AUGUST 2011 THE RIDER /65 When the Rider is Hot, the Horse is Hotter


Prof says horses feel summer heat 10 times faster than people


By Teresa Pitman -


A hot humid day. One rider. One horse. Both are exer- cising at a moderate level. Who is more likely to overheat? It might surprise you to know that your horse gets hotter much faster than you and is more susceptible to the negative effects of heat stress.


Prof. Michael Lindinger, an animal and exercise physiol- ogist at the University of Guelph, explains: “It only takes 17 minutes of moderate intensi- ty exercise in hot, humid weath- er to raise a horse’s temperature to dangerous levels. That’s three to 10 times faster than in humans. Horses feel the heat much worse than we do.” And the effects can be seri- ous. If a horse’s body tempera- ture shoots up from the normal 37 to 38 C to 41 C, temperatures within working muscles may be as high as 43 C, a temperature at which proteins in muscle begin to denature (cook). Horses suf- fering excessive heat stress may experience hypotension, colic and renal failure.


Lindinger, a faculty mem-


ber in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, became interested in the effects of heat on horses when he was a lead researcher on the Canadian research team that contributed information on the response of the horse to heat and humidity for the Atlanta Summer Olympics. He recently present- ed a workshop on the topic at Equine Guelph’s outdoor Equine Expo held June 4 at U of G’s Arkell Research Station. Horses are more suscepti- ble to heat for several reasons, explains Lindinger. First, they are larger and have a higher per- centage of active muscle than people do during exercise. When muscles are being used, they produce a lot of heat. Horses also rely to a signif- icant extent on sweating to cool them off. They can sweat 15 to 20 litres per hour in cool, dry conditions and up to 30 litres per hour in hot, humid condi- tions, but only 25 to 30 per cent of the sweat produced is effec- tive in cooling the horse by evaporation.


“Because so much more sweat is produced than can be evaporated, the rest just drips off the horse’s body,” says Lindinger. “By comparison, up to 50 per cent of the sweat peo-


5080 Sherkston Rd, Fort Erie


Asking $399,900


12 minutes from the Fort Erie Race Track for Quarter horse and Thoroughbred racing! Privacy abounds with this 3000+ sqft, 3br historic farm house. Open concept floor plan features original wood plank flooring, new 23’ kitchen, huge living and dining room, 1.5 baths, master bdrm with gables and spacious loft overlooking family room. Farm consists of 11+ acres, boasting two barns with 16 large box stalls in total. New 50x100 coverall arena, 2 ponds, and fully fenced paddocks and pastures. Great location only a mile from the beach and would be perfect for boarding, training, riding school, or bale and breakfast. Call for a showing today and discover what could be!!! www.5080sherkston.com


Barbara Grumme, Sales Representative 905-356-9100 • www.barbaragrumme.com


Great Escape For Horses And People


Just listed for $699,000 9560 DAGMAR ROAD Whitby, Ontario


Hobby farm located in the beautiful Oak Ridges Moraine.


On a quiet country road sits this bright and remodeled 1860 farmhouse over- looking about 10 acres of treed property. Spring fed pond, 3 paddocks, outdoor sand ring, modern 3 stall barn, garage, workshop, mature maple and fruit trees and gardens. House has four bedrooms with a large master suite. Country reno- vated kitchen and a family room with a walkout to a sunny deck. Ideal for horse and outdoor enthusiasts! Great horse trails.


Close to Glen Major conservation area, Dagmar ski hill, 407, Whitby and a short commute to Toronto.


For a private viewing: JANICE WEISFELD Sutton Group Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED 416-966-0300 • www.janiceweisfeld.com


New Listing! near Burford


Big sidesplit family home with 10 stalls in horse barns, upper hayloft. Inground pool and beautiful new ABS crisp white board fencing around pastures. Creek at back. 2.8 acres. House is nicely kept , open concept kitchen overlooks family room with fireplace. Main floor office, laundry and three piece bath. Upper three bedrooms with gorgeous brand new bathroom. finished recreation room. great horse hobby farm with access to conservation area for riding. MLS# 31182


First time Offered


in 47 Years. Original Heritage Farmstead right on the banks of the Grand River near Paris, Ontario. Early 1700's Set- tlers Log Home with second story added at later time. Old bank barn with addition. Needs updating. Dead end road. $529,900. Just 2 minutes off #403 west of Brantford in a very secluded location. Call Teri Davidson on this "exclu- sively" listed farm.


See picture of these properties at www.venturehomes.ca under Teri's Listings.


Call Teri Davidson, Broker/Owner,


Associate Realty Brantford Inc. 519-647-3330


ple produce is evaporated from our bodies during exercise and helps to cool us.”


