We are hearing so much about the cooling, or “misting”, stations set up for the horses in Hong Kong for the Olympics. Even so, it was dangerously hot on Thursday when the dressage horses were in the ring and some horses showed their fatigue.

This photo from New York City shows a precursor of the “misting stations”. It was set up by an animal charity group (probably the ASPCA but it is not verified) right on a busy Manhattan street.

You can enlarge the photo by clicking on it. When you do, you will see that there is an actual showerhead over the horse’s head. His blinkers are removed.

Notice the sign says, “For Horses Only”; I bet in 1910 a lot of people in New York City were looking for a way to cool off.

Keeping horses cool is still a good idea. Maybe the carriage horses in Central Park could use one of these! (Photo: Library of Congress, Bain Collection)