
Most Read Articles

Image credit: FEI/Liz Gregg
As day two of the dressage gets underway, forecast feels-like temperatures in the shade will exceed 32 Celsius, with high humidity – and in the impressive Versailles arena, with its pale, bright surface, will be much higher. So, what’s being done to keep the equestrian athletes comfortable?
Specialist measures to counteract the effects of extreme heat on the horses were first developed for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and have been constantly refined since. The protocols in use in Paris were developed for high-risk environments such as Tokyo 2020, where heat and humidity were extreme, and have been adapted to suit local conditions for 2024 Paris games.
FEI Veterinary Director Göran Åkerström explains, “While we strive for all equestrian events to take place in optimal climatic conditions, it is often logistically challenging to achieve such conditions. Thanks to our protocols, horses cooled down swiftly and displayed no signs of heat stress, underscoring the efficacy of our climate mitigation strategies. The FEI uses the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Index as a standard tool for assessing and managing thermal stress.
“The WBGT Index measures solar radiation, ground heat reflection, humidity and windspeed, and is used by several sports as it is the most comprehensive index to monitor the climate’s effect on humans, and in our case, also horses. This precise method allows us to accurately gauge the potential for heat stress at events and implement the necessary measures to safeguard our horses’ and humans’ welfare. These measures get put in place once the WBGT index is higher than 28 degrees Celsius, and in yesterday’s case the Index reached the high peak of 33.8 degrees Celsius.”

Image credit: FEI/Liz Gregg
Key measures put in place today will include…
- Continuous WBGT monitoring: on-site monitoring of climatic conditions, the data is crucial in accurately assessing the potential for heat stress during competition throughout the day.
- Thermal imaging and veterinary supervision: all horses are monitored with advanced thermal imaging technology by a world-class veterinary team. This non-invasive technique accurately estimates body temperature from a distance, allowing for early identification of potential heat stress. Monitoring is conducted at warm-up stages and immediately upon horses returning competing.
- Cooling stations: further to the two cooling stations in place, three additional cooling stations have been set up, equipped with cold water, ice, and staff ready to assist with immediate cooling needs. These stations provided crucial support for rapid temperature reduction of the horses after they’ve competed.