Do Horses Sweat?

Sweating is something that comes very naturally to humans, and we do it whenever we are exercising or if we are very hot.

Not many animals sweat, however, and this got me thinking about which ones could.

But what about horses?

Can horses sweat?

I was curious about this and decided to look into it further and am excited to share it with you today.

So, without wasting any more time, let’s answer the question “do horses sweat?”

The answer to this question is yes, horses do sweat. They are one of the few animals that sweat as their primary method of cooling themselves. Horses sweat for many reasons including overheating, physical activity, and hot weather conditions. Horses can, however, become dehydrated if they sweat too much so you should ensure that your horse is getting enough water and is remaining cool.

Sweating is perfectly normal for horses, and you shouldn’t be alarmed if your horse starts sweating when exerting itself.

But why do horses sweat, is excessive sweating bad for horses, and what does it mean if your horse doesn’t sweat?

We are going to explore all of these questions and more in this article as we dive deeper into the topic of horses and their sweat.

Let’s get into it!

 

Do horses sweat?

The answer to this question is yes, horses do sweat.

They are one of the few animals, in addition to primates, that cool themselves primarily through sweat.

In warm weather horses can produce up to one gallon of sweat every 15 minutes.

Sweating is completely normal for horses especially if they are active or live in a hot climate.

It is common for your horse to sweat on its chest, neck, and behind its hind legs.

If the conditions are particularly hot, your horse can also sweat on its head and flanks and a thick, foamy sweat can develop.

This is an indication that your horse is overworked or has overexerted itself and is sweating profusely.

To avoid overworking your horse, try riding either before or after the hottest parts of the day and plan your riding on cooler days during the week.

 

Why do horses sweat?

As mentioned above, sweating is completely normal for horses, and they do it in many different situations.

This section will look at some of the instances in which horses sweat.

Physically active

Just as with humans when horses exert themselves physically this causes them to sweat.

Horses that are physically fit will sweat less and later into a workout than horses that are less physically fit. Increasing your horse’s fitness levels will help reduce the amount that it sweats when it exercises.

When a horse’s body becomes warm or overheats it uses sweat to help cool it down.

Exercising raises the body temperature of your horse and causes it to sweat a lot more.

 

Poorly built stall

If your horse is standing in its stall and isn’t moving very much but is still sweating this could be a sign of a poorly built stall.

Horses sweat when their body temperature rises or when they are overheating and a poorly built stall with poor ventilation and humid air can cause your horse to sweat.

To combat this problem, ensure that your horse stall is professionally built and well ventilated to ensure that your horse is cool at all times.

Sweating in stalls is not an uncommon phenomenon but there are things you can do to ensure that your horse is cool, there is proper circulation in the stall, and humid air is kept to a minimum.

This will help your horse be more comfortable and will reduce the risk of your horse sweating excessively.

 

Inability to regulate body temperature

If your horse is unable to properly regulate its body temperature due to high humidity, fatigue, etc then it will overheat and sweat.

If this becomes sever then your horse is at the risk of fainting or suffering a heat stroke.

 

When they are sick

Horses will sweat when they have a high fever or if they are in significant pain.

This is because their bodies are under stress and their heart rate and body temperature rises which causes them to sweat.

 

Is excessive sweating bad for your horse?

Yes, excessive sweating can be bad for your horse.

This is because sweating excessively can result in dehydration which refers to the body losing more fluids that it takes in.

Dehydration can be very detrimental to your horse and can result in fatigue, weakness, a worsening of illnesses, and trembling.

Dehydration can also cause problems with your horse’s circulation, digestion, and can even damage its organs.

Some signs that your horse is dehydrated include weariness, elastic skin, and general stiffness.

When your horse is breathing hard, has a shallow or rapid breathing pattern, has a high temperature, or if your horse is extremely tired or exhausted this is usually accompanied by excessive sweating.

You should, therefore, look out for these signs and try to prevent them from happening.

Monitor how much you are exerting your horse and ensure that it is getting enough rest and water.

 

What does it mean if your horse doesn’t sweat?

Horses that don’t sweat as much as their herd mates, or not at all, despite being in the same conditions and having the same activity regimen may have a condition known as anhidrosis.

Anhidrosis refers to the absence of an adequate amount of sweat and is a failure of a horse’s thermoregulatory system which increases the risk of heat stress and stroke in horses even in weather that isn’t particularly hot.

To help combat this, ensure that your horse is as cool as possible especially during the hot summer months.

Use things such as sponging, cold baths, fans, cool mist, and shade or stall rest to ensure that your horse is as comfortable as possible.

Avoid working your horse in hot weather and only take them out in cooler conditions.

 

In conclusion, yes, horses can sweat.

Sweating is perfectly normal for horses, and they can sweat for many different reasons.

Horses can sweat if they are exercising, if their stalls aren’t ventilated properly, or if they are sick.

Excessive sweating can be an issue for horses however, so it is important to ensure that your horse is properly hydrated at all times and is cool throughout the day.

Dehydration can lead to many different health problems and can even be fatal if left unchecked for a long period of time.

In rare cases your horse may be unable to sweat and there are certain precautions you should take in order to that your horse is as comfortable as possible.