Caring for your Horses During Hot Weather

Here at Barnstaple Equestrian Supplies we have produced a blog for you that will help you care Care for your Horses During Hot Weather.

Caring for your Horses During Hot Weather requires vigilance and proactive measures to ensure their well-being. First and foremost, provide ample shade to protect them from direct sunlight, whether through natural tree cover or constructed shelters. Hydration is crucial, so ensure a constant supply of fresh, clean water, and consider adding electrolytes to their diet to replace salts lost through sweating. Adjust their exercise routines to cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late evening, to prevent overheating. Regularly hose down your horse or offer them a refreshing sponge bath to help regulate their body temperature. Additionally, monitor for signs of heat stress, such as rapid breathing, excessive sweating, or lethargy, and take immediate action if these symptoms appear. Proper grooming to remove excess hair and regular checks for dehydration, by pinching the skin to see if it snaps back quickly, are also essential. By taking these steps, you can help ensure your horse remains healthy and comfortable during hot weather. For Caring for your Horses During Hot Weather. 

Here are Ten Top Tips for Caring for your Horses During Hot Weather

1.  Provide unlimited access to clean water

Make sure your horse has unlimited access to clean and cool water. In hot weather the average horse can drink up to 50 litres of water per day so ensure your horse’s bucket is regularly topped up. You can freeze blocks of water using plastic boxes and ice cream tubs to cool the water in your horse’s trough. It’s also important to clean water buckets and troughs regularly as algae and bacteria can grow quickly in hot weather to help Caring for your Horses During Hot Weather.

2.  Make fruity ice lollies and add apples to your horse’s water

Cut up apples and carrots and freeze them with water in a box to create a horse sized ice lolly. This can help to cool them down and keep them entertained when standing in the heat. You can also add apples to their water buckets to encourage them to drink more water to ensure Caring for your Horses During Hot Weather

3.  Provide shade

Ensure your horse has access to shade in their field or stable. The temperature in some stable blocks will be far hotter than your horse’s field if there is restricted air flow so evaluate if your horse is better in their field or stable. To help Caring for your Horses During Hot Weather

4.  Improve airflow in your horse’s stable

If your horse is stabled, consider using a fan outside their stable to increase airflow. Make sure to keep cords and plugs out of horse’s reach! To ensure great airflow to Caring for your Horses During Hot Weather

5.  Restrict exercise

Exercise your horse in the early morning or late evening to avoid the hottest hours of the day and reduce the intensity of your horse’s work. Your horse will not mind a couple of days off so do not ride if the weather is very warm, Caring for your Horses During Hot Weather

6.  Hose down your horse

Throughout the hottest parts of the day, wet your horse using a hose, sponge or bucket to cool them down. Research has proven that horses cool quicker when the water is left to evaporate compared with scraping the water off.

7.  Prevent sunburn

Apply sunscreen to any pink areas of your horse’s skin, especially pink skin on their nose, multiple times a day in very sunny weather to prevent sunburn.

8.  Fly prevention

Apply fly repellent sprays and use fly sheets during the summer months if your horse is bothered by flies. Pick up droppings regularly in the stable and field to avoid attracting flies near your horse. Caring for your Horses During Hot Weather

9.  Add extra water to your horse’s feed

Water can be added to any feed to increase your horse’s water intake. Pelleted feeds can be soaked with more water than usual to form a sloppy mash. Don’t leave any feed soaking for more than a few hours in hot weather as the feed can start to go mouldy. You can also soak or steam hay to increase your horse’s water intake. Caring for your Horses During Hot Weather

10.  Feed electrolytes

Horses lose electrolytes through normal bodily functions like sweating, so it is advisable to supplement your horse’s diet with electrolytes. This is especially important during hot weather and when your horse is in hard work to replace the essential electrolytes your horse loses. Caring for your Horses During Hot Weather

These top ten tips will help for Caring for your Horses During Hot Weather. 

Caring for your Horses During Hot Weather