Heat stroke (also known as heat exhaustion or hyperthermia) is very dangerous in animals, and in some severe cases can be fatal. When horses are performing excessive amounts of work in very hot or humid weather, the horse is unable to lose body heat causing its body temperature to go up rapidly.
Not only can a horse get heat stroke when doing exercise, but on very hot days a horse’s body temperature can rise when in the field or stable. Stables are usually made from wood and so can heat up very quickly. Although it may seem like the best idea to get the horse out of the sun, it can be far hotter in a stable, giving the horse no way of escaping the heat. The ideal situation would be to turn the horse out in a field with lots of shelter, i.e. trees or a field shelter. This will allow the horse to access the shade to get out of the sun.
The signs to watch out for heatstroke in horses are:
Restlessness/lethargy
Panicky/manic
Increased sweating
Heavy breathing/Rapid pulse
Excessive salivation
Redness of the tongue
High body temperature
Muscle spasms
Collapse
Below are some tips on how to prevent your horse from overheating
Avoid prolonged or intense periods of exercise
Avoid the hottest times of the day
Remove all tack as quickly as possible
Wet the whole horse with plenty of cold water
Walk your horse lightly whilst cooling to aid circulation
Access to water at all times
If your horse has a thick coat, consider clipping
Once you notice any of the signs of heatstroke in your horse, as quickly as possible:
Stop all exercise
Cold water to the skin/poured over the horse’s body
Add ice to water in severe cases of heat stroke
Fan the horse and take to a shady area
We offer a specialist horse insurance policy in the UK allowing you to tailor the type cover to suit your needs. It’s quick and easy to get a quote and set up a policy online.
If you have any queries relating to a quote, policy or our services please contact us by
08/10/20
From October 1st 2020 all horses, ponies and donkeys in Great Britain need to be microchipped.
08/06/20
Heatstroke/heat exhaustion is very dangerous in animals, and in some severe cases can be fatal. We give you tips on how to keep your horse cool in the summer heat, and how to spot heatstroke.
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