Thermoregulation is the maintenance of fairly steady body temperature under a variety of external conditions. The equine athlete’s thermoregulatory system utilizes convection, radiation, respiratory losses, and evaporation to remove heat from the body. The cardiovascular system plays an important role in transferring heat from the sites of production, such as the muscles, to sites where dissipation can occur, such as the skin. Evaporation then removes heat through sweat.
For more information, see Equine Thermoregulation.
