What is Thermoregulation?
Thermoregulation is the horse’s built-in system for keeping core temperature within safe limits, ensuring that muscles, tendons, and organs function at their best. Because of their large muscle mass and high metabolic output, horses generate enormous amounts of heat during exercise, making them especially vulnerable to thermal stress. Research shows that sweating is their primary cooling mechanism, and unlike humans, horses depend almost entirely on evaporative cooling to dissipate heat (Equine Congress, 2024).
Thermoregulation in Hot Conditions
When temperatures rise, horses respond through vasodilation, which sends warm blood toward the skin surface, and through sweating. As sweat evaporates, it pulls heat away in an endothermic process. Studies indicate that sweat evaporation accounts for 65–70% of a horse’s heat loss (PMC, 2023).
However, sweating comes with a cost. A horse can lose 5–7 liters of sweat per hour in moderate exercise, rising to 10–15 liters per hour in warm climates (Iowa State Extension). Over several hours of work, this can add up to 30–35 liters of sweat, along with critical electrolytes like sodium, chloride, and potassium (Equine Congress, 2024). Because equine sweat is hypertonic, horses do not feel as thirsty as humans when they dehydrate (Alltech, 2022), making electrolyte replacement and hydration strategies vital.
Thermoregulation During Exercise
Exercise dramatically increases the challenge of thermoregulation. Blood flow must be divided between working muscles and the skin surface for cooling. As core temperature climbs sometimes as fast as 1°C per minute in intense exercise, this balance becomes critical (Climate & Livestock Studies, 2023). If cooling is insufficient, horses risk neuromuscular fatigue, organ strain, and in extreme cases, heat stress.
Hydration plays a major role here. Maintaining around 85% of fluid losses through oral rehydration helps reduce thermal strain and supports both sweating and cardiac output (Goer, Equidiet). Interestingly, research also shows that pre-exercise hyperhydration doesn’t offer much advantage compared to simply maintaining normal hydration (Goer, Equidiet).
Thermoregulation in Cold Conditions
In cold environments, horses rely on several physiological strategies to conserve core warmth. Cutaneous vasoconstriction is one of the primary mechanisms, redirecting blood away from the skin surface to minimize heat loss while preserving vital organ temperature (Mota-Rojas et al., 2021; Frontiers in Veterinary Science). At the same time, shivering thermogenesis provides additional heat production through rapid, involuntary muscle contractions, while long-term cold exposure stimulates increased metabolic activity, including greater utilization of fat reserves (Geor & McCutcheon, 1998; Equine Veterinary Journal).
Studies show that horses acclimatized to cold weather can increase their basal metabolic rate by up to 70% and tolerate much lower critical temperatures, sometimes as low as −15 °C, depending on age, body condition, and coat thickness (Cymbaluk, 1994; Applied Animal Behaviour Science).
However, prolonged vasoconstriction without adequate circulation can cause muscles and tendons to stiffen, heightening the risk of strain or injury when work begins. This makes supporting blood flow in cold conditions just as essential as in hot conditions, especially during warm-up and recovery phases.
How Incrediwear Equine Supports Thermoregulation
Circulation is the central thread connecting all these processes, hot or cold, in work or at rest. This is where Incrediwear Equine plays a unique role.
Our fabrics are embedded with natural semiconductor elements such as germanium and carbon. When stimulated by body heat (or water in wet applications), these elements release infrared energy that increases local blood flow. Independent studies on both humans and horses have demonstrated improved circulation with Incrediwear technology.
- In warm weather and exercise, Enhanced circulation helps move heat to the surface, supporting more effective sweat evaporation and cooling.
- In cold conditions, Improved blood flow accelerates muscle warm-up and helps maintain suppleness.
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In recovery: Circulation supports metabolic waste removal and tissue repair.
Thermoregulation is not just a background process; it is a critical determinant of equine performance, comfort, and safety. With sweat losses reaching up to 15 liters per hour and circulation constantly balancing between heat release and muscle supply, supporting this system is essential.
By naturally stimulating blood flow, Incrediwear Equine helps your horse thermoregulate more effectively, keeping them cool in the heat, warm in the cold, and balanced during and after exercise.
References
- Equine Congress (2024). Sweating, Dehydration, and Electrolyte Supplementation: Challenges for the Performance Horse. Proceedings of the Equine Congress.
- Iowa State University Extension. Electrolytes and the Exercising Horse. Extension Publication, Animal Science.
- National Institutes of Health (2023). Thermal Physiology in Horses: Sweating and Evaporative Cooling. PMC Article.
- Alltech (2022). Equine Electrolytes: Exercise, Performance, and Recovery. Equine Nutrition Blog.
- Goer, N. (Equidiet). Hydration Effects on Equine Thermoregulation and Performance. Equidiet Research Paper.
- Climate Change & Livestock Studies (2023). Effects of Rising Temperatures on Equine Core Body Temperature and Exercise Capacity.
- Mota-Rojas D., et al. (2021). “Thermoregulatory mechanisms in domestic animals.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
- Geor R.J., McCutcheon L.J. (1998). “Thermal and metabolic responses of horses to exercise in cold environments.” Equine Veterinary Journal.
- Cymbaluk N.F. (1994). “Thermoregulation of horses in cold winter weather: A review.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science.