CHECKLIST STAY HYDRATED - DURING A TRAINING SESSION COOL-DOWN
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JUNE 2022
In this issue...
SUMER HEALTH
CHECKLIST
STAY
HYDRATED
DURING A
TRAINING
SESSION
COOL-DOWN
STRATEGIES
w
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TRAIN / HEALTH
3
BY JILLIAN SINCLAIR
Hydrate During
Summer Sessions Use these tips to keep your horse hydrated
during a sweaty summer training session.
T RAIN
Stay
Hydrated
PHOTO BY DEBRALAWRENCE/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
If you aren’t sure what kind of
electrolytes is best for your
horse, ask your vet for advice.
WHEN SUMMERTIME ROLLS AROUND, the sun is water intake, so you’ll know he’s drinking enough.
blazing, humidity is high, and the temperatures are close To do so, count the swallows. It takes approximately
to being in the triple digits, it’s hard to think about a long 25 to 30 swallows for your horse to consume one
training session with your horse. When he’s sweating gallon of water.
just from standing in his stall or pasture it seems like it
would be impossible to keep him hydrated if you actually Give a Post Ride Drink
put him through a workout. Voluntary drinking during the early recovery stage after
While this can be a difficult task, there are ways you exercise is critical for replacing the water and electrolytes
can keep your horse cool and hydrated through a long lost through sweat. Discard the notion that allowing your
ride. Here are a few tips to put to use when the weather horse to drink his fill will cause him to colic, cramp, or tie
is extra hot this summer, plus a recipe for a healthy, elec- up. If your horse cools down before being given water,
trolyte-filled treat. he might lose the incentive to drink and won’t be able to
hydrate when he needs to.
Take Water Breaks
When your horse starts sweating, that means you need Replenish Electrolytes
to help him replace the water he’s losing. Keep a bucket After a particularly long and sweaty training session, it’s
or water trough in your arena so you can easily stop for a good idea to replenish your horse’s electrolytes. This is
quick water breaks. Your horse will be much happier similar to when you drink a sports drink with sodium and
and more attentive during your ride if he’s offered a few electrolytes after a hard workout. It will help him rehy-
water breaks throughout your training session. drate and recover quickly and avoid any injuries or illness
Keep a clean water bucket or trough in your arena due to dehydration.
so your horse can take water breaks during a long ride.
Photo by Jillian Sinclair Types of Electrolytes:
Paste: A tube of paste electrolytes is great for fast and
Monitor Water Intake convenient replacement of electrolytes for your horse.
If you start your ride off with a dehydrated horse, you’re Depending on the brand and your horse’s weight, you
setting yourself up for a major problem. Monitor his wa- will give your horse around 15-60 cc of paste before or
ter intake on a regular basis so you know he is hydrated after your ride.
and ready to work when the time comes. A normal Powder: Great for buying in bulk, powder electrolytes
horse of average size will drink 6 to10 gallons of water are also a good choice for replacing your horse’s elec-
per day when he’s not working. If he’s working, he’ll trolytes. The powder is usually flavored so it can also be
need as much as five times more. Monitor your horse’s used as an incentive to get your horse to drink water.
4 | JUNE 2022 HORSE&RIDER MONTHLY
BY JENNIFER PAULSON
Summer We love riding in the summer, but it can lead to potential
Health Checklist health problems. Follow this checklist to know what you
need to do to keep your horse healthy.
HE ALT H SUMMER IS SUPER FOR
RIDING, but it also brings po-
Heat tential health challenges. Here’s
Challenges what you need to know and do to
protect your horse.
• Heat. Avoid riding in ex-
treme heat, especially com-
bined with high humidity to
avoid the risk of heat stroke. If
you do ride when is hot, supply
frequent rest/water breaks, and
consider splashing water over
your horse’s chest and flanks.
• Sun, shade. Make sure your
horse’s living area has shelter
from the sun. Provide as much
ventilation in your barn as
possible (fans help). Apply sun
block to your horse’s pink-skin
areas, especially around the
face. Consider UV-blocking
fly masks and sheets for extra
protection.
