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Re: [RC] Horse Management in Excessive Heat - steelsidedown

Our temps are in that range, but not quite!  <phew!>
 
Keep water tanks in the shade, change water daily as algae forms very quickly changing the taste of the water.  Also in my field where it isn't possible to get a water hose to the shady area, I freeze milk jugs of water and put 2-3 in, in the early afternoon.  (who wants to drink hot water when its 98' out?)  BTW, 4 horses emptied a 60 gallon tank today!  I'm sure a little foot soaking and splashing happened, but still OMG!
 
Salt out and available in block and loose, and a bit added to food.
 
Turned them out during the day, as the usual cool shady airy barn has turned stifling -- even with huge fans & misters.  They seem to rotate around the field to different shady spots as the sunlight changes.
 
Tons of fly spray and/or white fly sheets.  My guys in sheets are not sweating today, the "naked" one is -- go figure.
 
Jen
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 3:12 PM
Subject: [RC] Horse Management in Excessive Heat

Like much of the other parts of the U.S., northeast Texas is in the grip of a major heatwave.  Consecutive days above 100 degrees.  Today it was 96 by 10 am; it's now just 2 pm and already 104.  Night temperatures aren't going much below the low-mid 80s so the horses aren't getting a "cooling break" even during the night.
 
Am interested in some discussion about horse management during heat waves (beyond the obvious--access to cool fresh water, free choice salt, shade).  Change in feed protocol?  Mandatory e-lyte supplementation to make up loss during excessive sweating?  Change in amount of forage, which produces heat? 
 
Thanks!
Beth
Denton, TX
 
 


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Replies
[RC] Horse Management in Excessive Heat, Beth Leggieri