Re: [IceHorses] Icehorses sweating?

[Penelope Hodge]

> but isnt there some sort of cooling factor involved with double coats etc?



nope.  animals are designed to be comfortable in certain temperature ranges. 
Most of the time, for most temperate and hot zone animals, they must 
disipate heat.  All day long, an animal makes heat -from digestion, from 
moving, a lot of the activities a body does actually produces heat.  The 
body also needs to keep the internal temperature at a certain small range 
(which varies a little between species).  For dogs, horses, people, cats .. 
its in the vicintity of 100 F.  So when it is cold outside, you may need to 
have a heavy coat/fur to keep the heat you make inside.  When it is 110 F, 
you need to get sweat, or pant, or move less, seek shade.... to get rid of 
the excess heat.  But, it makes an interesting little experiment to try on 
yourself.  Next time it is very hot, wear two heavy coats and run around out 
in the sun.

Penny