Mythbuster Monday: Beer Helps Horses Sweat

On Mythbuster Monday, we tackle a variety of equestrian myths to either bust or confirm. Today’s discussion: Does beer help horses sweat?

It’s Mythbuster Monday, where Horse Nation dives into different equestrian myths and provides research-based evidence to either bust or confirm those myths. Today’s topic: Does beer help horses sweat?  Does light beer or dark beer work better? How much beer does it take to make the horse sweat? Read further to find out!

Myth: Beer helps horses sweat

Myth or Fact: Both

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Beer is a carbonated, fermented alcoholic beverage usually made of malted cereal grain that is flavored with hops. For most of us, beer is a beverage we pull out of our cooler after a long show day or a drink we crack open while out on the trail with friends. We know enough of it starts to make us sweat, but does it have the same effect on our horses?

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According to an article by PetMD, racehorses and performance horses may be given a beer after the event to provide carbohydrates, iron, and vitamins that were depleted during vigorous exercise. Beer is also said to help a horse sweat to decrease heat stroke. While using beer to cool down a horse has not been scientifically proven, it is offered as an old-fashioned remedy. It is said that the remedy eventually will make horses sweat, but researchers say it’s hard to prove because the sweating may occur because of a change in the environment.

To make them sweat, you can give the horse any type of beer but most people suggest dark stout beer with hops, barley, and yeast. Unfiltered and unpasteurized beer is said to have more benefits because of the increase in B vitamins. The best way to get the beer into your horse’s system is to pour it on top of feed, mix it in their water, or pour it into a bucket of its own. No more than one beer a day is recommended, but most people tend to give two beers a week.

BEFORE GIVING YOUR HORSE BEER, CHECK WITH THE GOVERNING ORGANIZATION YOU SHOW WITH. BEER MAY CAUSE POSITIVES ON SOME DRUG TESTS.

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Another article by Western Horseman instructs to give a horse with sweating problems a can of beer a day to stimulate perspiration. This article claims the old wives’ tale works. They suggest Pabst Blue Ribbon mixed with beet pulp mash.

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Podcaster and author, Heather Wallace, weighs in on the topic and recommends dark beer, especially Guinness, to make a horse sweat. This is because dark beer contains important B vitamins, such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, B6. and B12. These vital components are necessary for correct functioning of metabolic pathways. The also states dark beer contains a higher content of yeast which is a prebiotic that stabilizes the hind gut. According to her article, there is no scientific backup for the myth but it can’t hurt to give your horse beer so don’t rule it out as an option.

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After diving into the research, the consensus is that while there’s no science to prove the method works, it can’t hurt to use it if your horse has problems sweating. There’s a debate between articles on whether Pabst Blue Ribbon or Guinness is the better option.. So, Horse Nation, don’t be afraid to give your horse a beer a day… especially if they like it!

Do you have an equine myth you’d like us to tackle? If so, send it our way! Email your suggestions to [email protected]. Put Mythbuster Monday in your subject line.