...and on the eighth day God created the horse in perfect image, to romp, graze, gallop, play and make manure wherever it darn well pleases, in divine grace.

Snow is a Fig Newton of our Schimaginations; we are now galloping through fields, harness driving down country lanes, practicing our flying lead changes and stepping into the winner’s circle at the shows, all under spring’s majesty of blue skies, puffy clouds and warm days.

Make sure your trailer and truck are in good working order every time you travel, whether you’re headed out to the high plains for a super trail ride or are headed over to your friend’s farm a few miles away.

Carry a tire gauge in the truck cab, along with a wooden club to tap the tires. Under-inflated or over-inflated tires are not safe, especially while loaded.

Annual state inspections are mandatory; they make sure brakes are functioning and floors are safe and not rotten. They also check for working lights and signals.

I have read about rotten wooden floors in horse trailers and the poor animals who were being hauled at the time. Could you ever sleep at night again if that fate happened while you were at the wheel?

Remember, your buddy’s life is in your hands while he is in that trailer, and it is up to you to be alert and to travel at safe speeds.

Closed up trailers cut air circulation and can turn into a metal steam bath. Many trailers have small windows and horse owners usually keep them closed while driving. Since heat rises, a roof vent is helpful.

The mean body temperature of a horse is 100F, so it is fairly easy to figure out the thermal equation; ventilation is essential, so open those windows and vents.

Stock trailers are great for summer traveling. Heat does not rise to dangerous levels since side panels remain open at all times and fresh, circulating air is good for the horse.

Vets say that moving air in barns is good for keeping horses healthy, and the same is true for horse trailers. The open-style stock-side also helps with the dissipation of urine smells.

Make sure your horse has had plenty to drink before loading and it is recommended that stopping every four hours in a shady place will help him urinate. The moving trailer does cause stress and some horse will not urinate while traveling.

The rest stop may help him relax somewhat, and the elimination of toxins is always a good thing.

Offer him some water from home, as this is familiar to him.

Leaving well before dawn on long road trips gets traveling underway before the hottest part of the day.

When the horse sweats, he is losing water that is vital for bodily functions.

The keys for good horsekeeping are the same for both hot and cold weather: water and salt.

Full walking-out and toweling off after any workout is just good horsemanship, any time of year.

There is a reason this issue is mentioned in "Black Beauty."

When a horse is dehydrated, water levels in the blood drop below normal, and it’s body will take measures to correct this.

To bring blood content back to normal, water is actually pulled from the gut. This depletes the water needed for digestion, thus increasing the risk of impaction colic.

It is very important that a horse have free choice water and salt at all times, all year round. Harvest salt is available for sale at any grain mill, as are mineral blocks.

Working the horse hard during hot weather can be dangerous, especially for a horse that is out of shape.

A horse should be brought to condition at a slow pace. Work in the early morning hours or mid-evening hours before sunset, and make the workouts short and easy, on easy terrain.

Outdoor arenas with lighting can be used after dark and indoor arenas with large fans can help to circulate air.

Letting your horse take frequent breaks and letting him catch his breath help his respiration and temperature return to normal. The hotter the weather, the more frequent breaks you should take.

Some people even let their horse take a sip of lukewarm water during a workout; ask your Vet their thoughts on this.

Heat stress is a serious condition and a horse suffering heat stress must be cooled down immediately. The danger signs are a respiratory rate above 40-50 breaths per minute (bpm) or if breathing does not slow to normal within two to three minutes, or if breathing becomes shallow.

Other signs include: the horse’s heart rate is above 80 beats per minute (bpm) and it does not slow down within two to three minutes and he is drenched in sweat.

Worse yet, if he stops sweating all together, he could be suffering from heat stroke. If his temperature is highly elevated, he stumbles or suddenly seems very lethargic, or if his gums turn muddy or bright red, stop working the horse immediately.

Remove the saddle and blanket and hose the horse with cold water until vital signs return to normal. If there is no water, remove all tack and get the horse into the shade, fanning him with whatever is available.

If out trail riding, frequent breaks in the shade help the horse’s temperature and respiration return to normal. Plan the ride to go near streams or safely around ponds to provide drinking water.

As a courtesy to the horse, keep the pace at a walk, no trotting or cantering. You can do this, it can still be fun and you will still get your horsey-fix.

When finished with your workout or ride, remove all tack, walk out and hose off the horse. Cold or cool water is acceptable and won’t cause your horse to cramp or tie up.

The nice water removes sweat and salt from his skin that becomes itchy when it dries, and the water will also lower his body temperature.

You already know not to give a hot horse cold water to drink. I was taught 7 sips only of lukewarm water after full walking out and hosing off.

Remember Pennsylvania Anti-Cruelty Laws dictate all horses and animals must have access to clean, fresh water at all times and also shelter large enough for them to turn around in and lay down, out of the elements.

The sun seems to be extra brutal these days; make sure your buddy is well taken care of by checking on him frequently in the field or stall and keeping that bucket or trough full with clean, fresh water.

Running away from flies can cause profuse sweating and de-hydration, also. That is why it is important to have a shady, 3-sided shelter available for him to use.

Dogs and cats benefit from putting some ice cubes into their water drinking bowls. Do you like a glass of ice water on a hot day? Our pets do, also, and they are living, breathing creatures that must have water to stay hydrated and survive.

Mmmm, folks, that glass of ice water is sounding pretty good right about now. Sipping a long, tall, cold one to the immortal words of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, "Happy Trails to You."

The ideas expressed in the aforementioned article are meant as a guideline and not Veterinary analysis or advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified Vet for summer heat workout and feeding schedules for your animal and call the Vet if you suspect your horse is suffering from heat stress or stroke.