• Hydration. Your average
1,000-pound horse may drink
as much as 10 gallons of water
PHOTO BY JENNIFER PAULSON
a day. Exercise can increase
consumption to 20 or more
gallons. A sweating horse loses
both water and electrolytes; Keep your horse healthy this
these must be replaced to summer with this helpful
checklist.
avoid dehydration and other
maladies. Keep water contain-
ers clean and water as fresh as possible. Provide free- hooves. This leaves them brittle and more vulnerable
choice plain white salt in a block or granules (also to concussion, plus more liable to crack, break, or
give replacement electrolytes if your vet recommends contract. Ask your hoof-care professional about the
them). To check for hydration, pinch the skin on your relative merits of applying moisturizers, ointments,
horse’s neck or shoulder between your thumb and and sealants, and/or providing moist ground near
index finger, then let go; the skin should snap back watering areas. Avoid hard-ground concussion by
immediately. (The longer it remains “tented,” the keeping the footing in your riding arena properly
more indication of dehydration.) maintained and watered.
• Condition. A well-conditioned horse can cool • Bugs. Practice diligent fly control to minimize the
himself easier than an out-of-shape or obese one risk of disease and the foot-stomping, tail-rubbing
can. (Layers of fat trap heat inside the body.) Heavily misery insects can inflict. Keep manure and garbage
muscled horses also have a greater challenge dissi- picked up, and sweet feeds covered (but not airtight,
pating internal heat. Keep your horse fit and avoid which can lead to spoilage). Use topical sprays, roll-
overfeeding him, especially on rich concentrates and ons, wipe-ons, and/or spot-ons to repel flying pests.
alfalfa hay that can produce extra heat (check with an Also consider masks, sheets, and leg coverings for
equine nutritionist). If your horse is at pasture, make additional protection. Take extra care if your horse
sure he doesn’t get too much high-sugar grass, a is sensitive to the bite of the Culicoides midge to
laminitis risk. minimize the risk of the nasty skin condition sweet
• Hoof care. Especially if you live in a dry climate, itch. (Ask your vet about possible progress on the
summertime can zap moisture from your horse’s development of a sweet itch vaccine.)
5 | JUNE 2022 HORSE&RIDER MONTHLY
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BY BARB-CRABBE-DVM
KEEP
YOUR
HORSE
COOL
IN
THE
SUMMER
HEAT
It’s getting into the hottest days of summer.
Here’s a quick heat-stress reference that’ll
help you know when your horse is overheated—
and what to do to help him chill.
PHOTO BY DABYG/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
7 | JUNE 2022 HORSE&RIDER MONTHLY
I
t’s as hot as a tin roof, and you’ve got
a day-long trail ride ahead. How can
you tell if your horse gets too hot?
Here are six heat-stress signposts you
should never ignore, and some tips for
cooling your horse quickly.
Heat-Stress Signposts
SIGNPOST 1: Elevated
PHOTO BY ANJAJULI/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Respiratory Rate
Why it happens: Hard breathing forces
air to flow past vessels in your horse’s
lungs and airways, which helps cool his
blood.
Risky: When your horse’s respiratory Checking your horse’s gum
color is a common way to
rate is more than 40 to 50 breaths per evaluate their overall health.
minute, and/or he’s breathing shallow-
ly, and his breathing doesn’t return to
normal after two minutes’ rest. organs to his skin surfaces for cooling, that will heat him even more.
leading to severe heat stress. 5. Provide a breeze. Turn a fan on your
SIGNPOST 2: Elevated Heart Rate Risky: When he shows signs of horse, or put him in a breezy location.
Why it happens: A pounding heart trans- becoming depressed or lethargic, isn’t 6. Call your vet. If your horse’s signs
fers blood to your horse’s skin surfaces interested in food, or begins to stumble (see above) don’t improve in 10 min-
to be cooled by outside air. or collapse. utes–or if they worsen–call your vet.
Risky:When his heart rate is more Heat stress can be serious and even
than 80 beats per minute, which doesn’t SIGNPOST 6: Discolored life-threatening.
start to slow down after two minutes’ Mucous Membranes
rest.Find out how to check your horse’s Why it happens: As your horse’s circula- To Prevent Heat Stress
heart rate. tory system becomes overwhelmed by 1. Ride early in the day.
Knowing how to check your horse’s trying to cool itself, blood may pool in 2. Use less tack. Minimize saddle pads
heart rate is something all horse owners his gums. and leg boots, and avoid blanketing
should know how to do. Risky: If his gums become dark red or him in the trailer.
“muddy” colored. 3. Provide fresh, cool water at all times.
