KEEP IT COOL

Knowing how to help a dangerously heatstressed horse is important---but it’s far better to keep him from overheating in the first place. Five of these actions are good ways to protect your horse from the heat---and one is a very bad idea. Which one of the following can put your horse in danger?

a. withholding cold drinking water

b. hosing him down before and during a workout

c. stopping to let him graze along the trail d. keeping him fit e. acclimating him gradually to work in hot weather

f. avoiding work during the hottest hours of the day Answer: a. withholding cold water. The myth that hot horses who drink very cold water are at risk of colic is persistent. But research done for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta definitively showed that offering a hot horse cold water posed no threat to his health. In fact, letting a thirsty horse drink is one of the best things you can do for him. When water isn’t available, allowing a horse to graze can also help—lush grass can contain up to 90 percent water as well as electrolytes. Hosing a horse down before and during rides is also a good idea; the more cooling he gets from the evaporative effects of the fresh water, the less sweat he needs to produce. A horse’s body requires time to adapt to changes in climatic conditions; if you travel to a hotter region, give him a week or so to adjust before resuming heavier workouts. Finally, when the forecasts call for high heat, especially when the humidity is also high, schedule your most rigorous workouts for the coolest hours of the day—or take the day off if you can.