The weekend of the Preakness Stakes is always a busy one at my boarding barn. Not only do the owners host a Preakness Party for boarders and friends each year, it’s also the weekend we switch from day turnout to night turnout to help keep the horses comfortable in summer’s soaring temperatures.

Researchers and veterinarians have confirmed that older horses have decreased thermoregulatory abilities, essentially meaning they have a harder time keeping themselves cool and warm in temperature extremes. So while I can’t wait to leave the 70¡s in the dust, some owners of senior horses dread when the temperatures soar.