A horse’s body is nearly 70% water and horses are designed to lose heat through sweat and do this extremely efficiently during the summer months especially when they are being exercised. However, horses also lose heat by increased respiration, which causes the horse to lose more water. Equine sweat is hypertonic which means that it contains a higher concentration of salts than in actual body fluid – which means that a sweating horse loses proportionately more electrolytes than water. One litre of sweat is estimated to dissipate heat resulting from 1-2min of extreme work or about 5min of sub-maximal work, be it summer or winter.
Bio-Chemist Will Douglas explains more and Amy Stovold gives her personal advice.