SIGNPOST 3: Profuse Sweating 4. Provide electrolytes. Add electro-
Why it happens: Evaporation of sweat To Treat Heat Stress lytes to your horse’s water when you
from your horse’s skin helps him cool 1. Stop your workout. Dismount and know he’ll be working hard in the
down. prevent your horse from producing even heat. Begin a few days ahead of time–
Risky: When he’s sweating over his more heat as he exercises. If he’s tacked electrolytes leach water from his
entire body or worse, he stops sweating up, remove your saddle to allow cooling system, and he’ll need time to adjust
entirely. air to flow over more of his body. his water intake to compensate. Offer
2. Give him a cold water bath. Douse him non-supplemented water as well,
SIGNPOST 4: Elevated Temperature your horse’s entire body in very cold since he might not like the taste of
Why it happens: Your horse’s cooling water. (Don’t worry, he won’t “cramp” or electrolytes.
mechanisms have been overwhelmed “tie-up.”) Another option is to sponge- 5. Keep him fit. An overweight horse
Risky: When his rectal temperature bathe him in an alcohol/water solution, requires more energy to move around,
goes up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit or mixed in a 1:1 ratio; he’ll cool down as the so he’ll produce more heat. Also, his
higher. Find out how to check your alcohol evaporates. layers of fat make it harder for his
horse’s temperature. 3. Offer water. Offer your horse cold blood to make it to the surface for
water to drink, allowing him to have as cooling.
SIGNPOST 5: Lethargy much as he wants. 6. Pay attention. Learn to recognize
Why it happens: Blood is being trans- 4. Find shade. Move your horse to a the signposts above and take steps
ferred away from your horse’s vital shaded area, away from direct sunlight before it’s too late.
8 | JUNE 2022 HORSE&RIDER MONTHLY
LEARN MORE
BY BARB-CRABBE-DVM
COOL-DOWN
STRATEGIES Take our quiz to find
out how much you
really know about
effective cool-down
strategies for your
horse—then read on
for the science behind
each technique.
PHOTO BY JENNIFER PAULSON
10 | JUNE 2022 HORSE&RIDER MONTHLYH
orse people offer all kinds QUESTION #3: Knowing which type
of advice about how to cool of blanket, sheet, or cooler to use in COOLING MECHANISMS
down an overheated horse. different circumstances is an import- Here are the underlying mech-
And much of that advice is steeped ant part of horse care. What should anisms your horse uses to cool
in centuries of tradition that’s hard to you do when your horse is sweaty himself down. By knowing how
break. But science tells us that many and hot? they work, you’ll have a better
of those traditions simply (a) Apply a wool or polar-fleece cool- understanding of current cooling
aren’t correct. er to help prevent him from getting recommendations.
Here, I’ll give you a short quiz to muscle cramps if he cools down too Convection: Heat (thermal energy)
see how your own cool-down routines quickly. is carried away from your horse’s
stack up against solid research. Then (b) Outfit him in an anti-sweat sheet
body as air flows over his skin, as in
I’ll explain the science behind each response to a cool breeze or fan.
that will help draw out moisture and
Radiation: Heat is lost into the envi-
current recommendation. You might heat.
ronment because of a difference in
be surprised by what you discover. (c) Leave him naked so sweat can
temperature between your horse’s
evaporate and heat can dissipate. body and the surrounding air.
COOL-DOWN QUIZ (d) Soak towels in cold water and lay Evaporation: Heat is lost when
Take this quiz to test your cool-down them over sweaty areas, such as his a liquid (sweat) is converted
knowledge, then see the answers on neck and the area under the saddle. into a vapor.
page 70 to see how you fared. The moisture will help him cool. Conduction: Your horse’s warm
body comes into contact with
QUESTION #1: When your horse is QUESTION #4: When your horse something cooler, such as a spray
hot and sweaty, he’ll need hosing sweats, he loses important electro- of cold water or an ice bag. The
down. What’s the safest approach? lytes, which can compromise his heat then conducts (transfers) to
the cooler object.
