How to Cool Out a Horse in Hot Weather

Cooling out your horse in hot weather - especially after a workout - is extremely important. Follow these steps to keep your horse cool and healthy.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Electrolytes
• Halter
• Lead rope
• Hose and running water
• Bucket and sponge
• Lineament (optional)
• Hose and running water
• Halter and leadrope
• Thermometer
• Cell phone and veterinarian's number

Cooling out after a workout

1. To prevent your horse from overheating when you ride during the hottest part of the year, ride in the early morning or late in the evening when it is coolest. If the temperature and humidity are both high, avoid hard riding.
2. You may want to add electrolytes to your horse's feed to help offset those that he will lost through sweat.
3. You can help keep your horse cool during your ride by hosing his chest and legs down before you ride and by sponging water on him during your workout.
4. Once you are done working your horse but before you dismount, walk him for a few minutes to begin cooling him out.
5. Dismount and loosen the girth or cinch. Walk him for a minute or two before untacking him.
6. After removing his saddle and bridle, give him a drink of water. It is a myth that horses cannot drink when they're hot - they shouldn't drink unlimited water, but a few drinks will help cool them off.
7. Hose your horse off, starting with his legs and working up his body. Be sure to hose under his tail and hose his face if he will let you. If you do not have a hose, use a sponge and bucket and sponge him down.
8. If your horse is especially hot, you may want to scrap the excess water off of him and hose him down again to aid cooling. On your final hose-down, do not scrap the water off and leave him wet. As the water evaporates, it will help him cool off.
9. Some people like to use lineament on their horse after hosing him down to help ease muscles.
10. Walk your horse slowly until his breathing and heart-rate return to normal. You can walk him next to you or put him on a hot walker. Once he's cooled down and breathing and heart-rate have returned to normal, you can put him in his stall, pasture or paddock. It is best to not feed him for at least one hour after a hard workout.

Cooling off an overheated horse

11. Although horses can generally adapt well to varying temperatures, sometimes they overheat. Very old, very young, ill horses or those with anhydrosis are particularly at risk. Observe your horse. Is he breathing heavily or panting? Is he sweating profusely? Take him temperature. Is it elevated? If so, he may be overheating.
12. Hose your horse off with cold water immediately. Start at his legs and work your way off. Be sure to hose under his tail and hose his head (if he will let you). Scrap the water off and repeat. You can also sponge cold water mixed with rubbing alcohol over the horse's large muscle areas to encourage evaporation.
13. Let your horse drink some water. Contrary to popular belief, drinking water will not cause a horse to colic or founder.
14. Keep your horse out of the sun. If possible, put him in front of a fan.
15. Monitor his vital signs.
16. If his breathing and temperature do not return to normal following cool water baths, call your veterinarian.

Tips & Warnings

• A horse with mild heat stress will take 30 to 40 breaths per minute and have a heart rate of 50 to 60 beats per minute; his entire body will be covered in a film of sweat; he will have more small veins popping out on his body than usual; he will be reluctant to work; he will hold his head down; he will be uninterested in his surroundings; he will have gums a darker pink than normal; and he will have a temperature of 102.1 to 103 degrees F.
• A horse with moderate heat stress will take 40 to 50 breaths per minute and have a heart rate of 61 to 80 beats per minute; he will have sweat dripping from his neck and between his hind legs; most of his body will be covered by a road map of bulging veins; he will have no interest in food; he may stumble or lose balance; his gums will be dark pink or maroon; and he will have a temperature of 103.1 to 105 degrees F.
• A horse with severe heat stress will take more than 50 breaths per minute and have a heart rate of more than 80 heartbeats per minute; sweat will pour from all parts of his body; veins will protrude over much of his body; he will be oblivious to surroundings; he may stagger and collapse; and he will have dark red or purple gums and a temperature of more than 105 degrees F.
• For mild heat stress, follow the steps outlined for a simple cool-out.
• For moderate heat stress, do all of the above and monitor vital signs every 10 to 15 minutes. If they fail to improve in 20 to 30 minutes or if his condition worsens, call your vet. If no vet is available, continue cooling efforts and do not move or load your horse until vital signs return to normal.
• For severe heat stress, red alert! Your horse is in danger of heat exhaustion, which is a life-threatening emergency. Do all of the above. Getting a vet is imperative. Monitor and record vital signs every 10 to 15 minutes and report them to your vet. Your horse may need intravenous fluids.