Horses Don’t Just Sweat, They Lather: Unique Protein Aids Cooling Process
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Horses utilize a unique protein in their sweat to effectively cool down, despite their hairy coats which would or else hinder evaporation, new research confirms. Unlike human sweat, which is high in salt, horse sweat contains high concentrations of a detergent-like protein called latherin.
This discovery explains the foamy appearance often observed on sweating horses, especially in areas where tack rubs against their skin. According to a paper published on the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, latherin “presumably acts by wetting the hairs to facilitate water flow for evaporation.” This process is crucial, as evaporative cooling is the primary way horses dissipate heat energy.
While the function of latherin is understood,the factors influencing its production remain a mystery. “Popular opinions include lack of fitness and an excess of protein in the diet,but a definitive answer remains elusive,” explains Peter Huntington,director of nutrition at Kentucky Equine Research.
Horses, humans, and a single species of monkey are the only mammals known to sweat profusely for heat loss, though the composition of their sweat differs substantially. Humans produce low-electrolyte, high-protein sweat, while horses produce low-protein, high-electrolyte sweat.
Thus, the next time you see a lathered horse, it’s not enjoying a grooming session – it’s simply utilizing a sophisticated biological mechanism to stay cool.