(a) Wait until he dries, then hose him ability to cool himself down. How
So how do these mechanisms
down to remove the crusty, dried-on should you counteract this loss?
work? Here’s what happens in
sweat. (a) Administer a tube of electrolyte
your horse’s body that allows heat
(b) Hose him down, but use warm paste before a hot-day workout. That to transfer from his core to the
water or he’ll get muscle cramps. way, the electrolytes will already be surface of his skin, where it’s then
(c) Hose him down withthe coldest in his system when he needs them. lost to the environment:
water you can find, then scrape it (b) Put electrolytes in the water you 1. Your horse’s heart rate increas-
away and hose him again. offer after a workout. He’ll be thirsty es and tiny blood vessels in his skin
(d) Hose him down with cold water, when he’s hot, so he’ll take in elec- and lining of his respiratory tract
but don’t scrape it away; the water trolytes and replenish the fluids he enlarge. This process improves
will cool him as he dries. needs at the same time. blood flow to the surface of his
(c) He shouldn’t really need added skin to aid heat loss via radiation,
QUESTION #2: Your hot horse is electrolytes as long as he’s fed a conduction, and convection.
2. Your horse might start to
likely thirsty. How should you balanced ration and has access to
breathe more rapidly or “pant,”
provide water? salt—but if he’s working in hotter
allowing increased amounts of
(a) Let him drink as much water as conditions than he’s used to, you can
cooler outside air to pass by the
he wants to. add electrolytes to his grain. blood vessels in his respiratory
(b) Don’t let him drink at all until (d) Administer a tube of electro- system. This process allows for
he’s cool—if he drinks too much cold lyte paste after his workout so the heat loss through convection
water, he might colic or founder. minerals will be immediately available and radiation.
(c) It’s OK to let him drink, but make when he needs them—and he won’t 3. Your horse begins to
sure the water is warm so he won’t be able to turn them down. sweat. Sweating allows for heat
colic. loss through evaporation and
(d) The temperature of the water QUESTION #5: If your horse is really is your horse’s most important
doesn’t really matter, but it’s import- overheated, he could be at serious cooling mechanism.
ant to restrict your horse to drinking risk. Extreme overheating can even
small amounts at a time. If he drinks be fatal. When should you call your
too much, too fast, his stomach can veterinarian?
rupture. (a) If your horse’s temperature is over
11 | JUNE 2022 HORSE&RIDER MONTHLY103 degrees Fahrenheit and doesn’t him from cooling further. However, your horse’s skin and the lining of his
decrease even after 20 minutes of if you scrape off the water and hose respiratory tract—meaning he needs
cool-down efforts. (Normal body him down again, even more heat will to reestablish his hydration as soon
temperature is between 99 and 101 be transferred away from his body, after exercise as possible to effective-
degrees Fahrenheit.) helping him to cool. ly cool himself. Finally, by allowing
(b) If his respiratory rate is higher The best strategy is to hose and him to drink cold rather than tepid or
than 30 breaths per minute and scrape repeatedly until the water warm water, you’ll further help lower
heart rate is higher than 60 beats per you scrape away is cold—indicating his body temperature.
minute, with no sign of slowing down there’s no more excess heat to trans-
even after 20 minutes of cool-down fer. As a final step, you can take best QUESTION #3: Knowing which type
efforts. advantage of evaporative cooling by of blanket, sheet, or cooler to use in
(c) If he’s reluctant to move or shows spraying or sponging him down with different circumstances is an import-
signs of collapse. a 50:50 mixture of rubbing alcohol ant part of horse care. What should
(d) All of the above. and water. Alcohol evaporates faster you do when your horse is sweaty
than water, which will further aid the and hot?
COOL-DOWN SCIENCE cooling process. Answer: Leave him naked so sweat
How did you do? Did any of these an- (Fun fact: I recently learned a new can evaporate and heat can dissipate.
swers surprise you? If so, you’re not trick when treating a mare with a Explanation: We’ve already learned
alone. Times have changed when it fever of 108 degrees Fahrenheit. By that rapid cooling doesn’t lead to
comes to proper strategies for safely administering an “ice water enema,” muscle cramping or tying-up, which
cooling down an overheated horse. I was able to bring her temperature makes putting a wool or polar-fleece
Here are the scientific explanations down to 103 degrees within about cooler on your hot horse completely
behind the answers to our quiz. (See 30 minutes—a good example of the unnecessary. In fact, it’s detrimental.
