The summer heat in Charleston, South Carolina, has been tough on both people and animals. As temperatures soar into the upper 90s, along with a higher heat index, animal welfare experts are doing everything they can to ensure the horses used for carriage tours stay cool, hydrated, and comfortable.
Keeping Horses Cool and Safe
With the extreme heat, employees at Palmetto Carriage Works have been keeping their horses inside during the hottest parts of the day. No tours are available in the afternoon to protect the animals. The City of Charleston has set rules that require carriage tours to stop when the temperature reaches 95°F or when the heat index rises above 110°F to prevent harm to the horses.
Innovative Technology for Horse Safety
Before the temperature reaches those critical limits, Palmetto Carriage Works uses technology to ensure the horses’ well-being. According to Mary Edwards, a representative from the company, they have developed their own system to monitor the horses’ health and prevent overheating. “Everything’s digital,” Edwards explained. “As soon as a carriage returns, we take the horse’s temperature. It gets entered into our software, which is connected to our management and barn staff. This way, if an animal’s temperature rises, we receive an alert, allowing us to either extend their break or pull them from service to ensure they never reach a dangerous level.”
Extra Measures to Help the Horses
Along with digital monitoring, the staff at Palmetto Carriage Works also provides additional care to the horses to keep them comfortable. In the morning and evening, the horses are given a couple of beers, a practice that Edwards says helps the horses sweat, assisting them in cooling down naturally.
Caring for Animals in Extreme Heat
Palmetto Carriage Works is just one example of how animal care providers are going above and beyond to protect their animals during extreme weather conditions. The combination of shade, hydration, breaks, and technology ensures that the horses remain in a safe environment, even in the summer heat.
In Charleston, where the heat is intense, these extra efforts help ensure that the animals are never pushed to dangerous limits, making the carriage tours safer and more comfortable for everyone involved.
