Horse sweat patterns – can tell you more than you think!

Horse sweat patterns – can tell you more than you think!

Horse sweat patterns – can tell you more than you think! (The amount of sweat is also directly related to the weather so when you do your sweat patterns observation, take the weather into account.)

1.  Is your horse fit?  Here  are some of the signs that your horse might NOT be fit:

When the horse has done light work, there maybe some sweating around the neck and a slight increase in the breathing rate.

Medium work produces sweating on the neck, chest and flanks.  Some veins are showing, breathing is increased.  Recovery takes about 5 minutes.

Hard work produces sweat on the neck and body.  Veins are protruding.  Breathing is heavy.  Recovery rate is about 10 minutes.

The fitter the horse is, the less it will sweat. 

2. What muscle is your horse using?

If you notice your horse sweats in some areas of his body but not in others, this tells you which muscles he is using during your workouts and whether he is engaging the correct muscles to become stronger.

When sweating is seen around the neck and shoulders, this indicates that the horse has been using his forehand muscles a lot.   This could occur on a green horse or a horse that is not being trained properly. 

Neck sweating can also indicate the horse is very nervous.

The best sweat patterns should show sweat in his “ring of muscles” (back, neck, croup and abdomen).  For a stronger horse, the post sweat marks should move from the lower areas of the hindquarters to higher up around his hips and croup meaning the horse’s flank/ hip area should be quite sweaty as opposed to just his gaskin and stifle area.

If you see ruffled sweat pattern on the neck and the hair do not follow the direction of normal neck muscling, it might means the horse was most likely bracing or crooked in his neck during workout.

Resources

Ride Smarter! by Coralie Smyth

Equine Fitness by Jec Aristotle Ballou

• Horse's back
• Total Body Care
• Riding and Training