☀️ Teaching Tuesday: How Heat & Humidity Affect Horses ☀️

Summer is here, and while we’re reaching for cold drinks and air conditioning, our horses rely on sweating to cool down—but that’s only effective if the sweat can actually evaporate. When it’s hot and humid, that natural cooling system struggles.

🧠 Here’s why it matters:

Horses generate a lot of heat when they move—especially during riding or therapy sessions. But if the humidity is high, their sweat just sits on their skin instead of evaporating. That means they can overheat quickly, even during light activity.

That’s why we closely monitor both temperature and humidity using the heat index.

👉 If the heat index (temp + humidity) is 150 or more, we do not ride. It’s not worth the risk. This rule comes from trusted veterinary experts.

Here’s what we do to help our herd stay cool:

🌿 Reduce time and intensity of sessions

💧 Provide cool, clean water before and after work

🧊 Cool horses off with hose baths and fans

🌤 Keep them in shaded areas during peak heat

🕐 Adjust our schedule to avoid the hottest hours of the day

Our horses are the heart of our program—and just like our riders, they deserve the very best care. Thanks for trusting us to keep everyone safe and cool this summer! 🐴💙

📸 Graphic courtesy of the American Association of Equine Practitioners

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