Horses in the heat...

We waited so long for this Summer to arrive after what felt like a never ending winter of rain and a whole lot of mud, and when the sun has finally made it's appearance it’s been a hot one. The heat and rapid changes in temperature can be dangerous for our horses and ponies, sometimes causing dehydration and lethargy which can bring on stress that can sometimes cause diarrhoea and colic. I am hoping I can offer you some top tips that may help you with your horses too...

Choose cooler turnout times, if you have a stable bringing the horses in during the hottest parts of the day can help and also turning out overnight too. The summer can also have a big impact on the fields and reduce the quality of grazing. Feeding hard feed may help to keep condition on and energy up. If you do not have access to a stable providing some shade in the field giving them chance to stand out of the sun.

The most important thing during hot periods in the summer is to ensure your horse or pony has access to cool water all the time, buckets can get warm left in direct sunlight try and place them by the hedge or shaded area if you can. Watch out for sunburn on pink noses too, a bit of sun cream is a quick fix.

I also try to ride early in the morning or later in the evening when it is cooler, the sunrise and sunset is lovely to watch whilst riding too!
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And we must not forget the dreaded horse flies, fly rugs, fly masks and fly spray are essential too this pesky flies are everywhere irritating and nibbling away, and don’t forget to spare yourself too!

Signs of heat stroke can include: Excessive sweating, heart rate higher than normal and doesn’t return back to normal, high temperature, lack of energy, dehydration, if you have any concerns contact your vet.

I hope this helps answer some questions you may have or give you some new idea's to try this summer!