Much of horsekeeping requires us to accept that there are some elements in our horses’ environments we can’t control, even though they have significant impact on horse health. While you can’t change the temperature, humidity, air quality, or presence of disease vectors around horses, there are some things you can do to mitigate their impact.
Heat
Heat can pose dangers to both equine and human health. Monitoring weather forecasts and keeping both athletes hydrated and in the shade as much as possible should be top priorities during competition in hot climates.
Prolonged heat exposure for humans can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion produces heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness and (sometimes) nausea. If left untreated, heat stroke can occur. Heat stroke is the overheating of the body and is characterized by a human body temperature of 104°F or higher. Additional human symptoms include loss of consciousness, a decrease in sweating, and an elevated heart rate. If you suspect someone is experiencing either condition, the person should be moved to a cooler location and have access to cold water.
Heat stress in horses can also lead to heat stroke and consists of an elevated temperature, rapid breathing and pulse, weakness, dry skin, and dehydration. An overheated horse should be cooled off with cool water, provided with fluids for rehydration, and placed in the shade or in an area where there is a breeze or fan.
Evaluating Environmental Heat
The heat index is the sum of the temperature and the humidity. If it is 80°F and the relative humidity is 40%, the heat index would be 80+40=120.
There is no horse-specific scale for determining how best to limit activities related to heat index, so the best guidelines available are those developed for humans.
For people, a heat index of 130 or lower is safe for competition.
If the heat index is between 130 and 150, horse and human athletes should be monitored for signs of heat stress.
If the heat index is between 150 and 180, athletes are advised to use caution and monitor humans and horses for signs of heat stress.
At a heat index over 180, the human body’s cooling functions are unable to keep pace with exertion. Over 180, exercise of horses and humans is not advised.
If you have a question about the conditions in your area and whether you should continue a competition in hot weather, call us at 859-810-8733.
Air Quality
Poor air quality, including pollution and smoke, can negatively impact horse health, irritating the respiratory system and triggering coughing, nasal discharge, and heavy breathing. When air quality is poor, horses with respiratory illnesses or in vulnerable health states should not be exercised.
Fires or other natural disasters can create short-term effects to the air quality, which you can track using the Air Quality Index on airnow.gov. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is used to measure the quality of the air and is reported on a scale of 0-500. The AQI is based on five major air pollutants: ground level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and airborne particles (particulate matter). The higher the air quality value, there is a higher level of pollutants detected. A value of 50 or less is considered good while a value of 301 or higher is considered hazardous. The AQI is designed for humans and not animals, so we have extrapolated the same ranges for use with horses until further data is available.
An AQI over 150 is considered unhealthy for humans and exercise for horses is not recommended.
As venue conditions vary and rapidly change, each competition organizer should make the decision to operate, suspend, or cancel competitions due to the air quality by consulting with state and local health authorities and government agencies.
USEF strongly recommends suspending or cancelling competitions if the air quality index is higher than 150.
Best Practices for Competition Managers:
- Ensure stables have proper ventilation to manage temperature, humidity, and particulate matter
- Check air quality alerts regularly to determine the AQI for your specific location.
- Monitor symptoms and be alert if they persist or worsen as veterinary care may be warranted.
