The Horse Herbalist

Help your Horse Beat the Heat

With record breaking temperatures all over Australia and the Climate Crisis increasing, we need to know all the ways we can keep our horses as cool as possible:

HOW TO BEAT THE HEAT:

Ensure there is good shade and airflow available throughout the day, whether natural or manufactured. Tarps and shade sails can offer respite – whether strung up or draped.   If the horses are in stables or barns, use misters or fans.

Work as early in the day as possible or later in the evening if the temperature has dropped.

After work, or if the horse is hot in the paddock, hose down with cool water paying particular attention to the jugular veins in the neck and the saphenous veins on the inside of the hindlegs.
ALWAYS SCRAPE your horse down after hosing as even a light coating of water acts as an insulator to retain body heat. Repeat this if necessary.

Shade, hosing then scraping, with a breeze or a fan reduces core temperature quickly.

Offer fresh cool water AND water containing electrolytes. Let them choose which they prefer.

Days when humidity is high are even worse as humidity keeps the sweat from evaporating so the horse’s natural cooling system can’t be effective.

Overweight horses have a harder time dealing with high temperatures and humidity as added body fat acts as insulation.

If you can’t avoid working or competing in high temperatures do all of the above. Give homeopathic Glonoine to clear any head congestion bought on by heat and exertion. Hand walk for 15 minutes to stop muscle cramping.

WHAT NOT TO DO:

Rugs have their place but it is not on a horse on hot or humid days . . . the rug as acts as an insulator, trapping the heat and exacerbating the situation.  The horse’s core temperature increases and the heat cannot escape or sweat evaporate (horses prefer to be naked as nature designed!)  Do not leave the horse sweating under a rug.

Sweat serves an important purpose for both horses and humans – as the moisture of the sweat evaporates, the surface of the skin cools.

WHAT IS HEAT STRESS?  Know the signs . . . 

• Rapid shallow respiration, flared nostrils
• Look of anxiety
• Confusion
• High temperature
• High Heart Rate
• Massive sweating or no sweating
• Dehydration – do pinch test*
• Lack of coordination
• Trembling

* Pinch the skin (normally on the neck although shoulder is also recommended), if it springs back to flat rapidly, there is no problem.  But if  it is slow to restore (more than 3 seconds), your horse may be dehydrated.

In extreme cases call the vet.  Give homeopathic Aconite 6c. and Glonoine 6c. to reduce above symptoms – repeat dose every fifteen minutes. The homeopathics will not interact with any veterinary treatments which may be given. Stop dosing immediately when the horse shows improvement.

While waiting, use iced water, paying particular attention to the jugular vein in neck, the saphenous veins on the inside of the hind legs, behind the ears and face. Hose – scrape down – fan, repeat these steps every fifteen minutes until vital signs are normal and he’s cool to touch between the front legs. Hand walk for fifteen minutes to minimise muscle cramping then put in the shade with a breeze, mister or fan. Check frequently.

SEVERE HEAT STRESS can lead to:

•    Muscle cramping
•    Colic
•    Diarrhoea
•    Collapse – shock and death

Useful herbal teas to make and give the horses in hot weather are:

•    Lemon Balm
•    Chamomile
•    Elder Flower
•    Ginger
•    Peppermint

These can be added to water buckets and offered AS AN OPTION.  Always have fresh clean water with no additives available for horses to drink, especially on hot days.

These teas all have diaphoretic properties encouraging the body to sweat, the sweat evaporates enabling the body’s natural cooling system to be effective.