Horse owners who use heated barns to keep weewee from freezing and toprotect horses from stale temperaturesduring wintertime should commend supplemental high temperature can cause problems if used incorrectly .
Ventilationis important when horses are maintain inside a barn , says Dave Freeman , Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension equine specialist .
“ close up up a barn to exert heat may increase respiratory illnesses because of gamey ammonia message and bacterial growth in carrell , ” he says .
Closed barns usually have increased humidness . gamey humidity combined with warm temperature can do enough ammonia smell or bacterium growth to irritate the horse ’s respiratory organisation . These oft result in chronic , minor respiratory illnesses that intervene with the horse ’s operation .
Freeman say control research to define acceptable humidness and temperature levels to lessen the chance of respiratory illnesses is difficult because of the variability betweenbarns , the sawbuck ’ casual routines in and out of the barn , and the lack of controlling research conditions . However , many veterinary surgeon take the stand to an increase in knight respiratory illness in heated barns with high humidity .
“ The result is to turn down the heat and get rid of the humidity by increasing air flow rate , ” Freeman says .
Some farm wheeler dealer have reported good results by installing exhaust system fans that move air when the barn humidity get up . It ’s possible to make these systems robotic by installing rheostats that respond to barn humidity levels .
Another problem is that while the ideal temperature forhorsesis 45 to 65 academic degree F , this “ ideal range ” may be neither cost effective nor a way of life to promote horse cavalry health .
“ Increasing the estrus of a b above 55 stage F not only can be expensive , it also may have negative effects when moving horses out of the b into colder temperatures , ” Freeman says .
Equus caballus managers also need to remember that horse under hokey - lighting programs for procreative or show ground will shed tomentum . Therefore , special considerations must be gift to protect gymnastic horse from insensate , windy and wet weather condition .
Even though hair development is mostly a photoperiodic reply , fond surround assist in keeping hair short . enough hair cover is passing important in cold conditions , providing the knight with needed insulating material to combat the insensate accent of near - freezing or freezing temperatures . Frequent movement into and out of het up barns from cold-blooded outside environment may in itself be a important source of strain that can be avoided .
Freeman says one alternative is to maintain b temperatures at around 45 to 55 degree F and utilize blankets to keep horses with short - hair coats protect from cold temperatures in and exterior of the barn .
“ Part of the job with maintaining proper barn temperature is that people working in the barn often like it a bit warmer than is recommended for the horse , ” he says . “ gymnastic horse manager should maintain barn temperature at a story that will assist promote healthy horses and not at a grade dictated by a worker ’s personal comfortableness . ”
This might require occasional checks by the barn manager to ensure barn temperature are define at the right level .
“ It ’s often just a case of human nature . If you ’re frigid , you do n’t think twice about turn up the warmth a bit , ” Freeman say . “ But that oversight can cause wellness - colligate problems for horse , which in turn can mean money lost to the sawbuck owner . ”
