Jun 05, 2018

Protect Your Horse This Summer

This educational article is brought to you by Standlee Hay Company, the Official Forage of the USEA.

After just a mile of riding, your horse creates enough warmth to boil 2 whole gallons of water. While a horse’s body can usually regulate their temperature, the hot summer months make this more difficult. High temperatures, high humidity, lack of air movement, poor ventilation, and dehydration all increase the dangers of a serious heat-related problem known as heat stress.

Most horses adapt to summer weather if given time to adjust gradually. However, some horses will be more susceptible to heat stress than others. Performance horses such as Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, and endurance and other performance horses will be influenced by heat stress during their training and competition.

Environmental factors can also play a role in how susceptible your horse is to heat stress. Horses stabled in badly ventilated barns will produce a lot of heat during digestion, making them more prone to heat stress. Additionally, any horse that doesn’t have access to salt and electrolytes will be at a greater risk.

Your forage can also contribute to heat stress in your horse. Certain feeds create more heat when digested than others. During hot conditions, it’s important to include highly digestible fiber sources such as beet pulp to decrease the thermal load of digestion. Standlee Premium Western Forage offers a variety of excellent quality forage products, which provide increased digestibility. Click here to learn more.

Apr 03, 2025 Eventing News

Weekend Quick Links: April 5-6

Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered!

Apr 03, 2025 ATC

USEA Adult Team Championships: Level Updates and Letter of Intent Reminders

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to offer the USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) at the upcoming USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. The AEC will take place at Galway Downs in Temecula, California, from Wednesday, Aug. 27, to Sunday, Aug. 31.

Apr 02, 2025 Interscholastic

IEL Rider Carolyn Rice Has Come Full Circle

Seventeen-year-old Carolyn Rice, a high school junior from Johns Creek, Georgia, has spent the last 10 years riding at Willow South Riding School—the very place where she first sat on a horse. What started as a casual introduction quickly became a lifelong passion.

Apr 01, 2025 Eventing News

Top Riders Set to Compete in Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S at Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event

A field of top veteran riders is entered in this year’s Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, a US Equestrian Open Eventing Series Qualifier, at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, which returns to the Kentucky Horse Park, April 24-27.

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