Cooling Horses

As the weather forecast is showing temperatures rising, we thought we would discuss how best to cool horses during this heat wave.

When the temperature rises suddenly horses will not be acclimatised, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion/heat stroke.

We sought guidance from Dr David Marlin on how to cool a hot horse.

Rapid cooling

Horses that are hot to touch, may be covered in sweat, may have prominent veins on the skin, may have laboured breathing, these horses need to be cooled quickly.

Rapid cooling should be carried out by covering the horse’s body with as much cool or cold water as quickly as possible, without stopping to scrape.

This should be done for several minutes. If the horse is agitated or appears to be recovering a short walk can be given before repeating the cooling process, which could be continued until the horse’s blowing has subsided, and the horse feels more comfortable.

Comfort cooling

If a horses is uncomfortable in hot weather, in the stable or field, then spraying them down with water and leaving the water to evaporate will help them to cool, this can be carried out every few hours.

Dr David Marlin’s science based evidence confirms a horse will not overheat due to insulation by water – this is 100% a myth!

Here are more interesting evidence based facts from Dr David Marlin.

The key facts are:

Cooling hot horses with cold water DOES NOT
1) cause muscle damage
2) cause laminitis
3) induce shock
4) give horses heart attacks
5) prevent them from cooling by constriction of skin blood flow

Water left on horses DOES NOT
1) insulate and prevent heat loss
2) cause them to overheat

It is NOT MORE EFFECTIVE TO
1) start at the feet and work up
2) scrape water off whilst cooling (it causes them to warm up)
3) focus on large blood vessels
4) cover the horse with wet towels

Check out this Facebook post from Dr David Marlin, loaded with fantastic advice for keeping horses safe and cool in hot weather, and make sure you visit drdavidmarlin.com

Photo: #Supergroom Francesca Gorni at Badminton Horse Trials 2022. Photo credit: Paul Ruffle. 

Read more about Francesca in her blog about her first Olympics - Tokyo 2020.

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