1. Official Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons must endeavour to inspect all horses presented :

• In the birdcage area prior to presentation in the mounting yard.
• In the mounting enclosure prior to the race.
• On arrival at the barriers.
• On return to the enclosure after the race.
• While being detained in the sampling area for whatever reason.

2. If a horse appears to be unduly affected by the heat and/or humidity (e.g. agitation, panting, and/or excessive sweating) in the pre-race period, the Veterinary Surgeon shall report his or her observation(s) to the Stewards immediately.

3. Appropriate treatment should be applied as soon as is practicably possible to any horse found to be exhibiting signs of heat stress post-race.

Appropriate treatment shall include:

• Repeated application of cold water to the entire body of the horse (i.e. standing under a hose (or rigorous sponging) with cold running water).
• Holding/stabling the horse in a shaded well-ventilated location (air movement is very important).
• Anti-inflammatory treatment e.g. dexamethasone or hydrocortisone.
• Intravenous fluid drip (if considered appropriate) e.g. Lactated Ringer's Solution or Saline fortified with Potassium at 10 to 15 mEq/L. The latter preparation should be administered slowly to effect with careful clinical monitoring.

4. When hot and humid weather conditions are forecast, the Veterinary Surgeon will consider the following strategies and ensure as much as is practicable that they can be implemented: -

• Ensure adequate cold running water is immediately available to thoroughly and repeatedly wet affected animals in order to maximise conductive/evaporative cooling and more directly lower core body temperature. An adequate number of hoses should be provided for this purpose by the Club conducting the meeting in or adjacent to the mounting enclosure, the birdcage area and the raceday stalls. Ensure all relevant hoses are connected and have adequate water pressure.
• Have a veterinary surgeon regularly patrol the horse stall areas etc. to monitor any horses at potential risk.
• Have an adequate supply of Intravenous fluids and giving sets (for emergency situations).
• Ensure the sampling stall is as cool as is practicably possible (e.g. hosing the roof).
• Monitor the testing procedure to ensure that horses are as cool and comfortable as possible during the collection of samples. In particular, horses should be monitored for sweating and any signs of distress during sampling. Horses affected in any of these ways should be removed from the stall and hosed.

Note: Heat stress is most likely to occur on days when the ambient temperature is greater than 35° C, and, more particularly, when the humidity is high.

• Some or all of the following signs may be indicative of heat stress:
• Rapid shallow breathing
• Flared nostrils
• Staggering, apparently uncontrollable gait
• Very high body temperature (skin can be hot to touch)
• Agitation/restlessness
• Kicking out behind
• Dehydration

Remember, evaporative cooling, particularly sweating, is the most important means of dissipation of body heat for the exercising horse. The liberal application of cold water in shaded, well ventilated places will greatly assist the processes which enable horses to lose excessive body heat on hot days.

For further information, please contact RVL Veterinary Services on (03) 9258 4374 or Dr Paul O'Callaghan on 0438 048 315.