In addition to sweating, what is another method horses use for cooling, though less effective?

Rapid exhalations and panting serve as a mechanism for horses to regulate their body temperature in addition to sweating. When a horse becomes overheated, it may begin to breathe more quickly and exhale sharply, which can help dissipate heat. This process involves the exchange of warm air from the lungs with cooler air from the environment. While panting can help reduce body temperature, it is generally less effective compared to sweating, as horses do not have the same capacity for evaporative cooling through panting as some other animals do, implying that it serves as a supplementary, rather than primary, cooling method.

While options like thrashing in water or muddy bathing may provide some cooling effect, they are not reliable or consistent methods of thermoregulation. Resting in a cool area can help lower a horse’s body temperature, but it relies on environmental conditions and has less impact compared to the physiological processes of sweating and panting.