Rising temperatures in Miami are a growing problem for humans who work or spend time outside. But they are also a growing threat to horses, riders and barn managers.
The scorching heat and dense humidity that Miami experiences — particularly in summer — are a recipe for heat exhaustion, dehydration, and even fungal skin conditions in horses. The hotter and wetter it gets, the more horses will be experiencing these dangerous symptoms, experts said. Understanding the gradual yet continuous rise in heat will be crucial for South Florida equestrian facilities and horse owners.
Daniela Marin, a 16-year-old who’s been riding for most of her life, said she experienced a problem with her horse, Fifi, who developed allergies to dust.
“My horse had a skin condition, and she had something almost like sweet itch, where they get really itchy, where a bunch of their hair gets lost,” she said. “The heat didn’t help her since it would make her sweat more, causing her to itch more.”
Because of these issues, Fifi had to be sent to New Jersey where she could be treated in a safer environment without excessive humidity and heat worsening her allergies.
Dr. Katie Hennessy, a veterinarian, wrote in a blog post last year that heat can make horses experience fungal infections including rain rot, and even ringworm. These skin issues are caused with a mixture of warm and wet conditions, where the bacteria can flourish in wet hair. Ringworm can be contagious within horses, and even to humans according to Ali Miletic in an article she wrote about common skin conditions in horses.
But a major threat, Dr. Hennessy said, is heat stress. According to her post, the high temperatures and high humidity levels can lead horses to quickly become dehydrated and develop heat exhaustion. This combination can even make horses stop sweating, which can lead to a serious condition called anhidrosis, preventing them from regulating their body temperature.
Jeronimo Fitte, who’s been running the barn at Florida Equestrian Center in Ocala for a little over a year now, said heat can also take an economic toll on a barn.
“Horses need to be clipped more times in a year because of the excessive heat and fungus,” he said in Spanish. “There’s a bigger need for people to be here to work with the horses in a hotter environment, rather than in a dry one.”
Since there needs to be more people hands on working with horses, there could be a higher demand in hiring workers, which could potentially cost a barn more money.
SOLUTIONS
One answer to the problem of rising temperatures for horses appears to be changing the time that equestrians take them out to ride.
Asked if she has ever skipped a day of riding because of hot temperatures, Marin said, “I don’t modify the days but rather the time of day, so during the middle of the day around like 12 to 1 they don’t get ridden, but after that they do”. She said if it ever got to a point where it was necessary not to ride, then they wouldn’t. But that hasn’t happened yet.
Fitte, the barn manager, also said his horses are closely monitored after they get ridden. Fungus is treated with antifungal creams. The horses also have a cool down routine, which is crucial to be followed by everyone who rides, to ensure no heat stress on a horse.
On top of that, adjustments are made to the horses’ stables by providing fans in each of their stalls, so they can be properly cooled after a long day of riding. The barn is also focused on educating young riders on the dangers the heat can bring to horses and how to care for them.
As the temperature continues to rise, South Florida horses will be prone to suffering more than those in a drier climate, experts say. But as long as these horses are closely monitored and continuously cared for, then they can be managed. Making sure that the people working in a barn care deeply for the horse’s health is key. Working closely with vets is also essential, but with the proper care horses can live long, and more importantly, healthy lives.
