Post by cutiepiepmu on Jun 4, 2009 21:01:46 GMT -5
This is just a REMINDER! In this heat we need to make sure our horses have LOTS AND LOTS of fresh, clean water. Even if the water trough looks clean, dump and scrub it at least daily. In the heat a nice layer of slim starts to grow quickly on the inside of the tanks and can cause your horse to drink less. PLUS - the colder the water, the more they will drink!
Water is the most important thing to your horse - if he isn't drinking enough he risks things like colic, dehydration, and a variety of other issues
ALSO - make sure your horse has access to salt. If your horse is not into the salt block(many arent!) then add 1 teaspooon per 1200 pounds daily of PLAIN, non-iodized salt(yup the kind you use in your kitchen!) to his feed when it is so hot out. You can obviously also add some electrolytes.
As a horse sweats they loose critical salts that the body needs to function, so replacement is a MUST.
And, remember - if you are hot - so is your horse. Try to work him EARLY in the day before the heat or wait till after the sun goes down in the afternoon. Also - strapping a springkler to the top of a T-post or other kind of post so that the water goes up OVER the top of your horse will encourge him to get under the water and stay cool OR - cool hosing a few times a day can help as well.
Pay attention to your horse - if he has increased resperations, his gums look WHITE rather than pink, or if he has stopped sweating - call your vet. these are all signs of heat exhaustion or things that are worse Keep a thermometer handy as well - a temp over 102 justifies an emergency call and cold hosing PRONTO!
Stay cool out there!!
Sara
Water is the most important thing to your horse - if he isn't drinking enough he risks things like colic, dehydration, and a variety of other issues
ALSO - make sure your horse has access to salt. If your horse is not into the salt block(many arent!) then add 1 teaspooon per 1200 pounds daily of PLAIN, non-iodized salt(yup the kind you use in your kitchen!) to his feed when it is so hot out. You can obviously also add some electrolytes.
As a horse sweats they loose critical salts that the body needs to function, so replacement is a MUST.
And, remember - if you are hot - so is your horse. Try to work him EARLY in the day before the heat or wait till after the sun goes down in the afternoon. Also - strapping a springkler to the top of a T-post or other kind of post so that the water goes up OVER the top of your horse will encourge him to get under the water and stay cool
OR - cool hosing a few times a day can help as well. Pay attention to your horse - if he has increased resperations, his gums look WHITE rather than pink, or if he has stopped sweating - call your vet. these are all signs of heat exhaustion or things that are worse
Keep a thermometer handy as well - a temp over 102 justifies an emergency call and cold hosing PRONTO! Stay cool out there!!
Sara
