Re: Sick horses at rides-now dealing with heat

["Karen Sullivan" <greymare@jps.net>]

.  The single
> connecting factor
> between these horses was an uncharacterist heat wave with temperatures
over
> the 100
> degree mark for several days during the week prior to the ride, however
> temperatures
> on ride day were mild, only in the low 80's

Donna's comments here regarding two clients well-conditioned horses that
were treated with IV fluids at end of Oakland Hills ride....

This is appropriate discussion this week, with temps. in the S.F Bay area
ranging from 100 to 107 in Livermore.....a heat wave was the reason I bagged
the Cooley Ranch 50 last year.  We had had a record heat wave with temps
well over 100 for the week leading up to the ride, and I felt it too risky
to go, even though the fog rolled in the day of the ride and it was reported
pleasant.

I might have been okay with my mare because I was agressively dealing with
my "really hot weather" treatment for all the horses.
What I do is fill 25 gal tubs with water, with a good measure of bran, and
large handful of salt.  The horses just love the bran flavored water.....and
guzzle it down.  About an hour later the salt kicks in, and they head back
to the trough and drink more.  I keep the hose running in the bran water
until all 6 have had their fill.  At least doing this, I have not had any
heat-related colics...but decided to err on the side of caution as far as
trying to go 50 mi les after a week of that heat.  Since my mare had been
"well-loaded" with water and electrolytes that whole week, I wonder if she
would have been okay....

Other factor that applied is that while she had finished the CFW 50 two
weeks before, she had not been drinking enough on the trail.
Being a large horse and only half Arab, and large muscled, she has more
problems cooling than the thinner muscled and skinned Arabs.
All of these factors were used to decide to not do Cooley......but I had
been looking forward to it this year!

Karen