Extreme Heat and horses

[SEL]

What did we do in 1976? It was seriously hot and went on for ages. Water was rationed. I dont remember a big fuss I think most people and events carried on as normal.

It stayed below 36 degrees (I checked). 37 degrees is the dangerous level because temps are above body temperature - & that's why it's a red alert.

I've done 40+ a few times overseas and it's unpleasant. I think many people on social media saying they go overseas to get those temps on holiday forget that usually comes with a pool, air con, sun umbrellas and a bar!!

 

[spacefaer]

My draughts aren't as bright as they could be - when they're out all summer 24/7, they've always liked standing under the shelter of the ... telegraph pole ??

They're home at the moment anyway so they'll be in or out as necessary ?

 

[Widgeon]

My draughts aren't as bright as they could be - when they're out all summer 24/7, they've always liked standing under the shelter of the ... telegraph pole ??

Mine has similarly dubious levels of decision making capacity re the sun Apparently midday is the very best time for grazing smack in the middle of the field.

 

[Fieldlife]

What did we do in 1976? It was seriously hot and went on for ages. Water was rationed. I dont remember a big fuss I think most people and events carried on as normal.

It was not as hot (hottest 1976 temperature in total was 35.9 degrees, and typical temperatures were low 30s. We are forecast over 40 in places this time. And the 4-6 degrees is a massive difference.

 

[ester]

It stayed below 36 degrees (I checked). 37 degrees is the dangerous level because temps are above body temperature - & that's why it's a red alert.

I've done 40+ a few times overseas and it's unpleasant. I think many people on social media saying they go overseas to get those temps on holiday forget that usually comes with a pool, air con, sun umbrellas and a bar!!

it was less hot doesn’t have quite the same ring to it though ?.
I suspect also pre internet you didn’t get to find out so easily about which horses/dogs/guinea pigs had died from the heat so easier to ‘get on with it’ and be a bit more blasé about the possible consequences.

 

[Tiddlypom]

It was the drought situation and the water restrictions that I remember most about 1976, rather than the heat, thought it was indeed hot.

 

[Miss_Millie]

I'm worried for Monday and still not sure what to do with mine. There isn't a huge amount of shade in the field so I will probably be keeping in and turning out at night.

 

[lynz88]

mine is staying out. He's got a row of trees so if he needs to, he has some shade. Also better as his stable is stifling hot with no air circulation. Nothing really different to the usual routine. The good news is we have had almost 2 weeks or so of gorgeous summer weather already so I would think that that would help them cope for the 2 hottest days coming up.

I must say I am loving this weather though - so much better when it is just hot without the sticky humidity!!

 

[AdorableAlice]

38 degrees on Monday, and 35 on Tuesday.

Mine will be in during the day, in brick stables. I have a fan so will use the old ice and fan trick we used in SA, if things get dicey. I’m freezing big blocks of ice in plastic containers ahead of time.

Can I ask you to explain this method to me please. I have a very old lad who I am really fearing might not get through the next few days. He has a huge fan in his barn and does stand by it. thanks.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

What did we do in 1976? It was seriously hot and went on for ages. Water was rationed. I dont remember a big fuss I think most people and events carried on as normal.

We went out after supper and before school to hand graze the ponies on the verges as grass was vanishing.
We didnt have arena's but rode out most early mornings.
I remember doing PC camp for the full week at Tweseldown, we all stopped by 11 and went in the shade for stable management, lunch etc till mid afternoon.

Those thinking of using an arena if it has a bit of shade, please by very careful. If not already mentioned, many surfaces will be much more hot than grass.

 

[Starzaan]

I often wonder at this time of year whether I’m mad, or just used to heat. I never do anything differently. Polo ponies have to play in this weather, so they are still exercised in the hottest part of the day to ensure they can cope when they’re expected to play in silly heat, as is everything else really.
I always feed recovery feeds with electrolytes anyway regardless of the weather, and just up the dose of electrolytes in the heat. All my fields have shade, so the vast majority stay out in it. I have box rests and rehabs who will be in, but the barn is cool, they’ll have the fans on, and their windows open so there’ll be a strong breeze.
I know we aren’t acclimatised to extreme heat, but horses cope much better than people tend to expect, providing their management is good anyway.

 

[littleshetland]

What did we do in 1976? It was seriously hot and went on for ages. Water was rationed. I dont remember a big fuss I think most people and events carried on as normal.

It did get hot, but it was more of a drought. I remember that I hadn't long moved back here from Cyprus, and wondering what all the fuss was about! I think the temperatures we are due to see over the next few days are going to be record breakingly hot for the UK.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

the only thing different I did in 1976 was go out to the local reservoir which was nearly empty and view the hidden bridges. Apart from that nothing different, went to work full time 5 days a week, no idea what I did with the horse but he survived and that was it. Watched a few TV clips of people queueing with their buckets for standpipes. Quite a lot of moaning when they had to stand for water but the mains water system had soo many leaks.


The flies seemed different then as well. I in the early 70's I was taking rides out, anything up to 20 people at a time. I don't remember any fly problem, I must have known with that many horses they were being bitten by horse flies. No reaction on my own riding horse, sat outside for picnic lunches and don't remember any fly problems nor horses "running off" being chased by horse or bot flies.

Easy to look back with rose coloured spectacles I took rides through woods, up narrow lanes/tracks where now my horse would be eaten alive by horse flies. Not even aware then that crab flies existed. Also had never heard the words fly mask or fly rug.

You have forgotten the dreaded buzz from the Warble flies..... we had cattle next but one, I hated those pesky flies (and the Bot flies)

 

[ponynutz]

I'm yet to have the argument with my dad, but...

I hope that they'll be in during the day and out overnight with their stable doors open and a lead rope keeping them in.

