Central Georgia Equine Services, Inc.
JULY 1, 2008“Large enough to handle any challenge, yet small enough to treat each horse as if it personally belonged to us.”
Assuring adequate water intake is critical. On average a 1,000 lb horse needs 8 to 10 gallons of fresh water per day. When exercising at temperatures above 70F, adult horses may consume 20 to 25 gallons of water per day.
Strenuous exercise on a hot, humid day can lead to problems in a short period of time for even the best conditioned horse.
Central Georgia Equine Services, Inc.
3398 Lakeview Road
Fort Valley, GA31030
Phone:
(478) 825-1981
Fax:
(478) 825-9267
E-mail:
Please visit our Website!
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HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY
SUMMER’S COMING: HOT WEATHER CARE FOR HORSES
By Hayley Donahue, DVM First aid/emergency care-
Article provided courtesy of PurdueUniversity’s “Equine Health Update” newsletter.
As the summer approaches, owners need to consider management practices needed to help their horses get through the hot weather. It is important to understand the normal physiology of the horse when exercised in hot or humid weather. During exercise the body generates heat faster than at rest. A large percentage of the stored energy used by the body during physical activity is converted to heat rather than motion. The more strenuous the activity the more body heat is generated. Additional heat generated during exercise results in an elevation of core body temperature from resting values (range, 99-100 F) to an excess of 102-106°F. The horse’s body attempts to cool itself by dissipating excess heat via sweating. In response to exercise, sweat glands are triggered to produce sweat. The subsequent evaporation of sweat carries heat from the body and helps to lower body temperature to a safe range.
An important point to remember is that high humidity decreases the sweat evaporation rate, therefore slowing the cooling process. This is especially important in the heat and humidity of the summer. High temperatures and humidity decrease the horse’s ability to cool. If the rate of body temperature cooling is not satisfactory to match the ambient conditions, heat stress can develop.
Horse owner’s can help their horses cool by employing these management practices which include:
GOOD VENTILATION
One way to help horses get through hot weather is to ensure that barns are adequately ventilated. This can be done by opening doors and windows. Fans can also be used to increase air flow. A fan over each stall will move air directly over the horse. Fans with mist attachments can also be used, but may not provide any additional benefit to a regular fan in humid areas.
ENCOURAGING WATER INTAKE
Assuring adequate water intake is critical. On average a 1,000 lb horse needs 8 to 10 gallons of fresh water per day. As the air temperature increases, even non-exercising horses sweat and consume more water. When exercising at temperatures above 70°F, adult horses may consume 20 to 25 gallons of water per day. An owner can encourage the horse to drink water by providing salt blocks or loose salt in the feed. Horses should be offered fresh water frequently and have access to water at all times. It is also advisable to offer an additional bucket containing commercially available horse electrolyte solutions mixed with water. However, the provision of fresh water is always required when electrolyte water is offered.This can be beneficial especially if the horse is losing electrolytes through sweating. However, some horses will not willingly drink electrolyte solutions mixed with water so an alternative water source should be made available.
CAREFULLY PLANNED EXERCISE AND ACTIVELY OBSERVING FOR SIGNS OF HEAT STRESS
An additional management practice to decrease heat stress is avoiding exercise during the hottest time of the day; typically from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Turn horses out to pasture at night, especially if the pasture is lacking shade.
Heat Stroke
By Steven M. Haugen, DVM First Aid / Emergency Care/
The body maintains its normal temperature in hot weather by moving heat through the muscles and out through the skin. Blood also removes heat as it circulates through the body and releases it through lung tissue, skin and expanding blood vessels. This is why our own vessels and the horse’s blood vessels may appear larger and more distended during hot weather. This serves to cool the skin as it evaporates. Horses that cannot sweat will usually overheat very rapidly, even in cooler weather with a small amount of exercise. Other factors may increase heat in the body other than just outside temperature.
- A major source of body heat is exercise. The more a horse exercises the more heat it produces.
- Another source is feed. All feed releases heat as it is digested. Approximately 50% of the energy in oats is released as heat.
Very little cooling takes place even if the horse is sweating profusely. When the horse’s body temperature reaches 105 F, the blood supply to the muscles begin to shut down. After this occurs, the blood supply to the intestines and kidneys also shut down. The blood supply to the brain and heart are spared until last, but severe and permanent damage may have already taken place.
Signs of heatstroke may include the following:
1). Temperature as high as 105 to 107 F
2). Rapid breathing, rapid pulse
3). Stumbling, weakness, depression
4). Refusal to eat or work
5). Dry skin and dehydration
6). In severe cases, a horse may collapse or go into convulsions or a coma
Treatment
1)When possible, place the animal in shade. A breeze can be added with a fan.
2)In order to cool the body, ice the major blood vessels. The vessels that should be iced are the jugular veins, the major veins that run down both sides of the neck; the veins on the inside of the front of the legs and the large veins on the inside of the back of the legs. Ice packs or cold water from a hose will cool down the blood as it circulates through the body. It acts as the “antifreeze” and cooling system as it circulates.
3)Avoid icing the large major muscles of the loin and hind end. These muscles are already lacking blood circulation and may make the condition worse.
4)You may ice the forehead since the brain contains the temperature control center for the body, and this will help to cool the horse.
5)Small amounts of water should be provided to re-hydrate the horse. Electrolytes may also be given orally. In severe cases, intravenous fluid therapy is necessary to treat dehydration, electrolyte loss and shock.
