KEEPING RACEHORSES COOL IN HOT WEATHER

The Thoroughbred racehorse is the ultimate equine athlete – strong, fast and packed full of stamina. More than 300 years of breeding has shaped the Thoroughbred into the elite specimen we see on racecourses today, all over the world. 

Their adaptable and versatile nature enables them to regularly perform in all climates, from the frozen ‘white turf’ in St Moritz, to the intense heat of the Middle East and Australia.  

The Thoroughbred’s physical adaptations assist with handling high temperatures and, provided they are given time, they acclimatise very well to hot conditions during seasonal changes or when travelling to different countries. 

However, to ensure racehorses can safely perform to their optimum when temperatures are higher than normal in Britain, precautions are put in place by racing staff, officials, and veterinary professionals on a raceday.  

Watch how horses are supported on racecourses in hot weather. 

At the racecourse

At every fixture in Britain, an ample supply of cool water is provided for our equine athletes via stations located across a racecourse. These stations each contain over 400 litres of water and are refilled throughout a raceday to ensure all horses have the access they need. There is also mobile water available to reach any part of a racecourse if required. 

Pre-Race 

After arriving at the racecourse, horses are routinely washed off to ensure they are cool and comfortable before heading into their stables, where the temperature is checked, and ample air flow is provided. Horses are kept out of direct sunlight as much as possible before and after their race, including when parading.   

Post Race 

During a race, horses produce heat while they are galloping, which can result in a rise in body temperature at a rate of approximately 1°C per minute. This heat travels to the horse’s skin after the race, and stable staff are on hand when a horse finishes to cool them down by applying large volumes of cold water to disperse the heat. 

Many British racecourses have also installed misting fans, which help to create a microclimate of colder air around runners while they are washed down after their race, allowing horses to cool more quickly. 

Every runner is closely monitored by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) veterinary officer and team of racecourse vets before, during and after a race. If a horse appears to be taking longer than usual to recover after their race, they will quickly be attended to by the veterinary surgeons who are on hand to provide any help that may be needed. 

Once a runner has got the all clear from the veterinary team, they head back to the stables where they will receive multiple showers with cool water. They will be led gently around the stables in shaded areas until they are fully recovered, and then put back into their box for a feed. 

Actively managing risk 

Depending on how high temperatures get, there are further options available to the BHA, racecourses and participants to help mitigate the risk of heat stress to horses and people. These steps can include, for example, altering race times to allow races to take place at cooler times of day or enabling access to stables earlier in the morning, or even the night before, so horses can travel to racecourses at cooler times. 

While the preventative measures put in place during hot weather help to mitigate the risk of a horse suffering from heat stress (defined as heat accumulation which results in an excessive increase in the horse’s core body temperature) the risk cannot be entirely eradicated. On-course veterinary surgeons are well trained to react if a horse is displaying symptoms of this. 

Horses are treated through repeated application of cold water until the signs of heat stress resolve and the horse is cool to touch. Cooling is most effectively achieved by steady application of water over the horse’s neck and trunk and, where safe to do so, walking the horse to create air flow over the skin. Some horses can also benefit from the administration of medication by a veterinary surgeon. 

You can read more about treatment of injured horses on racecourses here.  

Extreme temperatures  

When temperatures reach extreme levels to the extent that any additional precautions put in place to support horses may no longer be enough to enable them to perform safely, the BHA will consider abandoning racing. This occurred in 2022 after the Met Office issued a ‘Red’ extreme heat warning. Decisions such as this are also taken with those caring for the horses in mind too. If the people charged with looking after our horses are at risk themselves, then they clearly would be unable to carry out their crucial role to the best of their abilities. 

Moving forward 

Racing's regulator, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is in the process of developing and consulting on the sport’s hot weather procedures to provide even more detailed information on the steps that should be taken during different levels of high temperatures.