of a threat to you than to your horse so shake out continued on page 7ArizonaRealCountry.com May 2021 5'