|
|
Post by cardicorgi on Jul 24, 2006 12:40:23 GMT -5
I'm not used to this 100-104º heat, and know diddly-squat about horse-keeping in it. We've had a fairly lively debate at the barn where I board about whether it is better to keep the horses in during the day (which means no turn-out at all and often sweltering stalls), or to let them stay out until 3:00ish, and then bring them in and hose them off. (I'm of the latter opinion) I've been hosing my gelding off at 3 and then at 6, turning the fan on him, and leaving his stall door open with a stall-guard across it.
What do you all do with your horses in this weather?
|
|
|
|
Post by Just Jolene on Jul 24, 2006 12:45:41 GMT -5
Including all the neighbor's boarders, (20 horses) I was the only person around our area to turn out Saturday. It was hot hot hot in the barn, so I figured why not? Then I second guessed myself the rest of the day.  |
|
|
|
Post by huskiesnhorses on Jul 24, 2006 12:52:05 GMT -5
I always feel they are better off outside - shade or no shade - as long as they have access to cool clean water. It is so much more humid in the stall - so the more humid it is - the less cooling ability they have - unless like you say - you have some really good fans going - which most barns don't.
I went to the place I board Chewy at - at 3 pm - took him out, hosed him down really good (he did all the standard 'ooo the water's too cold thoroughbred dance' - put on his fly sheet (which manuf. claims keeps them 10 degrees cooler) and his fly mask - turned him out and he was running and bucking for the first 5 minutes he felt so good!
So he was out in the sun for about 2 hours - it was about 95 and high humidity and he did great - very comfortable - no sweating.
|
|
|
|
Post by diamondindykin on Jul 24, 2006 13:05:32 GMT -5
My barn stays very cool but I still turn my horses out during the day. Their pasture has no shelter but it does have a row of trees that offers some shade. I have never seen them stand by them though. I freshen the water every couple of hours to make sure it is good and cool but they really seem to enjoy being out grazing all day. Horses can tolerate alot more heat than us humans can  |
|
|
|
Post by shireluver on Jul 24, 2006 14:02:13 GMT -5
Generally, I will turn out about 8-9 at night,and leave them out all nght until around noon the next day. At the barn I was at though, it was cooler in the barn then outside, and outside, the horses had no shade.
|
|
|
|
Post by cardicorgi on Jul 24, 2006 14:21:22 GMT -5
I noticed that none of the gelding thugs used the (minimal) shade provided by the trees yesterday -  - but they had some fine rolls in the dust - and my TB would CANTER to and from the water trough! One woman was convinced that the horses that were turned out were stressed from the heat, but I didn't notice a whit of difference. |
|
|
|
Post by diamondindykin on Jul 24, 2006 14:33:49 GMT -5
Since I was out of town all weekend my horses did not get to go to their big pasture which is at the neighbors house. They grazed out on the little pasture adjacent to the barn so basically they could come and go to the barn as they chose. My daughter said that they stayed out in the pasture all day and they were still there when I came home last night. They did drink 100 gallons of water between the four of them in one day though  |
|
twhgal
Full BB Member
Posts: 124
|
Post by twhgal on Jul 24, 2006 14:45:33 GMT -5
Glad I read this thread - I was beginning to think I just had really stupid horses, as they will stand or lay in the sun instead of going to the shade!  I guess it all goes back to "You can lead a horse to water..." New version: "You can give a horse shade, but you can't make them use it." |
|
bsnlark
Junior BB Member
SAFE Adopter
SAFE's Larkspur and Ishmeal n Buckwheat, too
Posts: 71
|
Post by bsnlark on Jul 24, 2006 15:08:42 GMT -5
im beginning to wonder if the salt (sweat ) crust gives them some sort of protection...( not )
Buck will stand forever under the hose, Lark on the other hand, or maybe its standard Tb behavior, hates the hose or water spray....
i leave them out 24/7 ( tons of trees & barn shelter ) and last nite, early evening Buck was under the sprinkler in the pasture cooling off and lark just hovered on the outside edge, not really getting wet, but enjoying the wet breeze ......
|
|
|
|
Post by Just Jolene on Jul 24, 2006 15:20:43 GMT -5
im beginning to wonder if the salt (sweat ) crust gives them some sort of protection...( not ) Buck will stand forever under the hose, Lark on the other hand, or maybe its standard Tb behavior, hates the hose or water spray.... i leave them out 24/7 ( tons of trees & barn shelter ) and last nite, early evening Buck was under the sprinkler in the pasture cooling off and lark just hovered on the outside edge, not really getting wet, but enjoying the wet breeze ...... Does Lark have a tattoo? I ask because my mare is an OTTB and would fight you for the hose and would accept indefinite spraying. She always goes for a little run afterwards, like she's reminiscing about her track days ;D |
|
|
|
Post by schwung on Jul 24, 2006 17:25:08 GMT -5
Lark has papers (that reminds me Peggy, PM me your address and I will mail them to you!) but did not race and so is not tattooed.
My TBs all are used to being sprayed but finicky about the temperature. Can't be too cold! Unfortunately, cold water baths are all they get anymore, no more fancy hot/cold washracks at my house so they just have to suffer!
|
|
|
|
Post by diamondindykin on Jul 24, 2006 18:24:48 GMT -5
My TBs all are used to being sprayed but finicky about the temperature. Can't be too cold! Unfortunately, cold water baths are all they get anymore, no more fancy hot/cold washracks at my house so they just have to suffer! Well.....I think that I am going to have to call the authorities on you missy! That is just cruel to make those poor horses be sprayed with COLD water!! How could you Someone on another board had a great idea to put up one of those soaker hoses in the horses stalls to act as a mister!! I told my husband about it and he also rolled his eyes the same way he did when I told him we needed to go to Home Depot and get some box fans for the horses stalls |
|
|
|
Post by cardicorgi on Jul 24, 2006 18:26:02 GMT -5
;D Mine does that too - which used to be a problem when I'd lead him out of the washrack - not anymore, though. He's a total water prankster - throws his head in the trough outside and splashes the other horses, who . Since Lark never raced, I'm guessing she didn't get the same treatment that our OTTBs had (lots of baths/leg rubdowns, etc)... |
|
bsnlark
Junior BB Member
SAFE Adopter
SAFE's Larkspur and Ishmeal n Buckwheat, too
Posts: 71
|
Post by bsnlark on Jul 24, 2006 18:51:21 GMT -5
Yea, Lark mentioned that the only racing she ever got to do was wen she cud run away from the yearly lineup of studs they provided her...... Does this then make her a Stud Muffin  ? |
|
|
|
Post by trillium on Jul 24, 2006 22:17:03 GMT -5
My horse loves her box fan. Stands there with her forlock blowing in the breeze! AHHHH...
I allow my horses to decide when to go into the barn since they always have access to their stalls. They do seem to go in when the sun is at its highest in the sky. It is funny cause when one of them decides to go in, it seems like they all go in. They all have seperate pastures too with at least one shade tree in every pasture.
|
|
- but they had some fine rolls in the dust - and my TB would CANTER to and from the water trough! 
I guess it all goes back to "You can lead a horse to water..." New version: "You can give a horse shade, but you can't make them use it."
?