Caring for horses in hot weather - Caring for horses in tropical climate

There is a rather big difference between hot weather and tropical climate. Even moderate climate area can have hot weather - usually for a few days or weeks, may be one or two month in summertime - and tropical climate where it is hot day and night all the year or at least most of the year.

Horses origin from moderate climate and have often difficulties adjusting to tropical conditions. I got my experience from living many years in Thailand, working with horses.

High temperature leads to overheating. Provide shade, airflow and access to clean water. Avoid riding in the sun, ride carefully and less than you would in moderate climate. Give the horse more breaks in walk. Clip horses with long hair! Transport horses during the cooler part of day, make sure the trailer is well ventilated and do not park in sunlight with horses inside! Do not forget to provide water at stops.

Horses with anhidrosis ( little or no ability to produce sweat) are prime candidates for heat stress increase intake of electrolytes and salt. Provide turnout during cooler times of the day. Early morning or late in the evening.

Cooling an overheated horse:

Everybody will tell you to spray your horse with cool - or better - cold water. Unfortunately in hot countries there is no cool water coming out off a faucet or water hose! It's lukewarm. So you need ice, lots of ice. Take a bucket with ice water and with a big sponge wash down your horse. Important thing is that you scrape water off and repeat it until the hyperventilating eases and the body temperature goes down your horse. You can sponge the whole body. Do not put a wet towel on top of the horse, that will keep the heat in.