Air temperature and relative humidity directly impact horses’ ability to cool themselves. As a rule of thumb, you can assess a horse’s cooling efficiency by adding together the air temperature (°F) and relative humidity (%) according to information from the University of Minnesota Extension:
- Less than 130: cooling ability is good
- 130 to 150: cooling ability is reduced
- Over 150: cooling ability is greatly reduced
- Over 180: can be fatal if the horse is stressed
Source: Paulick Report, July 1, 2025. Link.
Make sure horses have free access to fresh, clean water prior to traveling. While on the road, stop and offer the horse(s) water from home every 2 hours.”
INSIGHTS: Every horse owner should know this, BUT taking a few minutes to post this article on social media or link it to a newsletter might save a horse and help a horse owner avoid a serious loss.