Heatstroke in horses: what every horse owner needs to know

Applying cold water to cool down a hot horse can help to avoid and treat heatstoke in horses — A hot horse being washed down after cross-country.

(Image credit: Karen Coumbe)

Heatstroke in horses occurs when the animal’s body temperature increases to a point above which its natural cooling system fails to work effectively, so it starts to cook rather than cool the horse.

Any horse undergoing fast, strenuous work is at risk of heatstroke, particularly in hot and humid conditions. It is important to consider fluid and electrolyte intake in addition to fitness, as even relatively small degrees of dehydration can affect a horse’s performance. Heatstroke can also occur when a horse is left in a trailer that is standing in full sun.

hot and humid conditions, because high humidity prevents efficient evaporation of sweat and body cooling
a lack of opportunity to acclimatised to the heat
a horse that is unfit, overweight or has a thick coat
a lack of fluid and body salts, which can lead to “exhausted horse complex”. In such a case, the horse overheats and becomes severely dehydrated, impairing its circulation and causing muscle fatigue, which can result in shock and collapse

If you suspect a horse is suffering from heatstroke, then he needs to be cooled as quickly as possible. Apply cold (4-10°C) water to as much of its body as is practical, including the hindquarters, either while gently walking the horse or allow the horse to stand the horse in a shady area, ideally where there is a breeze, while soaking. Do not spend time scraping the water off the horse as this will not increase the cooling effect – just keep applying more cold water over the whole of the horse’s body.

The horse should frequently be offered around half a bucket of electrolyte solution to drink, but if he will not take that, try plain water. Paradoxically, some dehydrated horses will not drink, as the thirst response is triggered by an increase in sodium, which is lost in sweat. If your horse refuses liquid, your vet may have to administer fluids using a stomach tube. This is passed up the horse’s nose, before being directed down towards its stomach.

However, it can be difficult to pass a tube into the stomach of an exhausted horse and this may produce a nosebleed. Additionally, in a very sick animal the fluid may simply pool in the gut and not be absorbed. As a result, an obviously sick or severely dehydrated horse requires fluids to be given directly into the blood circulation by a sterile catheter, which is usually placed in the main jugular vein in the neck. Large volumes of fluid and electrolytes can be given in this way.

Stick to the shade and avoid strenuous exercise between noon and 3pm
Remember that weather forecasts quote the temperature in the shade, so a horse out in a field with no shade or shelter and limited water supply can suffer bad heatstroke
Avoid leaving horses standing in horseboxes or trailers in direct sun
Do not leave your horse shut in a hot stuffy stable when there is no breeze
Allow small drinks at intervals during exercise – including directly before competing
Give soaked hay and sloppy, wet feeds to help get water on board
Rapid rehydration will not be possible with water alone as electrolytes, particularly sodium, are needed. There are a variety of commercially available equine oral replacement electrolyte solutions on the market, but it is important they are made up at the correct concentration and that your horse will take them. Adding apple squash or apple juice helps to mask the taste

Traditionally, dehydration in horses is determined by the skin ‘pinch test’. A couple of centimetres of skin over the shoulder is pinched gently between finger and thumb, then released. In a hydrated horse, it will ‘ping’ rapidly back into place. In a seriously dehydrated horse, a small residual fold of skin will remain. However, this test is not 100 per cent reliable as the elasticity of skin varies from horse to horse.