The salts in horse sweat are also four times as concentrated as in human sweat. Lindinger refers to a photograph of an area where endurance horses had been standing while their sweaty bodies were repeatedly scraped and cooled with water. As the liquids evaporated from the ground, the soil surface was left white because of the salt in the horses’ sweat.


“Those salts have to be replaced,” he adds. “Just giving the horse water will not rehy- drate a dehydrated horse. When horses drink plain water, it dilutes their body fluids, and their bodies respond by trying to get rid of more water and more electrolytes.”


Horses also pant to dissi- pate heat, but Lindinger says this is only effective if the air is at least five degrees cooler than the horse’s body temperature. His tips for protecting horses from the harmful effects of summer heat begin with teaching your horse to drink an electrolyte solution (water with the right proportion of salts dis- solved in it) to replace sweat losses. “Start with a small amount in the water, allowing


the horse to get used to the taste, and gradually increase it over days and weeks until you have reached the manufacturer’s rec- ommendation.” Keeping your horse properly hydrated is the most important step in protect- ing it against the harmful effects of heat, he says.


If you’re preparing for a competition, Lindinger recom- mends trying to acclimatize your horse to the heat by spend- ing four hours daily, at least five days a week for three weeks, in hot conditions. For best results, exercise the horse for an hour during the second hour of each of those days.


“Many riders will train their horses in the mornings or evenings, when it’s cool, then go to a competition held during the hottest part of the day. You need to get horses used to being ridden in the heat and allow


them to develop the full spec- trum of beneficial adaptations that come with heat acclima- tion.” Lindinger says that horses who have been through a pro- cess of heat acclimation will lose more heat through sweating and respiration and will be bet- ter able to stay hydrated because they are more likely to drink. When your horse is hot, look for shade and breezes to help cool it down, but never use a blanket or “cooler” on a horse that is sweating, he adds, sug- gesting the best way to cool a horse quickly is to rinse the horse’s body repeatedly with cold water and scrape off the excess water.


“You can cool the horse two degrees in 10 minutes this way: pour on the water, scrape it off, pour on more, and just keep repeating it,” says Lindinger. “The scraping part is


important because otherwise the water will be trapped in the horse’s hair and will quickly warm up. By scraping and pour- ing on fresh, cold water you keep the cooling process going.”


Just as equestrians pack a canteen of water, some sun- screen and a hat with a brim for summer riding adventures, Lindinger says they should also equip themselves with the tools needed to protect their horses from the heat and humidity. If you prepare your horse in advance and have a plan to cool him down if he becomes over- heated, he says, even the hot, muggy days of summer can be great riding fun.


“This article was originally pub- lished in At Guelph."


13 Acres 2.68 Acres


2.68 Acres surrounded by open country fields..lots of places to ride! Circa 1800 Board and Batton four bedroom home with wide pine floors, decks, huge kitchen, two baths and fireplace. No close neighbours. Quiet tree lined country sideroad. 150 year old maples provide shade canopy to sit under and enjoy the breeze. Lots of room for pasture. $319,900 MLS # 30867


13 Acres. Custom All Brick Executive Home with three car garage, pond, run-ins and fenced pastures. House is beauti- ful with many, many upgrades and finishings, nine foot ceilings throughout, two gas fireplaces, one in luxurious master bedroom which also features a relaxing ensuite with jacuzzi. Cathedral ceilings, beamed ceilings, hardwoods and ceramic in fully equipped gormet delights kitchen. New geotherm furnace. $539,900 a great property!! MLS # 31278


50 Acre Farm Ancaster Hobby Farm


34 Acres. Ancaster Hobby farm. Set 1000' back off the road, down long laneway... this totally remodelled home features four bedrooms, main floor family room, wood- stove, three bathrooms. Workshop is board and batton built in 2000, has it's own furnace, wiring, concrete floor and hoist. Upper storey is finished and one room used as family /hobby room. 50 x 104' pole barn with gravel bottom could be converted for horses easily. Garage. pool. Lovely gar- dens and mature trees. Located at the edge of the village of Jerseyville. $649,900 MLS #29663.


50 Acre farm on desirable rural road with executive farm properties between Ancaster and Brant. House sits back off road nestled into a muskoka like setting among tall mature trees overlooking pond. Home is very spacious, well appointed, with big main floor office including separate bathroom. Three fireplaces. Formal living room. Master bedroom with ensuite. Eat -in kitchen. Main floor family room with stone patio overlooking the pond. Driveway continues back behind the pond to the horse area. Two barns, 25 stalls , one barn with upper loft. 1/2 mile banked race track..currently used by standard bred owners and trainers. Paddocks. Many varieties of trees. $879,000. MLS #30131


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68