🔥 Vet Guide: Too Hot to Ride Your Horse? | 2025 Summer Heat Safety, Dehydration & Riding Risk Tips 🐴

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

When summer rolls in and the mercury rises, many horse owners ask the same question: **“Is it too hot to ride today?”** Extreme heat affects horses just like it affects humans—and sometimes, even more severely. 🧠🌡️

In this 2025 guide, I’ll share an easy formula for assessing heat stress risk, how to spot danger signs, and what to do to keep your horse cool and safe. ☀️💧

📊 The 130–170 Rule: A Quick Heat Stress Check

Developed by the researchers at Kentucky Equine Research, a reliable method for estimating heat stress risk is to **add the temperature in Fahrenheit to the percentage humidity**. The total tells you how much heat stress your horse might face. 🧪

Here’s how to use it:

• 🌤️ Less than 130: Low risk—safe to ride normally
• ⚠️ 130–150: Moderate risk—monitor carefully
• 🚫 Over 150: High risk—limit or avoid work, especially if humidity is high
• 💥 Over 170: Critical risk—do not ride; horse may be unable to dissipate heat at all

Humidity plays a huge role—when it’s over 50%, your horse’s ability to sweat and cool down drops drastically. 💧

🔥 How Horses Lose Body Heat

Horses cool themselves using several mechanisms, including:

• 💦 **Sweating**: The primary method—but it's only effective when sweat can evaporate
• 🌬️ **Exhaling warm air**
• 🩸 **Dilating skin blood vessels** to release heat through the skin

However, when the **air temperature is near or above body temperature (around 101.5°F)**, these systems struggle to keep up—especially if the air is humid. 😓

💧 The Sweat Factor: Fluid and Electrolyte Loss

A horse working in hot, humid conditions can lose **over 7 gallons of sweat per hour**. That’s not just water—it’s also essential electrolytes like:

• 🧂 Sodium
• 🧂 Chloride
• 🧂 Potassium

This rapid fluid loss leads to **dehydration**, muscle cramps, fatigue, and heat stroke if not corrected quickly. 💀

Prevention Tips:

• 💧 Provide cool, clean water at all times
• 🧂 Offer electrolytes before and after exercise
• 🌳 Provide shade and hose off with cool water when needed

🌡️ Monitor Your Horse’s Temperature

A horse’s **normal temperature** is between 99.5°F and 101.5°F. It can rise during exercise, but should stay **under 103°F**. If it climbs **above 105°F**, you are in dangerous territory. 🚨

Signs of Heat Stress Include:

• 🐎 Excessive or complete lack of sweating (anhidrosis)
• 🌬️ Rapid breathing or panting
• 📉 Lethargy or stumbling
• ⚠️ Elevated heart rate and temperature

If your horse shows these signs, **stop all activity immediately** and begin cooling. Contact your vet if symptoms persist. 🧠

🚫 When Not to Ride

Cancel or postpone your ride if:

• 🌡️ Temperature + humidity exceeds **150** (especially with high humidity)
• 🌞 The air is hot **and** stagnant with no breeze
• 💦 Your horse isn’t drinking or looks dull and exhausted

Heat stroke is a medical emergency—don’t take the risk. 🧠❗

📲 Use Ask A Vet for Heatwave Support

The Ask A Vet app helps you make informed decisions during heat spikes or summer training:

• 📱 Check real-time temp/humidity risk scores
• 📋 Get advice on electrolyte types and doses
• 🧠 Ask about symptoms if your horse overheats
• 📊 Track hydration, temperature, and post-ride recovery

Be proactive with the tools that protect your horse. 🐴📲

✅ Summer Heat Riding Tips for 2025

• 🧪 Add temperature (°F) and humidity (%) to assess risk
• 🌡️ Over 150 = avoid strenuous work
• 💧 Horses may sweat **over 7 gallons per hour** in heat
• 🧠 Heat stroke signs = stop, cool, and call your vet
• 📱 Use Ask A Vet for electrolyte support and risk guidance

📲 Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

Hot weather doesn’t mean you have to put your horse away—but it does mean you have to **think smarter**. Use the 130–170 formula, keep your horse hydrated, and be willing to change plans when conditions aren’t safe. Riding in the heat requires preparation, awareness, and the right tools. 🧠💙

Download the Ask A Vet app to monitor risk, track symptoms, and get expert support all summer long in 2025. 🐎📱