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  Discussion on Sweaty Question
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Member:
Jgordo03

Posted on Thursday, Aug 10, 2006 - 12:22 pm:

The temperatures have been over a hundred for the last few days. Last night when I was feeding my black and white 3 year QH I noticed that from sweating during the heat of the day that salt had hardened to her coat. She has shade during the day, and plenty of fresh water, and she does have access to pasture at all times. I do have salt and a mineral block available for them at all times. I haven’t worked her at all since the weather has been so hot. The only change I have noticed is that her stool has been a little loose. Should I try and control her salt and mineral intake, I hate to do this with the weather as hot as it is. I do have her on a very low amount of feed with brome hay being her main source of nutrition. Is she just utilizing her electrolytes to keep cool? Is the salt keeping her from sweating? I work during the day, but I could get someone to come over and hose her off.
Anyone have any ideas?
Member:
Sunny66

Posted on Thursday, Aug 10, 2006 - 3:48 pm:

Hi Judith,

Having gone through a heat spell similar, I know how you feel!

Read Dr. O's article on electrolytes.

My boy was covered with the white salt every dang day... but he was none the worse for wear, I'd hose and scrape the water off him until he was cool when I got home from work around 5 pm and then again after the sun went down. However, he has very thin skin and hardly any hair! He too had a loose stool, but I attributed that to the additional water he was drinking.

All this said, I was also having to really work on a 34 year old pony and an icelandic horse to keep them comfortable, their respirations were high and they were downright uncomfortable...mine and two other arabians, however, handled the heat just fine.

How are her respirations? Is she breathing heavily? How's the humidity? Any wind to speak of?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 11, 2006 - 9:01 am:

The appearance of salt on the coat from evaporated sweat does not suggest you should control salt intake Judith. Just that the horse is sweating heavily. Is there anything odd about the amount of salt your horse is consuming?
DrO
Member:
Jgordo03

Posted on Friday, Aug 11, 2006 - 12:11 pm:

Hi Aileen and DrO,
Her respirations are fine, and her salt intake isn't above normal. I think I'll chalk it up to her dark color, my Bay TB didn't have any problems. It is cooler now, and it rained yesterday and she was back to normal last night. Thanks for the help!
Judi
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