JANUARY 2014 THE RIDER /3
Care for race horses in cold weather: ORC urges vigilance
tioned to race in cold weather,” said Cham- bers. “However, trainers should adapt for cold weather practices. For example, don’t tie tongues in such a manner that they pro- trude from the mouth. Tongues are very susceptible to freezing when temperatures drop.” He also pointed out that horses need to
Veterinary Services, suggests that any con- cerns about weather conditions impacting racing should be shared with horsepeople representatives, racing officials, track man- agement and the Official Veterinarian. He pointed out that there is an established poli- cy of allowing a trainer to scratch their horse should the trainer be concerned about the particular condition of the animal due to weather. “Race horses in Canada are condi-
bers of the racing community need to be on the alert and take extra care of their horses in cold weather. The Ontario Racing Com- mission (ORC) has advised ORC Official Veterinarians and racing officials at all racetracks to remind participants to take the necessary steps to protect the animals. Dr. Adam Chambers, ORC Manager of
With the drop in temperature, all mem-
• Allow fresh air to flow through the trailer. We may be inclined to close all the vents and load on the blankets when trailering horses in win- ter, but that can lead to overheating and respira- tory problems. Protect your horses from direct drafts, but make sure vents are open. • Use less water when bathing your horses in cold weather to facilitate quicker drying. Adding a little rubbing alcohol to the bath water will speed evaporation. • Keep horses away from direct drafts while cooling out. A horse that gets chilled after exer- cise is at risk for respiratory problems and mus- cle soreness. The coat should be dry when the horse is fully cooled.
• Warm horses up adequately. Cold muscles in cold temperatures are more susceptible to injury. • Don’t tie tongues in such a manner that they protrude from the mouth. Tongues are very sus- ceptible to freezing when temperatures are bit- ter. • Provide the animal with fuel by increasing the hay ration. Horses generate body heat by digesting plant fibres in the ‘fermentation vat’ of the cecum. A horse which drops weight in the winter may be expending too much energy trying to keep warm. Consider adding a digestible fibre product such as soaked beet pulp to the feed, rather than more grain.
• Encourage water intake by offering horses lukewarm water several times a day. Reluc- tance to drink ice-cold water can leave some horses dehydrated in winter, and that can increase the risk of impaction colic. • In extreme conditions, consider protecting the ear-tips (the most likely spot for frostbite to strike) with jumper-style ear-nets. Horses rarely get frostbite, but horses at home, especially newborn foals, very old horses, and those which are very thin, severely dehydrated, or have heart problems may be vulnerable.
racetrack paddocks are a good source of information. Additional facts on the care of horses also can be found on the ORC web site{ http://www.ontarioracingcommis-
sion.ca/
ORC Guidelines on care for horses in cold weather
http://www.ontarioracingcommission.ca/ini tiatives.aspx?id=94
fare of the horse is of paramount concern to the ORC and to members of the racing community. An effort to monitor the horse in weather extremes is in keeping with this mandate.
The protection of the health and wel-
Dr. Adam Chambers Manager of Veterinary Services
Cold Weather Action Plan
Cold Weather Care for the Horse:
is a picnic for a racehorse. Animals being asked to exert themselves extensively dur- ing brutally cold weather can suffer muscle, respiratory, and immune system challenges which can have a serious impact on their racing performance. Here are a few steps you can take to
protect your horses when racing in cold weather:
• Clip horses for winter racing. This allows for quicker drying after sweating or bathing, and a horse which dries faster is less susceptible to chilling. But clipped horses must be provided with a well-fitting blanket when not exercising, and sheltered from extremes of wind, cold, and weather.
weather conditions. Having evolved on windswept mountain steppes millennia ago, they are good at maintaining their core body temperatures even when the exterior thermometer plunges well below freezing. Their coats provide excellent water repel- lency, and their guttural pouches, at the back of the throat, are thought to help warm cold air before it makes its way down to the delicate tissues of the lungs. All in all, hors- es cope much better with winter than their human partners. That’s not to say, however, that winter
Horses are well-engineered for cold
be warmed up adequately. Offering luke- warm water several times a day will counter any reluctance to drink ice-cold water, which can leave some horses dehydrated in winter. ORC posters which are displayed in
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