Re: [RC] Cooling - water as an insulation barrier - Sisu West Ranch
If you have a relatively thick layer of water on a
horse, the outside surface cools from whatever evaporation happens. This
heat has to be conducted (the hair will prevent movement of water which is
convection). Now even though water is a poor insulator compared to lots of
things, it does take time for heat to move through the water to the cooler
surface. If the layer of water is much thinner the heat has a shorter
distance to go and cooling is enhanced.
Now in very humid conditions, the cooling by
evaporation is much reduced. So if you put water on, it quickly heats to
body temp, absorbing lots of heat (the high heat capicity of water). If
you then scrape it off, you have removed lots of heat (calories or BTU depending
on your measurement system) and effectively cool the horse.
Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower
Road Victor, MT 59875
