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Henderson County Horse Committee |
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KEEPING HORSES COOL DURING HOT TEXAS SUMMERS Dr. Doug Householder a, Dr. G.D. Potter b, Dr. Gordon Brumbaugh c Performance horsemen want to improve performance, decrease injuries and increase longevity of their horses. Texas is a great place to be in the horse business; however, hot summers can be very stressful on horses, particularly in the humid areas of the state. Research shows that in performance horses, the internal body temperatures can go above 105' F, when a horse is being worked intensely, during hot Texas days. Below are some suggestions to eliminate or decrease the frequency of heat related problems such as hyperthermia, heat shock, heat strokes, anhydrosis, etc. in performance horses during the summer. 1. Feed protein to requirements. - Heat is produced when the body rids itself of protein fed over requirements; protein that cannot be utilized. Feed mature performance horses a ration containing approximately 10% CP in the total ration. 2. Feed high fat concentrates. - Digestion produces heat, particularly digestion of fibrous type feeds. Research shows that horses fed higher fat feeds (more than the 3% fat in traditional feeds), require less feed to perform the same amount of work. Also, the fat supplemented feed produces less heat. Consider feeding a fat added feed, a fat supplement or top dressing fat onto the existing feed. 3. Feed hay at night.- The microbial fermentation of hay produces heat. Feed at least 1% of the horse's bodyweight per day as long hay to minimize digestion disorders. Feed a small amount of hay in late morning and the largest portion of the hay at night when the weather is coolest. 4. Maintain horses at a condition score of 5. - Research has shown that fatter horses require more energy to dissipate heat and cool themselves, than do thinner horses. Conversely, excessively thin horses usually do not have the stored energy reserves needed for strenuous work. Learn to condition score horses. Maintain a condition score 5, the best compromise between energy storage and fat cover. At a condition score 5, a horse's ribs can be felt but cannot be seen. 5. Provide adequate salt. - A mature 1000 lb. riding horse, under average conditions, requires about 2 ounces of salt per day. Salt requirements increase with increased sweating. Commercial feeds almost always contain some salt. Increasing feed intake to compensate for increased workload, may provide sufficient increases in salt intake to meet requirements. However, horseman not feeding commercial rations should always provide salt free choice to horses in pasture. Stalled horses should be fed loose salt in amount ranging from 0.5 - 1.0% of the total ration depending on how much the horse sweats. (Other electrolytes should only be supplemented in extreme situations where horses are sweating profusely (i.e. endurance riding) and when recommended by a nutritionist. 6. Provide adequate water. - A mature 1000 lb. riding horse, under average conditions, will drink 12-14 gallons of water per day. This quantity obviously increases with increases in sweating. Provide clean fresh water to all horses ad libitum. Use caution when offering water to an extremely thirty horse ... drinking too fast may cause colic. Hauling water or masking the taste of water with artificial flavoring (horses preferred apple flavors over others in a New Mexico State research study), or a soft drink, may be necessary to maintain normal water intakes in horses when away from home. The masking agent should be added first at home. Provide water often at shows, on trail rides, when hauling etc. 7. Take climatic conditions into account. - Horses have a thermoregulatory mechanism which helps them maintain constant body temperature. Listen to the radio or TV. Add the temperature (F) + relative humidity (%) and subtract the wind (MPH) to get the "effective temperature". Below an effective temperature of 130 the thermoregulatory mechanism works fine, at 150 it is compromised.... at 180 it doesn't work! Ride accordingly. Working horses hard when they can't cool themselves can lead to serious heat related problems. 8. Ride during the coolest part of the day. - Texas temperatures vary considerably and normally are always lower from sundown through the night into the early morning. Ride when it's coolest. Haul when it's coolest if at all possible. 9. Ride in shaded areas. - Everyone doesn't have the luxury of an indoor arena, shade trees over their round pens, shaded country roads, etc., but whenever possible ride where it's coolest. Tie out also where it is coolest. 10. Periodically perform a pinch dehydration test. - A good test of a horse's body water status is the pinch test. Pinch or pull up a section of skin on a horses neck or shoulder. If the skin pinched goes down quickly, the horse is OK. If the skin pinched doesn't recoil in less than 10 seconds, the horse is in some degree of dehydration and needs water. 11. Cool horses out properly. - Horses should be cooled out properly (trotting is best) and enough to remove lactic acid from muscles. Body temperatures however, can still remain high for a long period of time after a traditional cool out period. To assist horses in cooling out, add some alcohol to a bucket of water, then give the horse a sponge bath. The alcohol opens the horse's skin pores and allows them to cool quicker. (Note: That's why alcohol is added to desalter for cleaning tack .... it opens pores). a Extension Horse Specialist Equine Science Section
Department of Animal Science Texas A&M University.
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