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Written by: Jessica Konopinski
Published on: 09/24/2024
Depending on where you live, the heat can be a bit of a hurdle when it comes to riding. Even as fall stars to set in, many parts of the country are still seeing very humid conditions. There are tons of mixed messages out there about what temperatures are too hot (or too cold) to ride in, but what about humidity? If you’ve ever been in an area where the heat index or humiture is much higher, you can understand why this plays such a difference in combination with high air temperatures. Let’s break down exactly how hot or humid is too intense to ride in and how to navigate this while keeping your horse healthy, happy, and fit.
While horses can acclimate to increased temperatures, this does take some time and still, horses can suffer from a range of adverse consequences from too warm of temperatures. A few of these consequences can include heat stress and heat stroke. [1]
When a horse endures heat stroke is when a horses rectal temperature exceeds 103 ℉. Some signs of heat stroke include dehydration, lack of eating, excessive sweating, breathing and increased heart rate. [2]
Similarly when a horse experiences heat stroke their rectal temperature will be at or exceeding 106℉ which makes this a much more serious condition. Typically the same signs of heat stress are seen in heat stroke, but can also include incoordination, confusion, muscle weakness and eventually the horse can collapse. [1] It is recommended that if your horse is experiencing any of these signs to contact your veterinarian immediately.
A lot of times horse owners and riders will take the actual air temperature into account, but never the humidity. Why does this matter? Well, when a horse sweats this is their natural mechanism to cool themselves. When it is more humid, less sweat evaporates off of the horse's skin making it harder for them to cool themselves. Horses can absolutely acclimate to both high air temperatures and humidity, but only if done gradually and safely which can take anywhere from 15-21 days. [2]
The best way to determine if the weather is safe enough to ride in is by using a formula that combines the air temperature and relative humidity to develop a score. Using that score you will be able to determine if the weather is good riding condition or not by comparing it to the reference scores provided.
The formula is as follows:
Air temperature (°F) + relative humidity = ________
For reference, when the combined answer is 150, a horse’s cooling efficiency is greatly reduced. When the combined answer is over 180 the conditions can be fatal. Answers in the 130-150 range provide caution, but can be typically safe as long as your horse is acclimated to the conditions prior. Anything below 130 is within normal range and a horses cooling efficiency is not compromised. [1] [2]
Just like humans, horses can acclimate to increased air temperatures and humidity, but only if done correctly. Slow and consistent exposure to exercise in these conditions is recommended and as mentioned before can take anywhere between 15-21 days for your horse to become fully acclimated. [2]
There are tons of ways to ensure your horse has the necessary resources to promote proper cool down, the first of which is always free access to plenty of water. Adding electrolytes and especially salt can encourage your horse to drink while replenishing their bodies. Not sure how to implement salt into your horse's diet? Check out some tips and tricks in our latest blog post here.
Other ways to promote proper cool down in your horse is to try acclimating your horse for riding in shady areas or during the early morning or late evenings when the temperatures are cooler. Shortening ride times, providing fans for airflow and making sure your horse has an appropriate coat length with the option to clip also serve as great measures in keeping your horse healthy, happy and cool.
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✅ Single ingredient, 100% pure Camelina Oil.
✅ Non-GMO
✅ Ideal balance of Omega-3 compared to other products, like soybean oil.
✅ Canadian produced and operated.
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Jessica is a brand consultant who brings awareness and intention to equestrian and pet platforms. As a former collegiate equestrian athlete and animal lover, Jessica leads with passion and experience through her writing and brand work for companies who advocate for creating a difference in their space. When she's not riding her horse or walking her dog (with iced coffee in hand), you can find her sharing her love for health and wellness with others and integrating these practices in her everyday work.
