Dangerous Heat I had 3 down at once

[Marty]

I arrived home a little later than expected from town yestarday and while I was gone the heat had risen to highly dangerous proportions.

I left the pasture gate open so that the Prancers could get in the much cooler barn to stand in there, but they were still out in the field when I got home.

I had three down, and the rest of the horses were wobbeling, staggering and their backs were burning hot to the touch.

I got them all up and in pairs of twos' I got them all hosed down on the wash rack and they got put in the barn under the fans with a very sloppy watery beet pulp with gatorade added to it and everyone was fine after that. There's nothing better than getting soaked in the hose with your horses during days like these. I ended up in a water fight with Dan and oh, guess who loves his bath now more than anyone else? Yup, Timmy the weenie will stand under a hose without being tied up just loving it.

I've said it before and I"ll say it again, they just don't always know what is best for them. I can't trust them to know when to head for the barn by themselves. Darn.

I've also said in the past that my barn is a using barn and boy, it's really getting a work-out. So am I having to pick stalls 3 and 4 times a day now but it's worth it knowing that they are comfortable.

For the horses that have big thick long manes, I'm putting those into braids to give them some more relief under that side of their necks, and of course it's scrunchie time for the forelocks anyhow.

I brought my little cooler out there and filled it with gatorade for them (and for me too) and a lounge chair and my little TV so I'm all set up to watch them and not have to miss Dr. Phil.

They'll be back in the barn today before noon today under the fans.

Be careful you guys!

:

 

[Marnie]

I agree that the horses do not know whats best for them. They'll be out grazing in it and the foals stretched out sleeping in the hot sun. I have a big old cinder block barn, the same as your's is made out of Marty but mines an old dairy barn, all gutted out. So it's big and in the morning, I call the whole herd in and shut them in. But I leave the ends open, just gates so the breeze blows through. I spray the flys and have my fans going, they have there feed in there and a fresh water fountain, waters always cool. In the evening, I let them out to graze. We had the hottest day in 11 yrs yesterday, I don't remember what they said it was. But I think this heat is dangerous to the animals too.

 

[Relic]

Hi Marty.. hope that horrid heat down there lets up soon for you guys.

 

[lyn_j]

[SIZE=14pt]We are having 102 today here in Richmond so I just go out periodically and put ice in the water buckets for horses and dogs. They are still managing pretty well, thank God. We are expected to have over 100 for the next three days![/SIZE]

Lyn

 

[~Palomino~]

Its been really hot here the past couple of weeks and the horses love being hosed down. But yesterday and today its cloudy and cold! I am sitting in the computer room right by the window and the wind is blowing in, and I am getting close to actually being cold!! Its so nice!! Knock on wood!

I hope all of you can get a little break like I am getting from the heat!

We were talking and we always laugh cause when winter comes around we always say I am NEVER going to complain about Summer again and then when summer comes we always say I am NEVER going to complain about winter, and so on.

Gage

 

[bfogg]

Mine come in about 10:30 and get a cup of grain,hay,get resprayed ,and go under their fans.

They will be standing outside hanging around so think they like it okay.

I went to Rite Aid a few years ago and got the wind tunnel fans, they are in a frame and you can set them in different positions so can direct them wherever I want.

However I have found they will learn real quick where to stand.

Its almost like you can see them go ahhh...........

:

I also have a little playpool outside which they pretty much ignore........except to stick one foot in and once water is dirty then their happy!

I spend a lot of time and (money) cleaning stalls but oh well.

I go thru 3-4 bags of shavings a week for 2 minis!! So greatest expense is shhavings at 4.25 a bag.

Bon

 

[Jill]

We are really lucky that our paddocks all have a lot of shade. The mare lot barely even has any areas of full sun (maybe 5% sun spots). They are going through A LOT of water, of course...

 

[horsehug]

I feel for you guys with that extreme heat, but it sounds like you all take excellent care not to let your horses get too hot.

Here where I am , not too far from Gage, I only know of one day in recorded history that it ever went above 100. Today is downright cold feeling with the breeze to go along with temps in the 50's right now. I was thinking of clipping my other foals but now am thinking maybe I should not take my blankets off the ones I did clip today!

We have been having temps in the mid 90's for a couple of weeks before this but I work outside best in warm weather and am one who literally never complains about our heat, because winter is much harder on me and it lasts here forever!

Susan O.

 

[chandab]

I feel for you guys with that extreme heat, but it sounds like you all take excellent care not to let your horses get too hot.

Here where I am , not too far from Gage, I only know of one day in recorded history that it ever went above 100. Today is downright cold feeling with the breeze to go along with temps in the 50's right now. I was thinking of clipping my other foals but now am thinking maybe I should not take my blankets off the ones I did clip today!

We have been having temps in the mid 90's for a couple of weeks before this but I work outside best in warm weather and am one who literally never complains about our heat, because winter is much harder on me and it lasts here forever!

