[Racing] Protecting the health of racehorses in sub-zero weather

*This content was translated by AI.

Every day, the mercury hits far below the freezing point, and the bitter cold continues. During the cold season, Seoul is busier than ever.

Cold poses a threat not only to people but also to the health of racehorses. Racehorses sweat a lot from strenuous exercise and are more sensitive to changes in body temperature than other animals due to their thin skin and short hair.

Let's Run Park Seoul is making all-out efforts to manage the health of racehorses in winter. From checking equipment for visiting Korea to improving the environment of horse racing, strengthening nutrition management, special winter weather for racehorses is in full swing. I looked into the winter management site of racehorses.

Horses also wear parkas.

People are not the only ones who wear winter jumpers. Racehorses also have winter clothes. The winter clothes of racehorses are divided into two categories. One is a jacket that covers the back of the horse so that you don't sweat immediately after working out. The jacket is made of polyester, which, for a person, can be seen as a 'windbreaker'. And there are jackets made for winter. It is a horse 衣 for cold weather made by adding cotton to the lining of wool to maintain body temperature. When horses rest in the middle of winter, they wear a hair dress to prevent winter diseases.

Covering the cold air with a rag

For racehorses living in concrete stalls, the cold air from the floor is a big burden when the weather gets cold. Even if a thick rubber mat is placed on the concrete floor, it is not easy to withstand the cold in the middle of winter. Therefore, it prevents coldness by laying a larger amount of straw than usual. In addition, the changing cycle of the straw is always kept dry earlier than usual so that there is no room for moisture to stay.

Hot water shower, far-infrared drying

The training of racehorses continues even in the middle of winter. In the middle of winter, refrain from taking showers as much as possible to protect racehorses, but if you have to take a shower, take a hot bath and dry it carefully with a far-infrared lamp to prevent the horse from catching a cold. If it's not a sound-sensitive horse, a hairdryer is sometimes used.

Protect your legs thoroughly

Leg care is of paramount importance for a racehorse that supports an average weight of 500 kilograms with long legs. After exercising, help blood circulation with a hot pack and maintain body temperature with a thermal bandage. The legs are gently cleaned with hypoallergenic soap, and Vaseline or oil is applied to prevent moisture penetration in the ankle area to prevent frostbite and skin diseases.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.