I'm also going to make them horsey lollies (iced fruit Likits).

I'm not going to ride.

I'm going to use cold water and a sponge behind their ears.

I'm also going to put ice in their water buckets and they'll have a very thin bed on rubber mats.

 

[ponynutz]

I'm also going to train my dogs to kill any horsefly that even thinks about coming onto the yard (a jokey one).

 

[ester]

I often wonder at this time of year whether I’m mad, or just used to heat. I never do anything differently. Polo ponies have to play in this weather, so they are still exercised in the hottest part of the day to ensure they can cope when they’re expected to play in silly heat, as is everything else really.
I always feed recovery feeds with electrolytes anyway regardless of the weather, and just up the dose of electrolytes in the heat. All my fields have shade, so the vast majority stay out in it. I have box rests and rehabs who will be in, but the barn is cool, they’ll have the fans on, and their windows open so there’ll be a strong breeze.
I know we aren’t acclimatised to extreme heat, but horses cope much better than people tend to expect, providing their management is good anyway.

I wouldn’t worry if I had a fit TB polo pony type.
I’m not worried about the share warmblood either despite the 40 degree forecast here.
But too many natives are more prepared for the next cold snap.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Can I ask you to explain this method to me please. I have a very old lad who I am really fearing might not get through the next few days. He has a huge fan in his barn and does stand by it. thanks.

Very simple, you just place a bucket of ice water in front of the fan so it blows over the water. If you don’t want them to get into the ice then frozen bottles of water or containers of ice works well.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I wouldn't be setting out how polo ponies are expected to play in hot conditions as an example of how horses can cope well when it's hot.

Polo is not known for good equine welfare, though I'm sure that there are exceptions and that some polo ponies are well cared for. Just far too many of them are played to bust then discarded when not even polo sound (=hopping lame).

 

[paddy555]

You have forgotten the dreaded buzz from the Warble flies..... we had cattle next but one, I hated those pesky flies (and the Bot flies)

I have indeed and as we had cattle we also had to treat them. How could I have forgotten them

 

[J&S]

Mine will be in or out as they please, stables are breeze block and really quite cool with ventilation. I will give them a breakfast of Happy hoof and later on some damp hay.

 

[BBP]

Very simple, you just place a bucket of ice water in front of the fan so it blows over the water. If you don’t want them to get into the ice then frozen bottles of water or containers of ice works well.

I wonder if I could try this to try and keep my baby swallows alive, I’m really worried about them. We lost the last batch on the last 30 degree day in June.

 

[Sir barnaby]

Mine have been fine but will keep an eye on Shetland who’s still very hairy. May even clip him. I will empty my troughs and fill up to top with clean fresh water, wet their morning rations of hay and see how it goes. The stables get really hot so won’t bring in as I think they are better walking about. They insist on standing to sleep in the middle of the field even though there is lots of shady trees ??

 

[Starzaan]

I wouldn't be setting out how polo ponies are expected to play in hot conditions as an example of how horses can cope well when it's hot.

Polo is not known for good equine welfare, though I'm sure that there are exceptions and that some polo ponies are well cared for. Just far too many of them are played to bust then discarded when not even polo sound (=hopping lame).

I have seen some awful things at polo, but I have also seen awful things in Eventing, dressage and all other disciplines.
My mother played polo and I spent many years working on polo yards. I have never worked with polo ponies who weren’t treated like absolute kings. There is good and pure evil in every discipline.

 

[Starzaan]

I wouldn’t worry if I had a fit TB polo pony type.
I’m not worried about the share warmblood either despite the 40 degree forecast here.
But too many natives are more prepared for the next cold snap.

I have a number of natives on livery, and at this time of year I always have a few rehabs in with EMS, laminitis or another metabolic type issue. I make sure they’re clipped out as needed, but again they do fine as long as there’s shade and water. ?

 

[LadyGascoyne]

I have a number of natives on livery, and at this time of year I always have a few rehabs in with EMS, laminitis or another metabolic type issue. I make sure they’re clipped out as needed, but again they do fine as long as there’s shade and water. ?

I usually wouldn’t be concerned but 38, 39, 40 aren’t normal heats and are above normal body temperature so can be problematic. I also find that UK heat is somehow hotter than South African, or even Spanish, heat. I feel like the sky is somehow closer here so it’s more smothering… if that makes any sense!

 

[LadyGascoyne]

I wonder if I could try this to try and keep my baby swallows alive, I’m really worried about them. We lost the last batch on the last 30 degree day in June.

Where are your swallows? Could you place some 2l coke bottles filled with water and frozen near them?

 

[ester]

I think the word you are looking for might be humidity LG

Definitely easier to manage if you have people/are able to be on the yard during the day to monitor/assess/act where appropriate.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Very simple, you just place a bucket of ice water in front of the fan so it blows over the water. If you don’t want them to get into the ice then frozen bottles of water or containers of ice works well.

Thanks, the big fan is wall mounted at chest height for him (17.2), I can easily hang frozen bottles of water (old 5 litre oil bottles) in front of the fan from the rafter. Do you think that might cool the air for him ?

 

[ester]

I'd def do that AA

 

[LadyGascoyne]

I think the word you are looking for might be humidity LG

Definitely easier to manage if you have people/are able to be on the yard during the day to monitor/assess/act where appropriate.

That may be it, yes ? although Durban in South Africa is very humid. Although thinking about it, I hated the heat there.

Thanks, the big fan is wall mounted at chest height for him (17.2), I can easily hang frozen bottles of water (old 5 litre oil bottles) in front of the fan from the rafter. Do you think that might cool the air for him ?

I think that would be as effective as anything else, really. I have seen some people hang wire supermarket basket type baskets filled with big ice blocks too.