the sidebar on page 71 for the under- efficiency of ice-water cooling!) Even an anti-sweat sheet or cold tow-
lying mechanisms your horse uses to els will trap
cool himself down.) QUESTION #2: Your hot warm heat
horse is likely thirsty. How against your
QUESTION #1: When your horse is should you provide water? ‘Let him drink as horse’s body
hot and sweaty, he’ll need hosing Answer: Let him drink as and prevent
down. What’s the safest approach? much water as he wants to. much water as he airflow that
Answer: Hose him down withthe Explanation: It’s been defin- wants to.’ can help
coldest water you can find, then itively demonstrated that carry heat
scrape it away, and hose him again. drinking cold water won’t away. Your
Explanation: First, know that scientif- cause your hot horse to best option
ic studies have completely debunked colic or develop laminitis— is to let your
the idea that bathing your horse in nor is it possible for his stomach to horse remain completely naked while
cold water will cause muscle cramps. rupture. Your horse’s stomach capaci- he cools.
The same studies demonstrated that ty is three to four gallons, and water If you plan to work your horse on
colder water led to a faster cool- that he drinks is immediately passed a very hot day, consider using the
down. All that means is that bathing into his intestine. Plus, it takes ap- smallest saddle pad available, and
your horse with the coldest water proximately 25 swallows to make up skip the boots or bandages if you
available is not only safe but also the a gallon of water, and he has to stop can. Allowing his skin to be exposed
most effective way to cool him down. swallowing momentarily to breathe. to the air is best—especially if there’s
Ice water is even better! There’s just no chance he can drink a breeze. If you think your horse is
So why scrape? Your horse cools enough water fast enough to overfill overheating during exercise, immedi-
himself by carrying heat from his his stomach. ately remove all tack to allow the air
core to his skin’s surface via his So why is it important to allow to reach his body surface.
blood vessels and respiratory system. your horse to drink water? When he’s
When you hose down your horse, the hot, he sweats. And when he sweats, QUESTION #4: When your horse
water remaining on his body imme- he becomes dehydrated. Effective sweats, he loses important electro-
diately warms up, acting a little like cooling depends on good blood lytes, which can compromise his abili-
a “warm blanket” that will prevent flow through the small vessels in ty to cool himself down. How should
Answer key: 1c; 2a; 3c; 4c; 5d
12 | JUNE 2022 HORSE&RIDER MONTHLYTo stay cool, your horse
needs to reestablish his
hydration as soon after
exercise as possible.
PHOTO BY PIMMIMEMOM/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
you counteract this loss? rehydration. (Note: If you do decide degrees Fahrenheit and doesn’t de-
Answer: He shouldn’t really need to put electrolytes in his regular crease even after 20 minutes of cool-
added electrolytes as long as he’s water supply, be sure to offer plain down efforts; if your horse’s respira-
fed a balanced ration and has access water, as well.) tory rate is higher than 30 breaths
to salt—but if he’s working in hotter If you feel the need to supple- per minute and heart rate is higher
conditions than he’s used to, you can ment electrolytes because you’ll be than 60 beats per minute, with no
add electrolytes to his grain. working your horse in especially hot sign of slowing down even after 20
Explanation: It’s true that electro- conditions that he’s not accustomed minutes of cool-down efforts; and/or
lytes are lost in sweat. However, most to, it’s best to provide them in your if your horse is reluctant to move or
horses get adequate electrolytes in horse’s ration beginning several days shows signs of collapse.
their normal ration and don’t require prior to the anticipated hard work in Explanation: Never underestimate
additional supplementation. Perhaps the heat. This way, you’ll allow him just how dangerous overheating can
the worst thing you can do is admin- time to drink enough water to strike be. If your horse is unable to cool
ister a tube of electrolytes imme- a proper fluid/electrolyte balance. down, his physiologic cooling mecha-
diately before he works. By doing nisms go into overdrive. His heart rac-
so, you’ll effectively dehydrate him QUESTION #5: If your horse is really es, his breathing becomes very fast
by drawing fluids out of his blood- overheated, he could be at serious and shallow, and he sweats profusely.
stream. If you offer electrolytes in the risk. Extreme overheating can even Eventually, he becomes dehydrated.
water you offer after a workout, you be fatal. When should you call your In severe cases, blood flow to his vital
might discourage him from drinking, veterinarian? organs will completely shut down;
which could also contribute to de- Answer: Call your vet immediately if heat stress, or even life-threatening
hydration or, at best, slow essential your horse’s temperature is over 103 heat exhaustion, can result.
13 | JUNE 2022 HORSE&RIDER MONTHLYYou can also read
