Cooling Solutions for Equine Facilities: Protecting Horses from Heat Stress

Horses hate the heat, just like we do. Imagine standing in a hot barn or stable all day long in the blistering summer sun. The heat tires you out, makes you dehydrated, and puts you at risk for heat-related illnesses. While humans can walk back into the air-conditioning and get a cold drink, your horse can’t.

Fortunately, there are powerful cooling systems for stables and barns like portable evaporative coolers that keep horses safer, cooler, and more comfortable. In this article, we’ll show you how to recognize signs of heat stress in horses, treat it, and prevent the issue through effective equine facility cooling solutions.

So, do horses really get heat stress?  

Like humans, horses can develop serious heat-related medical conditions. Horses are at a greater risk for heat stress, in fact, due to their body composition. They have less surface area relative to their mass, so they don’t have enough skin to adequately cool themselves down through sweating. Humans can handle exercise in the heat for up to 10 times longer than horses, meaning that by the time you start feeling hot, your horse has already been struggling to regulate their temperature for several minutes. 

A horse’s normal body temperature should be between 98-101ºF. Horse heat stress, also known as horse heat exhaustion, occurs when a horse’s body temperature rises to 102ºF or greater due to excess heat. If left untreated, this serious condition can progress to equine heat stroke or even death.   

Signs of heat stress in horses:  

• Excessive sweating, or less sweat than expected
• Very hot or very cold skin
• Muscle weakness and fatigue
• Stumbling
• Rapid breathing
• High heart rate that doesn’t recover after exercise
• Increased body temperature of 102-106ºF
• Dehydration or signs of it, like cessation of urination, sunken eyes, loss of skin elasticity

How to treat heat stress in horses  

If you suspect that your horse is developing heat stress, stop all physical activity and work to cool your horse down using the tips below. If your horse is still showing signs of equine heat exhaustion after 15-20 minutes of cooling, contact a veterinarian for medical care.   

How do I cool down a horse?   

• To cool down a horse, follow these steps: 
• Stop all exercise and move your horse to a shaded, cool area. 
• Gradually wet the horse with cool—not cold—water. 
• Fans may help, passing air over the horse’s wet skin for a small cooling benefit. 
• Help the horse stay hydrated by giving it a small amount of drinking water every 15 minutes.  

When it comes to heat exhaustion, prevention is the best medicine. Use methods like evaporative cooling systems for stables to protect horses during the summer months and protect them from long-term health risks associated with heat.  

What are the best ways to cool equine facilities?  

Uncooled equine facilities put horses at risk for heat stress in barns and stables. Confined spaces trap the horses’ body heat and make indoor temperatures hotter than outside temperatures.      

To keep horses healthy and safe, invest in effective barn and stable cooling systems.  

Horse barn fans  

Once the air temperature gets above 75° F, fans start to lose their cooling effectiveness for animals. Equine stalls with fans only circulate air, they don’t cool it. The cooling effect actually comes from sweating, which just like humans, is a horses natural form of evaporative cooling. Circulating air can make sweating more effective, but only up to a certain point.  

A University of Kentucky study confirms that fans have little impact on the air temperature in a barn. When researchers attempted to use box fans to direct air either into or out of the stall, the temperature was even hotter – about 3.5° F above outside air temperatures. The study concluded that “without an active air conditioning or evaporative cooling system, it is not possible to truly cool a barn or stall with a fan.”  

Stable misting systems  

Misting systems combine fans and water to provide a cooling effect. This combination makes misters a better cooling option than barn fans. However, misting systems also release water into the air, which lands on hay, leading to issues with mold and mildew. While this helps prevent horse heat stress, barn misting systems can create other health problems with the added humidity and health risks.

Evaporative cooling for stables 

Evaporative cooling is a natural, animal-safe option for equine facilities. Portable evaporative coolers, also known as swamp coolers, take in hot air, pass it through water-soaked evaporative media, and then release the cooled air back into the environment. This process can reduce air temperatures by up to 30ºF.  

Since they only need water and electricity, and don’t use any toxic chemicals or refrigerants, evaporative coolers are a great choice to help keep horses cool. They also use minimal electricity, making them a more eco-friendly and cost-effective horse barn cooling system than traditional air conditioning.  

Comparing barn cooling methods 

Portacool evaporative coolers are the best choice for keeping horses cool   

Horse breeders, equestrian trainers, and veterinarians trust Portacool barn cooling systems to deliver unparalleled cooling for their animals all year long. Our APEX™ Series comes in a variety of sizes to cool anything from small stables to large equine facilities.   

Dave Archer show horses  

Equestrian trainer Dave Archer relies on Portacool evaporative coolers to keep his horses safe, healthy, and comfortable. His large equine facility includes: 41 stalls, a 200’ x 120’ outdoor riding area, a 60-foot round pen, a large pasture and five turnouts (two large, three small).   

“When we place the Portacool in the alley way, we can easily get a 15°F drop and keep it cool in a manageable way. It’s important we keep our clients’ horses safe from the negative effects of heat and Portacool evaporative coolers allow us to do that.” – Dave Archer  

Protect your horses with Portacool  

With Portacool evaporative coolers, your horses can stay cool and comfortable. Protecting your horses from excessive heat keeps them safe, healthy, and happy.  

Find your local Portacool dealer to provide the best cooling solution for your barn, stable, or equine facility today.