Susan O.

Susan,

You took the words right out of my mouth. We were have miserably hot days for several weeks, then the last couple days are just in the mid 70s to 80s. The last couple morning it's only been like 55-58 when I get up.

 

[horsehug]

Chanda,

It started really raining when I was out feeding and I got drenched! haha

It is 50 degrees still at 11:30 AM. I sure wish I could share my temps with those of you in that awful heat!

Susan O.

 

[ChrystalPaths]

It is 1:45 in NY and it is 103 in the hollow, the barn is at 90 so the kids are out. I have 2 firehouse exhaust fans (used for getting smoke out of buildings) blowing on them,(they luv em and don't feel hot to the touch) just gave them each a cut up apple and some frozen water jugs to play with. Yea like they feel like playing!

: I'm going to run to the store for some rubber bands, I never thought of how heavy and hot the manes can be, I had to remove the fly masks as they were pouring sweat inside. I can't take the heat, feel yukky, but I'm running around 1/2 naked trying to do my best. Drink lots of water, eat grapes, drink more water...OMG it's hot! I opened the cellar door for the dogs, it's 72 in there. If this keeps up, I'm going to bed a bedroom with shavings and take the girls down there...seriously! Stay safe all! :saludando:

 

[~Palomino~]

Susan, it rained like crazy here too! I had to put a sweat shirt on for a while cause I was so cold! If it was 10-15 degrees warmer I think it would be PERFECT!!

I am sorry that all your are dyeing in the heat! Like Susan I wish I could share some of the cool temps with you

Gage

 

[Hosscrazy]

You've got the heatwave we had last week - it was horrible. There were even pictures on the news of a freeway just north of us that melted in the heat, along with newspaper stands on curbs that were plastic puddles. :no:

I ended up clipping my horses again - your winters obviously are much worse than mine, so I'm not sure if that is an option for you.

I set up extra fans for the horses - some in the stalls, and I a couple outside by the fence line (far enough so that the horses could not reach the fan, but close enough so that it provided some relief). I also hosed down their paddock 3-4 times a day, hosed down the trees, and put ice in their water buckets.

Agreed - this was NOT a fun heatwave. :no:

Liz R.

 

[hhpminis]

Marty

Thanks for the reminder. We have had some really hot days here but it has now cooled down, thank goodness.

I find that especially the foals will just lay flat out in the sun and it scares the soup out of me.

I have trees in my pasture and I turn a sprinkler on for them. THey seem to be pretty sensible this year and are standing in the sprinkler and under the trees a lot thank goodness.

I built a mister for my barn and it has helped a lot as well. I went to Home Depot and got parts for a drip system with the fogger tips and a continuous 1/4" line with the fogger tips about every 5 feet and it does really work. I have the fog in front of fans and it takes the stalls down about 10 degrees.

 

[Cathy_H]

Just hosed mine down before I turned them out to pasture.. Of course one rolled too close to the fence & got hung so I had to go rescue that one. Watch your horses folks as they most likely will roll ........................ Lee headed out to Congress this morning - boy am I glad that I didn't go... These hot flashes & this humidity makes for some sweaty burning eyes.

 

[RobinRTrueJoy]

WOW! I hope they are all better now. Mine are moving slower and slower with this 100 degree heat. I have been adding electrolytes to their feed, cooling their water.

I was supposed to have a professional photographer come to shoot pics of the minis but she cancelled due to the heat.

 

[KanoasDestiny]

I agree with Hosscrazy. I live about 2 hours from her, and I saw on the news that the heat wave California had for the past month, is now moving East to you guys. It was not an easy heat!!! We had 114 degree weather but it was humidish also, when we are usually dry.

For the past few days, we have been much cooler (temps barely in the 90's, 84 now and it is almost noon). We are actually turning our coolers off some now, and not having to hose the horses anymore. Hopefully, we will be sharing this weather with you guys soon!!!

 

[FairytailGlennMinis]

I am a couple of hours southwest of Lyn and it is 100 on the button here right now. We are under heat advisories with the heat indexes between 105 and 110. Just at the edge of our county towards Lyn it changes to a higher grade warning with a heat index of 110-115 and overnight isn't supposed to drop below 90. This is just awful! I have fans up for my babies in the shed and that is about all I can do for now I guess.

-Amy

 

[Danielle_E.]

We have officially reached 48 celcius with humidex - translates to 118 degrees farenheit in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) !!!! :no:

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Our heatwave has just broken- maybe yours will soon??

Have you ever tried hanging a lawn sprinkler from a pole- upside down- and putting it on low???

Instant gentle shower.

Mine have the river to stand in or, in Oscars case, his grandfathers feed bin =which i turned into a paddling pool for him- all mine had the sense to stand in the shade and I have plenty of it, luckily. I did worry though.