Thermoneutral zone and critical temperatures of horses

This short communication discusses the critical temperature and thermoneutral zone data for horses from the three earlier papers. (Morgan, 1997a, 1997b, Morgan et al., 1997). Some practical aspects of climatory physiology of horses are also discussed. ?, The baseline rate of total heat loss from horses, calculated by summing the rates of non-evaporative and evaporative heat loss, was 142 W m(-2), and remained stable in ambient temperatures ranging from 5-25 degrees C. 3. The lower critical temperature was found to be 5 degrees C. The upper critical temperature was proven to depend on what definition was chosen. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.