Remember that signs of heat stroke may range from mild to severe and life-threatening. Foals usually cannot take as much heat as adult horses. A mare may be fine, but her foal may be getting sick from being out on a hot day. Horses with heavy muscling or excess fat or in poor condition will have more problems. Keep in mind that strenuous exercise on a hot, humid day can lead to problems in a short period of time for even the best-conditioned horse.
2008 BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS: Congratulations to A & H Mini Farm.Terry and Wanda Ache welcomed a new colt to their clan on April 11th out of Fallen Stars April Fantasy and by Royal Oaks Midnight Dreamer. Another new addition arrived on May 10th. Hunt House Farms Rogue & A Half foaled a colt by Ten L’s Bite the Bullet.
Ashley Buford’s 11 year old Oldenburg mareLucy had a gorgeous bay colt June 3rd. Born right here at CGES, this nice colt is by Corlando. Corlando is a bay Holsteiner who is ranked 6th out of 4,000 horses by The United States Equestrian Federation for production of successful jumping offspring in the United States. His performance scores designate him a Class I stallion, including a highly regarded 10 for his jumping ability under saddle.
Mariella Fugger welcomed a beautiful black filly to her family on May 21st. This gorgeous filly born here at CGES is out of Pushover’s Silhouette and out of Mariella’s stallion I’m Dark Vengeance. Dark was the 1999 Amateur Four Year Old Reserve World Champion. He also won the Walking Horse Trainers’ Show and the Southern Championship before an injury ended his show career. Dark is now devoting all of his time to his broodmares!
Keri and Kevin Hall welcomed a beautiful bay Hanoverian filly to their family April 24th. Although Gallice developed Placentitis at day 322 of her pregnancy, she delivered her filly at day 342 with no complications, great job Keri. The Hall’s have named their filly Gaila. She is by Papparazzo, a bay Hanoverian who was a winner at the 2003 CSI International Grand Prix jumping competition in the Youngster Grand Prix Tour for 7&8 year olds in Germany. He also has 10 other career wins in National Competition for the 4-5 feet jumps.
FRIENDS WE HAVE LOST:
We would like to send our condolensences to Stacy and Ben Lee and family on the loss of their 18 year old mini Spicy due to complications from a fractured jaw. Carolyn and Bob Martin and family on the loss of their 6 year old mini Fallen Stars Braveheart “Hunter” to a severe leg injury, and Michelle and Charles Stevenson and family for the loss of their 23 year old Appaloosa mare Neko due to a fractured scapula.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT HORSES
How much wood can a wood chuck chuck? Is your horse pretending to be a beaver? The following question and answer may help.
Why is my horse eating the bark off trees?
Chewing the bark of trees may be due to a nutrient deficiency, possibly one of the minerals such as phosphorus. However, in most cases, horses seem to chew because they like it. Wood chewing occurs in the late winter and early spring because this is the time when cool season grasses have the lowest fiber content. Consequently, by chewing wood, the horse may be making up for some of the lack of bulk or fiber. It also has been reported in controlled research that horses increase wood chewing during wet and cold weather. The wetness softens the wood. The coldness increases the maintenance energy requirements to maintain normal body temperature. Fiber digestion is essentially a fermentation that produces heat which can be used to maintain body temperature or warmth. Therefore, the increased fiber intake from wood may actually increase fermentation and heat production in the horse to maintain normal body temperature. Bark consumption is generally not harmful to the horse. Splinters from fences, however, may cause a horse to colic. We recommend you keep plenty of hay in front of your horse especially if they do not have pasture. Make sure your horse has plenty of room to exercise or roam around. Horses are natural grazers and become easily bored if there is not enough pasture or hay to keep them busy. And last but not least, make sure your horse has access to a mineral block at all times.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I STOP AND TAKE MY HORSE OUT OF THE TRAILER ON LONG TRIPS?
Little research has been conducted on how long a horse may be hauled before having detrimental effects. Horses should be offered water at least every five hours and have access to hay during long trips. The horse should not travel more than 18 hours without being unloaded. Exercise of the horse during this period will help prevent colic, founder and lower leg edema. It helps to know your horse. Some horses refuse to urinate in a trailer so that it may be necessary to unload every five to eight hours.
FEATURED WEBSITE: How do you operate on a horse?
Kids who love animals will also love UGA’s Animal Doc Web site. This web site nurtures veterinary interests in elementary and middle school students.
The interactive site, created by the College of Veterinary Medicine, guides children through a variety of topics like understanding dog behavior, fun facts about sheep and Paco’s story, in which a little donkey has his leg fixed.
WE’VE ROLLED BACK OUR PRICE
HORSE QUALITY HAY FOR SALE
Are you looking for excellent quality hay that has been stored under cover? CGES has now has Coastal Bermuda hay for sale. Large Round Rolls $55.00 each and Square bales for $6.50 each. Please call our office at (478)825-1981 to arrange a time for someone to be here to load the hay for you.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
CGES website is getting a makeover! After 12 years we feel it is time to make some changes to our website. We hope these changes will be useful to our clients. Please check back as we make these exciting changes.
Sorry for any inconvenience while we update our style.
Please feel free to send your 2008 birth announcements and braggin rights articles to.We would love to publish them in ourupcoming newsletters.
As always we would love to hear from you, you can reach us at 478-825-1981 or by email at . If you have a friend you feel would like to receive this newsletter, any comments, questions, or topics you would like addressed, please email me at .