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Re: [RC] 101degrees -old horse - Patty P

As for heat, we have 3 months temps over 100 degrees here in Arizona. The horses do fine. In fact we ride all summer as long as it is under 100 degrees. We do not have humidity of course, so it doesn't feel like 120 when the thermometer says 120...our 120 probably feels like your 100. The horses move a bit slower and sleep more in the heat of the day, but they do just fine grazing out to pasture.
  
-------Original Message-------
 
Date: 8/7/2007 9:21:40 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] 101degrees -old horse
 
Is there any way you can stall him during the worst part of the day and have a fan blowing on him? I'd give him a couple buckets of water with some hay to munch. Hay will usually kick in thirst where grass may not. Maybe stall a buddy next to him so he doesn't panic about being by himself?
 
I have a 23 yr. old QH I am fretting over too. It is 90 degrees here with 60% humidity and a 100 degree heat index. The heat index is expected to rise to 107 degrees this afternoon. Fortunately for me I have a dirt paddock with a run-in shed and shade trees behind my house. It has a box fan up in one of the corners and blows downward. I put my two out on pasture (no shade or sun protection) from about 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and then bring them back to the paddock. The old man parks himself in front of the fan and pretty much doesn't move. Even then he is soaked through with sweat, as is the 12 yr. old Haflinger mare. They usually go back out to pasture from late afternoon until dark. My pastures are a distance from the house and can't be seen by looking out a window so I like them out behind the house over night.
 
I've been giving Apple-A-Day electrolyte in their morning feed and this encourages them to tank up on water earlier in the day. In their evening feed I've started giving about a Tablespoon of salt to encourage another good drink. I do soak their feed, Nutrena Senior for the old man, and SafeChoice for the mare. I add a 2 cup dry measure of beet pulp to the mare's feed to add a little more bulk and water. She gets about 2 cups of SafeChoice a day. They have both been working on the salt block and I also provide loose salt. Pretty much they just drool in that but I like them having all the options.
 
Let's hope this heat wave breaks soon!
 
Cris P.
Robinson, IL
 

Replies
Re: [RC] 101degrees -old horse, Cris Potmesil