Chuckwagon racers keep their charges cooled off
Hydration, rest and recovery are critical for horses to stay healthy in heat wave
At the entrance to chuckwagon driver Jamie Laboucane’s barn, an industrial-sized fan blasts cool air down the long, darkened stretch of stalls.
The continuous hum offers comfort to Ryder, Biz, Mugs and the rest of Laboucane’s team, hours ahead of Friday night’s first GMC Rangeland Derby run.
Laboucane, like other drivers competing at the Calgary Stampede, is taking extra precautions to protect his 16 horses from the extreme heat that’s enveloped the city this week.
Like the outsized fans, misting machines are commonplace around the barns. Outside, where temperatures topped 30 C, horses line up to be hosed down at watering stations. Some will receive ice baths or a cold blanket to keep cool, if needed.
“The owners know their horses really well and they would understand the principles of recovery and cool bathing and hydration,” said Greg Evans, the Stampede’s lead veterinarian.
Horses are no different than competitive athletes when it comes to handling excessive temperatures, he said. Hydration, rest and recovery are critical to their well-being.
“We don’t have any control over the weather, obviously, but it’s about managing their exposure to the heat and then managing their recovery afterwards,” said Evans, whose team of veterinarians will monitor horses and livestock throughout the 10-day Stampede.
Many of Laboucane’s horses are accustomed to the heat, having come from Phoenix or run in the southern states. Yet the secondgeneration driver — his dad Brian raced for 46 years — is taking nothing for granted.
He’s adding electrolytes to his horses’ water twice a day and regularly cooling them off at the watering stations scattered around the barns. The team is bathed before races and again afterward, then walked, watered and fed before bedding down.
“We try to keep the same level of care no matter what we’re doing ... so they don’t miss the routine,” said Laboucane. “Any time you can keep a horse more level, more relaxed, they’re going to settle in and cool out a lot faster. “
Signs of dehydration would include abnormal lethargy, a lack of sweating, not wanting to drink or scant urination. In rare cases, a horse could be given intravenous fluids if it’s determined to be dehydrated.
“All of our competition animals and the chuckwagon horses get inspected each day before they compete, so if there is any animal that is exhibiting significant signs of metabolic distress or dehydration, they’re not going to be eligible to compete on those days,” said Evans.
Rodeo stock are also regularly monitored by animal care staff, but are less susceptible to the heat since they’re only on the grounds for a few hours each day.
In 2011, the Stampede introduced its Fitness to Compete program that required horses to be thoroughly examined for preexisting conditions before and during competition. Emphasis has also been placed on analyzing data to better understand how different competitions affect animals’ health.
Evans said the animal care program has been refined over the years, though no significant changes were made for this year’s Stampede.
“In general, the overall animal health program has resulted in, collectively, a much healthier and fitter and better conditioned group of animals, and that would go across all sports,” he said. “Anecdotally, I would say there is evidence that things are making a difference.
“That’s not to say that we can control every variable, but I think I’m pleased with the fact we’ve seen positive trends, and I hope that continues.”