Help prevent dehydration with field shelters

Dehydration is the loss of water and salts from the body which are essential for the body to function properly. Dehydration happens when not enough fluids are taken in, in comparison to those which are lost. This could be through excessive sweating, participating in strenuous exercise and even from being unwell. Staying outside in the sun for prolonged periods of time is also a prominent cause of dehydration. However, it is not only humans that suffer from dehydration as many animals can also effect as well.

As humans, we are usually able to manage our hydration levels by drinking when thirsty and staying out of sun when it is hot. Our bodies also function very well in cooling us down – or there are many mechanical aids including air conditioners and fans to give our bodies that helping hand. For horses it is not as simple.

Horses are large animals that cannot control their own body temperature as well as a human, partially due to the high proportion of heat produced from large muscles in the body when performing any physical exercise. The one way that horses are able to reduce their overall body temperature is through sweating. This process is usually excessive – especially during strenuous exercise – meaning that far more water and salts are lost than what the horse will take in. This is heightened in hot and humid conditions. By keeping your animal cooler, with round the clock access to shade, the need to sweat would be reduced, making it far less likely for the animal to become dehydrated.

Fieldshelters could help to provide shade in paddocks during the warmer summer months. These shelters can usually be designed specific to your requirements, with options for large overhanging canopies and multiple windows for improved ventilation. Some companies offer mobile field shelters, making them easy to reposition, depending on the suns direction into the field, to give optimum shade throughout the day.

If you are worried about dehydration in your equestrian animal during the upcoming British summer and would like to find out a little more information on field shelters, please visit the website of JonWilliam Stables to view the wide range of products available. Alternatively, if you would like to speak with a member of the team to discuss your bespoke requirements, please call 01380 850 965 where an experienced team member will be more than happy to help.