| Seriously though - people seem to assume horses | | | | horses out in the evening and keeping them |
| will be fine in summer and only worry about | | | | stabled in the day during summer, to minimise |
| winter, but horses overheat easily. | | | | exposure to blazing sun and flies. This only works |
| I was walking my dog early this morning to avoid | | | | if the stables are cool and well ventilated, |
| the heat and I noticed a field of lovely horses of | | | | otherwise they can quickly become furnace-like. |
| all different varieties, shapes and sizes, all | | | | So enclosing them in a really airless wooden stable |
| clustered under one small tree. It was already | | | | isn't the answer; they will just as easily fry in |
| getting warmer and on closer inspection (in fact I | | | | there - unless of course its brick or concrete |
| scoured the whole field) they were doing their | | | | which are much cooler. All this calls for is a bit of |
| best to stay cool because the water supply they | | | | common sense - if you would get hot closed in |
| had was totally inadequate. | | | | there then so will they. |
| Now taking aside the care of these particular | | | | The other thing I wanted to mention is that you |
| horses (which I can assure you I will be dealing | | | | may also be unaware that there is another |
| with...) I wondered how many other well meaning | | | | potentially serious condition in horses that can |
| owners were assuming their horses were ok in | | | | easily be confused with straight forward sunburn, |
| summer? Dogs, cats, and even horses with | | | | and that's Photosensitization. |
| sparse hair and light colored hair and skin are | | | | Photosensitization is a potentially serious skin |
| more susceptible to sun related diseases. Sunburn | | | | condition characterized by sunburned, crusty skin |
| is painful in animals just as in people, and it is | | | | that can die and slough away. It is usually caused |
| recommended to keep your pet or horse out of | | | | by a reaction to something the horse has eaten, |
| the sun especially during the summer from 10 am | | | | but the skin problem doesn't appear until the |
| to 4 pm. Horses can be protected in a barn ; | | | | horse is exposed to sunlight. Three factors |
| even a shade tree can really help. But the point is | | | | contribute to the development of |
| that they do need some protection from the sun. | | | | photosensitization: -Presence of a photoactivating |
| There are numerous cancers that can affect the | | | | substance in the skin; -Exposure to UV light; and |
| skin of animals and most are related to sun | | | | -Lack of skin pigment which enables more light to |
| exposure. Sunscreen can be used on animals but | | | | penetrate the skin. Removal from the sun should |
| may be difficult to use in a haired area. Also, you | | | | provide immediate relief. Exposure to the sun |
| must be careful your pet does not lick the | | | | causes a chemical reaction in the skin which can |
| sunscreen as it could be hazardous. There are | | | | be painful. Affected horses can be turned out at |
| even sun suits available for your pet to prevent | | | | night and housed out of direct sunlight during the |
| skin exposure, although the pet may get hot in | | | | day. Recovery can be a prolonged process |
| these or may chew them off. So there really is | | | | depending on the extent of skin damage and loss. |
| no substitute for providing them with the proper | | | | Many horses with light skin can get sunburned. If |
| environmental conditions. | | | | your horse develops severe skin lesions after |
| The single most important way to counter the | | | | exposure to the sun, it's always wise to seek |
| impact of hot weather is to give horses free | | | | advice from your veterinarian to find out the |
| access to clean, fresh water. Like humans, horses | | | | cause the cause. |
| control their temperature through sweating. | | | | Humans are constantly reminded by |
| However, this can lead to dehydration if the | | | | dermatologists about exposure to the sun and the |
| water and minerals aren't promptly replenished. | | | | risk of skin damage and cancer. Although you |
| The safest solution is to install plenty of troughs | | | | may not have ever considered it before, our pets |
| and keep them full, as shallow water is | | | | can also be susceptible to diseases related to |
| sometimes hard to reach for smaller horses or | | | | excessive sun exposure. So next time you see |
| ponies. Choosing self-filling troughs is the easiest, | | | | an animal that is not sufficiently protected, have a |
| though costliest, option, as long as owners ensure | | | | care, and even at the risk of some verbal abuse, |
| the water is clean and that horses are drinking it. | | | | let the owner know (as diplomatically as possible) |
| A number of experts also advocate turning | | | | that they could do better. |