“The average horse can live unrugged in temperatures down to 5°C”
AUTUMN is approaching; the evenings are a little cooler and rain is starting to come in sideways, sending a chill down your spine.
With winter looming, it’s time to reach for that massive, all-inone heavyweight rug to keep your horse nice and toasty. Or is it?
It is important to consider how nature has equipped different species to cope with changing seasons. The horse has developed some unique tolerances to cold and wet weather – conditions which may make us shudder but rarely bother our equine counterparts.
Horses are found throughout every climate on the planet, from the sub-zero north to the tropics and arid deserts. Their adaptations to remaining within their specifi c thermal neutral zone (TNZ) are impressive.
The term TNZ describes the ambient temperature range at which the body needs to make no additional physiological effort to warm or cool itself. Humans have a TNZ of roughly 18 to 30°C; in other words, in this zone you could stand naked and still maintain your internal core temperature without too much issue.
Horses, however, have a much larger TNZ. The average adult horse can quite happily live unrugged in temperatures down to 5°C, but how many times have you grabbed that heavyweight rug when it has been a balmy 10°C?
Right: a hand on your horse’s shoulder gives a rough guide as to whether he is too warm
BALANCING ACT
Bu hikaye Horse & Hound dergisinin September 03, 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Horse & Hound dergisinin September 03, 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Gemirande provides 24-carat magic
Venetia Williams sparkles again in the December Gold Cup and jockey brothers dead-heat
‘Happy hunting, everyone'
“The season for talks, dinners and parties has finally arrived for Tessa Waugh, whose distress about the snags of middle age fades away with some rousing festive spirits
'Monaco deserved this victory
Seemingly destined always to play the bridesmaid’s role, Harrie Smolders’ great partner Monaco finally tops an incidentpacked Rolex grand prix
'It had to end sometime'
The closure of beloved Hampshire saddlery Calcutt Sons is a loss to the hunting and wider equestrian worlds, as Octavia Pollock reports
'You couldn't want for more
The Ludlow's peaceful country makes for a day in \"hunting paradise\"
The greatest gift of all
Christmas is fast approaching and while we all like a bit of tinsel, the festive season is also a perfect time for giving to a horse charity. Niki Hinman finds out some of the options
Winter him well
A horse's winter routine can differ dramatically from his summer structure but what’s the knock-on effect? Ellie Hughes asks vets how to optimise routine management for the season
Neat feet
Excellent hoof care is a year-round concern but the winter months present their own problems. Richard Stephenson MRCVS explains the seasonal challenges afoot and how to stay one step ahead
In bygone days
Modern vets have much scientific knowledge behind them, but what about their forebears? Kieran O’Brien MRCVS opens up the world of Victorian vets in London
'When I joined the Pony Club it was just two boys and 48 girls'
Pepsi Kohler on being delightfully outnumbered by girls in the Pony Club, a leg-up from a royal and the H&H advert that changed his life
