The hot horse comes in all shapes and sizes. The summer season opens the door for these physical characteristics to present themselves through encouragement of their development. The excess heat in the horse’s body can present clinically in many forms from a horse that can’t sweat (anhidrosis), to one with a high strung attitude, skin …
Anhidrosis is a common problem, impacting upwards of 10% of horses, usually subjected to high heat and humidity for prolonged periods of time. It is an important condition, as its presence can impact stamina, recovery and overall ability by the owner to exercise their horse. Sweat production is vital for the body, not only to aid in detoxication, but also in thermoregulation, so when the horse cannot sweat, they can quickly overheat. Solutions are sporadic, with some of these therapies helping a few horses, while others do not benefit. Hopefully, if we take a deeper look into this condition, we can arrive at some potential options to improve management.
