7 Ways to Keep Your Horse Cool this Summer

The weather has been a hot topic these past few weeks and it’s not hard to understand why – the sun has emerged in full force. As temperatures soar, fields dry up, and rainfall is nowhere to be seen, it is important you care for your horses.

During the hot weather, horses find it difficult to monitor their body temperatures, so while it’s great to head to the beach or enjoy a BBQ with friends in the sun, your horse could be suffering from heat stroke, dehydration, or worse. If you own a horse it is vital you care for him property during the summer.

So, to help you out, I have listed my top tips to keep your horse cool this summer. I hope you find it helpful!

1. Keep Your Horse Hydrated

Dehydration is one of the biggest killers of horses, particularly during the summer. So, it is extremely important you provide fresh water for your horse throughout the day. On hot days, it is important you ensure your horse is drinking the water you provide for him. Regularly got out and replenish his water supply to ensure he always has water that is cold and refreshing. You could even make some cool summer treats for your horse to enjoy!

If your horse sweats excessively during the summer, he will be losing a lot of moisture and will become dehydrated extremely easily. Try adding electrolytes to his water to help keep him hydrated and to replenish any of those salts and nutrients lost through sweating.

2. Provide Plenty of Shade

Shade is one of the most essential provisions you must make for your horse during the summer. Your horse spends a lot of time stood in a field, and when the weather is hot throughout the day, your horse can suffer without any shade to rest in.

So, if your horse spends most of his days outside, I would advise providing him with a suitable shelter so that he can rest in the shade when he needs to. Whether you ensure he is provided with a field shelter or with plenty of trees and shrubbery to provide shade, you must ensure your horse always has a cool place to rest from the summer weather.

3. Turn Your Horse Out

Turning your horse out is important for your horse as it ensures he gets the exercise he needs during the day to stretch his legs and enjoy some fresh air. However, during the summer it can be difficult to turn your horse out without him becoming too hot. So, I would encourage you to turn your horse out during cooler times of day, such as first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening. This will prevent your horse from becoming overheated while ensuring he gets the outdoor time he neds, despite the hot weather.

4. Reduce Your Horse’s Workload

If you own a horse that you use for work, try to reduce his workload during hot weather. If your horse is overworked during hot weather, he can become easily tired and dehydrated. What’s more, high humidity levels can make it difficult for your horse to breathe. By reducing your horse’s workload or breaking the work into smaller sections with plenty of breaks, you will help your horse have the breaks he needs to rehydrate and rest.

5. Prevent Sunburn

Did you know that horses can get sunburnt? This fact surprised me, too! Horses can get sunburnt just as easily as we can, so it is essential they are protected during the summer weather. You can buy sun cream specifically made for horses that keeps them protected all day long. Just be careful when applying it that you avoid sensitive areas such as eyes, nose, and mouth. However, protecting your horse by keeping him in the shade on particularly hot days would be more beneficial.

6. Give Your Horse a Haircut

If your horse has long hair, it is important you clip his hair to keep him cool. As always mentioned, horses find it difficult to regulate their body temperatures and their hair can hold in the heat, making your horse particularly uncomfortable during the summer months. A horse will long, unkept hair is more likely to suffer from heat exhaustion more easily than other horses. So, be sure to clip your horse’s hair and help him cool down.

7. Avoid Exercising Your Horse

Exercising in the hot weather is difficult for most people, so it can be just as difficult for your horse. If you find that you need to exercise your horse regularly, perhaps he is training for a race, then aim to exercise him during cooler parts of the day. Otherwise, try to avoid too much exercise and be sure to help your horse cool down effectively if you do exercise him during the hottest part of the day.

How Do You Keep Your Horse Cool?

I hope you have found the advice in this article useful. Comment below with the methods you use to keep your horse cool during the summer months, I would love to hear your suggestions!