06/05/2026
Fun Fact Friday!
Did you know that horses are less heat tolerant than people? That’s right, horses are 3-10 times more likely to experience negative effects associated with heat stress than people. So what does that mean for our horses? Let’s break it down!
🌡️ While a human’s normal and healthy core temperature is around 98.6 degrees F, the normal, healthy body temperature of a horse ranges from 99 to 101.5 degrees F! This means, with an already elevated healthy core temperature, their bodies may thrive in the winter but can be more susceptible to hot weather conditions.
💧Unlike people, horses have hypertonic sweat. This means when horses sweat, they lose vital electrolyte minerals. The loss of these crucial electrolytes can have a negative impact on the horse’s overall hydration.
🪣 Horses can sweat up to 2-4 gallons of sweat per hour! With vital electrolytes lost in the sweat, it is important to monitor proper hydration in hot weather!
🧂High levels of sodium and minerals in the sweat can crystallize as the sweat cools on the skin and cause skin irritation or rubs under equipment.
So what can we do to our horses?! 🐴
❄️ Prioritize cooling efforts such as fans, providing access to shade and shelters, and offering cold treats and drinks
🥤Monitor water intake and ensure that horses are receiving adequate electrolytes and salt in the diet - supplement when needed.
💦 Hose off sweaty horses with cool water to remove salt and minerals from the skin and help to remove excess heat from the horse’s body more quickly and efficiently.
At Dreams Go On, ensuring proper care and husbandry to our horses is a big part of what we do. And as part of our horsemanship skills, we teach riders to properly care for their horses too! This week, some of our riders got the opportunity to try hosing their horses off after a hot summer day. It was a practice that was effective in cooling off our horses (and riders 🤣) and put a smile on everyone’s face!
