In this episode, Dr. Nicole Rambo and Sarah focus on understanding heat stress in horses, including its risk factors, prevention strategies, and the impact of diet on heat generation. They discuss the physiological signs of heat stress, from mild symptoms like rapid breathing and excessive sweating to severe cases that can lead to organ damage or death. They also emphasize the importance of acclimation, individual horse traits, and dietary considerations to manage heat stress effectively. Importantly, the episode also covers best practices for cooling horses, debunking some traditional methods, and providing recommendations based on recent research. Listeners are guided on how to use the heat stress index to decide whether it's safe to work their horses and how to adapt training routines to ensure equine safety during hot weather.