T HE C ENTERLINE Feeling The Heat

By Elisabeth Martinec

It’s that time of year here in Arizona where we go from complaining about it being too cold to really complaining about it being too hot. Once we all get used to the fact that we just have to endure another summer, we start obsessing about helping our four-legged friends survive the heat as well. Overheating is a serious concern for humans and horses so it’s important to know the signs of heat stress and how to prevent it.

Overheating can result from a number of things beyond the most obvious – hot weather. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, high humidity and poor barn or trailer ventilation are just a few of the other culprits. Heat stress can also occur when these things are combined with excessive work or if you are transporting a horse under these conditions. Horses that are obese are also at higher risk for overheating as are foals and elderly horses.

It is important to recognize the signs of heat stress and heat stroke to that proper treatment can be given early on. Heat stress can quickly turn into heat stroke which can result in the horse collapsing, have convulsions and even going into a coma.

Signs of heat stress:

• Rapid breathing and heart rate

• Sluggishness or stumbling

• Increased body temperature (normal temperature is 98-101 degrees F)

• Signs of dehydration (pale tacky mucous membranes, dry feces, sunken eyes)

• Profuse sweating or a complete lack of sweat (anhidrosis)

• Muscle weakness

President: Tania Radda 480.235.7654 t.radda@azdressage.org

1st VP: Kathy Smith ksmith@azdressage.org

2nd VP: Amy Burnett

Secretary: Nicole Zoet-Oostermyer ozranch3@aol.com

Treasurer & Trustee of Records: Cynthia Ganem cganem@azdressage.org

Maeike Zoet mzoet@yahoo.com

Michell Combs

Susan Skripac

Alanna Almgren

Heather Lynch

Kadriya Musina-Sallus

Jarred Sallus

Awards: Maeike Zoet-Javins m-zoet@yahoo.com

Centerline Editor: Beth Martinec centerline@azdressage.org

Webmaster: Sue Leutwyler webmaster@azdressage.org

Education: Pam Polydoros

Finance: Cynthia Ganem

Fundraising: Kay Lorenzen

Futurity: Susan Skripac

Juniors/Young Riders: Heather Lynch

Membership: Michell Combs

Scholarship: Ann Damiano a.damiano@azdressage.org

Recognized Shows: Kathy Smith

Scores Compilation: Sue Leutwyler

Vendors: Michelle Scarzone

ADA Board Attorney: Wendy Riddell w.riddell@azdressage.org

Contribute to The Centerline Today!

Letters to the Editor: Submit your comments, suggestions, or opinions relating to the sport of dressage, to centerline@azdressage.org

Barn News:

Trainers would you like to let us know about the recent accomplishments of your clients or introduce new clients and horses? Would you like to update readers about barn improvements, or talk about any other news of interest to the membership. Send submissions to centerline@azdressage.org

Member Submissions to The Centerline: Submit an article and photo of you and your horse on a topic of interest, a clinic or show experience. Submit your favorite barn and horse care tips, or review clinic. We’d love to hear from you! Send to centerline@azdressage.org

If the photo is a riding photo, a helmet is required. **Product Endorsements/Advertising**

In most cases, products and services are considered paid advertising. Articles that are negative in nature concerning a particular product will not be considered for publication.

The Centerline is the official monthly newsletter of the Arizona Dressage Association (ADA), a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. Material in the newsletter may not be reproduced, with the exception of forms, without the written consent and credit of the editor and/or author. The Centerline welcomes your articles, barn news, artwork, and especially, your photographs. Submissions, news, and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADA. Acceptance does not constitute an endorsement. Accuracy of materials submitted is the sole responsibility of the author. The Editor reserves the right to accept, reject and edit submitted material. The deadline for submission is the 20th of the month. Email: centerline@azdressage.org

Summer is here and shows are full swing, as are many educational programs, clinics and fun horse activities. I hope many of you were able to join at the World Cup in Omaha. It was an incredible show and some amazing horses and riders. I’m very much looking forward to returning to Omaha for the 2023 USDF Convention November 29 – December 2nd. The town had great restaurants, lots of fun things to do and the Convention will have some fantastic educational events, along with informative meetings and the annual Awards Banquet.

Our USDF Executive Board Spring meetings have also just concluded as they were held during the World Cup and it’s wonderful to see all the programs coming forward from our various committees. There are some interesting rule changes coming forward for consideration that we spent a lot of time discussing, so please take the time to consider them and provide your feedback to both USDF and USEF.

The deadline for Participating Member Delegate nominations was April 15. Our region will have 5 PM delegates for the 2023 USDF Convention. Elections will be held very soon! Our Group Member Organizations need to start the process of appointing or electing who they are going to be sending to the convention as GM delegates.

As of May 1st, our potential candidates for the 2023 FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships August 8-13 in Traverse City, Michigan will be finalized. As I write this, we have 8 riders who have declared (3 Juniors and 5 Young Riders). If you would like to contribute or help with their fundraising efforts, please contact Joan Clay, our Region 5 Jr/YR FEI coordinator at jnclay@comcast.net or 970-420-0877. This competition is a reasonable distance for us to travel by trailer, which makes things much more feasible, but we still need your help in order to be able to. If you’re a rider, PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO TURN IN YOUR DECLARATIONS!

We are excited to announce that the 2024 Great American USDF Region 5 Championships will be coming back to the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado September 19-22. It will have been 5 years since Colorado will have hosted the Regionals. It’s fantastic to have Arizona as our host for 2023 and get our rotation for the Regional Championships back on track!

I hope everyone stays healthy and happy.

If you have news you’d like to share, please let me know, we’re try to get it out and about for you.

Happy Spring!

Till next month!

Heather Petersen Region 5 Director

Join NAC of ADA: