Feeding Horses in Hot Weather
Posted: Thu, 26th Nov 2020
Our Official Nutrition Partner Ranvet gives us some advice ahead of the predicted heatwave across the State.
Feeding to minimise heat waste
In a hard working horse or those horses working over long distance, additional digestive heat increases the ‘heat load’ which needs to be lost for effective cooling. If this heat load is not lost, severe repercussions such as elevated heart rate, increased respiratory rate and poor postexercisve recovery may be experienced. Certain individuals, such as hyper-energetic horses or those with a disposition to be nervous or excitable, have a propensity to be more severely affected by hot, humid environmental conditions.
General feeding principles in hot and humid Climates
Adjusting feed is useful in hot climates whereby horses are subject to performance stress, dehydration, excessive electrolyte loss and premature fatigue.
1. Minimise Heat Waste
q In a horse that is heavily exercised, the amount of fibrous feed may be reduced to a MINIMUM SAFE LEVEL in order to ensure maintenance of gastro-intestinal health (0.5-1% of bodyweight daily). This will ensure adequate gut health and function whilst simultaneously storing adequate water and electrolyte reserves to prevent dehydration, in the absence of unnecessary heat production.
2. Tailor Dietary Requirements
- Ensure the total amount of roughage as hay and chaff is maintained at a minimum of 25-30% by weight of the ration.
- Reduce the weight and volume of the ration by substituting lower energy containing feeds (such as chaff and oats) for higher energy dense grains such as extruded barley or cracked/ extruded corn.
- Aim to achieve a ration containing approximately 3% fat. Horses are able to utilise up to 30% of the diet substituted as fats, however, introduction of oils should be done progressively at 30-40ml increments weekly until the desired leel is achieved.
- Dampen feeds where possible to minimise respiratory burden whilse also increasing the involuntary daily fluid intake.
- Provide a balanced electrolyte daily.
3. Feeding Practices
- Where possible, it is preferable to divide the total daily feed volume of concentrate (grain/ protein meals), hay, chaff and electrolytes into three small meals. This prevents excessive overloading of the digestive tract while also minimising the heat of digestion which may increase core body temperature.
- Consider that higher energy dense feeds provide a smaller volumer and reduced heat waste while providing the necessary caloric intake for adequate energy provision.
General Management Guidelines
The following points outline some general management steps for better recovery when in hot and humid climates;
- Remove all tack, particularly that restricting breathing (girth) and impeding heat loss from lower limbs such as bandaging or padding. This will allow a quicker recovery and allow the tendons and lower limbs to lose heat rapidly.
- Hose the horse immediately following exercise. Additionally, walking the horse will further aid air flow and encourage evaporation.
- Allow the horse to adequately cool prior to transporting. Travelling immediately, particlarly with other heated horses, will increase the trapped heat within the confined space of a trailer or truck and encourage further sweating and therefore valuable electrolyte losses. Adequate airflow should also be ensured whilst travelling.
- Pre-cooling the horse prior to exercise aids in delaying the accumulation of body heat as the core temperature increases during exercise. The evaporation of water from the coat during work also aids to lower the core temperature and may significantly reduce sweat loss under hot and humid conditions.
Supplements to include in hot and humid conditions?
Salkavite provides all essential electrolytes that a horse in work loses including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate and sulfate as well as additional B-group vitamins.
Racing Oil supplies a palatable supplementary source of energy with Linolenic (Omega 3) and Linoleic (Omega 6) fatty acids in appropriate balance. Additionally, the supplementation of dietary oil has beneficial effects to aerobic performance, whereby the use of dietary fats spare muscle glycogen stores, thus extending endurance and minimising lactic acid build-up.
Electro Paste provides a concentrated, portable source of B-group vitamins, electrolytes and anti-oxidants including Vitamin E, to rapidly replenish body stores depleted by hard exericise or transportation.
