PG . 32
AQHA HORSE HEALTH
WHEN WATER IS
of particular training practices are at increased risk . Factors that contribute to heat stress include :
• high daily temperatures
• warm air temperature
• high humidity
• poor conditioning
• lack of fitness
• lack of access to water
And the risk is increased with :
• long-distance travel - horses lose around 2-3 litres or fluid each hour . Allow the horse at least 24-48 hours to rehydrate and recover before exercising strenuously . Horses travelling in hot environmental conditions also need extra salt . Many do not drink during transit – even when water is freely available . At the end of a 600km trip , horses can be 3 % dehydrated and it can take at least 6 hours for fluid and electrolyte balance to begin to approach normal .
• warm-up too long or too short - without a proper warm-up the rise in body temperature can be too fast for the sweating response to begin ; too long a warm-up can increase body temperature too much .
• poor conditioning / training
• excess body condition
• age – foals and older horses
• horses in direct sunlight – even when the air temperature is a reasonably comfortable 30.5 ° C body temperature , respiration rate , skin temperature and sweating are higher in horses with no shade
• excessive bandaging , rugging , tendon boots & wraps
• hot , poorly ventilated stalls or floats
• insufficient water access
• insufficient salt intake
• another disease or lameness
• high altitude
• rough or steep terrain
• rider inexperience
• horses transported from cooler to warmer and or more humid climate – allowing 15 days acclimation for horses from cooler or drier climates travelling to compete or reside in hot , humid climates , increases heat and exercise tolerance .
The key with heat stress is to spot the signs early . These vary between horses and may include excessive sweating , decreased sweating , heavy rapid breathing ,
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION - WWW . AQHA . COM . AU