Cooling Down Your Horse

On hot summer days, your horse is at risk for overheating during his regular workouts, on trail rides, while being hauled, and at shows. Overheating can lead to dehydration, muscle cramping, colic, kidney failure - even shock and death.

To find out if your horse is overheated, get someone with experience to take his temperature. Someone who knows what they're doing. An overheated horse's temperature can be as high as 104 to 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit; normal is between 99 and 101.5 degrees. If your horse's temperature reaches 105 degrees, call your vet! Here's a three-step method to help cool your hot horse quickly and safely.

Step 1: Move him to a shady area, and get the air around him moving - an electric fan is one good way to do this. The shade will protect him against the sun's heating effects; air movement will aid in evaporation of moisture from his body. The latter is his primary mode of cooling.

Step 2: With cool water, swab the areas where major blood vessels are close to the surface: the jugular veins in his neck; in his armpits and the inner surfaces of his forelegs; and in his groin and the inner surfaces of his thighs. Then wet his major muscle groups: rump, back, and shoulders.

Step 3: Repeat this swabbing procedure every 5 minutes, or as soon as your horse air-dries, until his temperature returns to normal.