This message is from: "Debby" <debby.s...@earthlink.net>
My little pony didn't sweat, mostly in the month of July, that’s the worse month I think, but anywhere from May until October, depends a lot on the temp and the humidity, and the demand of work. I'd been told by the vet when the temp and the humidity causes the heat index to be over 92degrees, ones that have an issue with sweating, should not be worked, should be in a stall with fans, lots of them. We have a fly control system so no flies in the barn.
I do as one mentioned in Florida. I'm in Texas. Out by 6am, earlier if possible, in no later than 11am or noon, depends on temp., and then might get to go out for an hour or so around 6pm, while I remuck the stalls, prepare their bedding for the night. I have runs off of the stalls, so they can stay in or go out, its their choice. I have one that one skeeter will send her running. The others I'd had, I've lost many of my guys these last years, but they would be out and be in. I think the fly control will "coat" them some and helps to keep the skeeters at bay.
My little one that didn't sweat, he had a mister on him, and stayed in and was not worked in the summers. He had a black coat, seems they suffer. I'd think the fjords, with a bit more muscle might have more issues. I think I'd heard Morgans suffer from it a lot, maybe even Friesians.
The first summer we were in Missouri, the vet lost horses in just one day from the no sweating, there temps. are just too high, my guys was close to 104/105. Cold well water spraying, fans blowing on him, scraping and scraping and adding more cold well water...got his temp down. Our mister is electric powered, very fine mist. And we ran it on a timer. Don’t want the horses wet from it, just the air cooled. Drops the temps by about 15 to 20 degrees. But if its humid outside, you have to be careful...
Debby in raining Texas, thanks be to God! Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
