Heat Stress in Sport Horses

Heat stress in (sport) horses is a poorly understood phenomenon. Not only are the signs or easy diagnostic tests unknown, but also the most appropriate methods to cool down horses under heat stress. Horse owners too often try to cool horses from a human point of view, which is often counterproductive and leads to problems of welfare, health and performance in the horse.

This practical guide firstly provides a review of occurrence of heat stress, the easy to detect signs and simple diagnostic tests. It then addresses a few devices to measure the level of heat stress risks, with their advantages and disadvantages. Methods of cooling are presented, leading to the best possible way to cool horses. Management measures are then covered.

The next issue concerns the latest development of equine cooling devices which meet the physiological requirements of horse cooling (cooling must be immediate, rapidly and appropriately).

In the last section of this text, the susceptibility for heat stress of riders and grooms are discussed and practical measures are addressed. This text is rather new in the equine world, although similarities exist between competition riders and other professionals such as underground miners. The text is highlighted with a series of Tables, Figures and Photos to illustrate the statements made.

It is a misunderstanding that heat stress effects only occur in top sport horses during endurance or in Racehorses. It is emphasized here that heat stress can also and easily affect other horses, like those in jumping, dressage, eventing, cross-country and hunting, draught-horses and even in horses kept for pleasure only.

This book is a concise, comprehensive, practical field guide for all horse owners - sport riders for national and international competitions in particular - as well as for their grooms and veterinary equine practitioners.