This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Routine Horse Care » Summertime, Caring for Your Horse in the Heat »
  Discussion on Keeping horses cool at horseshows
Author Message
Member:
9193

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 1, 2004 - 3:47 pm:

Hello All,

Did our first show of the summer and have some concerns about how to keep your horse cool when you have downtime between classes and the temperatures are hitting the 90's.

What kind of tricks do folks use to help their horses keep cool when you have to be tied to metal trailers on show grounds that have little or no shade to get under for the horses...??

I kept sponging him off and offering water, but felt bad that getting him out of the sun was not easy to do..Shade from trees was very limited and too many people were trying to get into the same space... I saw some people putting their horses in their trailers to get relief from the sun, but air circulation is a concern. I put his fly sheet on thinking that might help, but took it off after about 15 minutes and just kept sponging his back and rear every so often. I kept wishing I could put a hat on his head to protect it from the sun. He had his flymask on, but it doesn't shield his brain..

Any suggestions or tips any of you might have to endure hot-weather showing would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Debra

Member:
Ladera

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 2, 2004 - 1:00 am:

We live in southern California and have seen the mercury in the low 100's . Our concern is for the horse and rider. We check the back gate for our classes to see if they are on schedule or backed up. We untack if there is a long wait. The horses go in their stalls while waiting because shade is difficult to find and it is cooler in the shade. We apply sunscreen to the horses' noses. Water is available and given in small doses. Our horses have mineral salt blocks and are given electrolyte supplements. We also make sure they are cooled before they are left in their stalls.
At Indio the temperature was 99 and several grooms had placed coolers on recently ridden Horses. THese horses were all in the shade. The head groom explained that this method works the best.
Member:
Ladera

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 2, 2004 - 1:05 am:

Costco/Sam's club sell inexpensive portable pop up tents that several barns set up to provide shade. Some of the camping stores also sell these tents. Try REI or Campmor web sites.
Member:
Lhenning

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 2, 2004 - 9:18 am:

Any chance you could rig up an awning using a tarp, ropes, and poles and attaching one end of it to your trailer? Another thought, could you tie the tarp to your trailer and another near you, eliminating the need for poles, then "share" with your neighbor?

Linda
Member:
Terrilyn

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 2, 2004 - 9:50 am:

We have a portable power source that can jump your car battery, has a flourescent light, and supplies DC power (and with an inverter, can provide AC power). These are great for camping and any number of things. They aren't expensive, and with an inverter (and some come with these built in), you could power a BIG FAN. There are MANY different kinds on the market, and the following is a link to just one.

https://www.appealingitems.com/xpower-300-portable-power-source-w-inverter-and-ju mpstarter.html


Member:
Sunny66

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 2, 2004 - 10:02 am:

Great idea Terri...or a MISTING fan (;) Just have to find a water source.
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 2, 2004 - 6:30 pm:

You can create a misting fan by getting one of those solar showers and setting it on top of the fan and adjusting the hose so the water comes down in front of the blades. Bring a couple of 5 gallon water jugs with you and you should be good for the day.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 2, 2004 - 7:54 pm:

Hello All,
Of course the article has a lot of critical information on maintaining temperature and electrolyte balance but I do have one other suggestion. The above ideas are essential: shade, water to evaporate off the body, and air movement to aid evaporation. One other suggestion is when things get really serious is a mixture of 50/50 mixture of denatured ethyl alcohol and water will considerably incease the cooling capability of evaporation. Straight isopropyl is more cooling than water. Expense keeps it from being routine but in an emergency they will increase the cooling power.
DrO
Member:
Leilani

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 2, 2004 - 8:14 pm:

Dr. O,

Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol 70% USP? Thank you.
Member:
9193

Posted on Thursday, Jun 3, 2004 - 10:04 am:

HI All,

These ideas certainly got the creative juices flowing. I have been thinking about how I could attach and secure a couple of patio umbrellas to either side of my stock trailer to provide shade and then figure out how to get some fans going with the misting idea..

The shade thing is the tricky part.. Sharing with another trailer would be nice, but everybody has different time schedules, so one needs to be rather independent. Opening umbrellas around horses would need to be done in a most considerate manner so as to not spook every horse in a 100 yard radius..

We used an awning on the side of our RV, but I just can't picture how one could safely work around an awning attached to a horse trailer..

Dr O, I would echo Leilani's wonderment.. Could 70% Isoproply alcohol be substituted for denatured ethyl alcohol?

Thanks for the misting fan idea Holly. That sounds like an idea I might try at the barn as well for those stuffy, hot afternoons.

Debra


Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Thursday, Jun 3, 2004 - 12:36 pm:

You're welcome. A friend has an awning attached to the side of her gooseneck and her horse is comfortable going underneath it to eat and lay down at night. They raise up high enough so the horse has plenty of heaDrOom. I'm sure with a little training, your horse would be just fine with it too.
Member:
9193

Posted on Friday, Jun 4, 2004 - 12:08 am:

You know Holly, I seem to remember seeing an ad for awnings on a horsetrailer in some magazine somewhere. When I get a little time I think I shall browse around the internet and see what I can find.

HMMMM, maybe the trailer dealership where I bought my trailer might have a thought also...

My husband is just shaking his head (grin)

Smiles,
Debra

Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jun 4, 2004 - 7:22 am:

Yes the 70% isopropyl would be more cooling than water.
DrO
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Friday, Jun 4, 2004 - 11:26 am:

Debra - Any RV dealership can line you up with an awning. They put them on campers and trailers all the time.
Member:
9193

Posted on Saturday, Jun 5, 2004 - 11:22 am:

My interest is piqued regarding the use of awnings on a horse trailer.. Does any one else use an awning on their trailer?

I remember repeatedly running into the diagnal support beam on our RV and I have visions of somebody or a horse hitting that pole, jolting the awning and causing some excitment when that big piece of cloth starts flapping up and down..

Sorry for the dramatic visual..I have no doubt a horse could get use to going under an awning and benefit from it.... Sometimes it's the people that are the hardest to train (grin)
Member:
Sparky

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 8, 2004 - 3:13 pm:

Friends just had a 16' awning put on their gooseneck trailer - cost 1200.00 Cdn installed.
Debra - you can put the posts straight up and down and spike them into the ground so they are not on the diagonal. Good conditioning is to have someone hold the horse away from the awning and have someone else stand under it with a big broom and bang it from underneith. Helps to run a hose on top and slosh the water off too. Just try to simulate anything they might experience once they are tied underneith. Then have the person bring the horse underneith and do the same things. Worked well for our horses. The main thing is to preplan and do some of this at home before you travel.
Good luck
Janet Schmidt
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC