Help Your Horse Cope With The Hot Weather

Fresh Water

Providing fresh, clean water can go a long way to keeping your horse healthy and hydrated. On average, a horse will drink 5-10 gallons per day and in hot weather, that amount can easily double or triple. Cool water is favorable, making it important to keep water sources in shaded areas and refill any hanging buckets regularly. Remember to clean water troughs frequently.

Shade

Just like their riders, horses need shade to beat the heat. Whether it’s in a barn or under a tree, shady spots can provide a temperature drop of up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (F). Not only does the shade help with cooling horses off, it can also help protect them from sunburn. For horses that are extra sensitive to the sun, avoid turning them out during the hottest part of the day between 2 and 5 o’clock in the afternoon.

Green Grass

Fresh pasture grass contains 75-85% water whereas harvested hay is dried to less than 20% moisture for storage. Grass also has a higher level of nutrition, including antioxidants like vitamin E that helps support muscle recovery in hot weather. If fresh grass is not an option, consider wetting hay down in the summer to help keep horses hydrated and minimize the dust inhalants.

Fans

Proper ventilation is important to keep horses breathing fresh air, provide a cool breeze and keep the flies away. Whether in the barn, trailer or indoor arena, ensure airflow by opening up doors and windows, as well as utilizing outdoor-use fans in musty areas.

Cooling Blankets

Evaporative blankets can be soaked in water, wrung out and placed on horses after intense exercise, while traveling or on extremely hot days. They can provide hours of cooling relief.

Sunscreen

Horses with white on their extremities like the face, nose or legs can be prone to sunburns. Other vulnerable areas include the ear tips, heels and around the eyes. It’s important to choose a sunscreen that is long-lasting and waterproof.

Fly Control

Flies and other insects are an increased irritation in the summer months. Flysheets, masks and sprays can provide relief. Cleaning stalls regularly and storing manure far away from horses also decreases the number of flies. For especially itchy horses, supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and quercetin can help.

Electrolytes

Plain, white salt should always be available. Horses may require supplemental electrolytes in hot weather or after intense exercise to replace minerals lost through sweat and encourage drinking. An appropriate supplement will have salt as the first and primary ingredient that makes up at least 75% of the total volume. For maintenance purposes, an ounce of salt (~2 tablespoons) is an appropriate amount per day to add to a horse’s diet in cool weather and can be doubled in hot, humid conditions. Always ensure horses have fresh water when supplemented with electrolytes.

Thermometer

It’s important to stay vigilant and measure temperatures during heat waves to ensure there are no signs of heat stress. Keep a thermometer on hand to monitor when needed; 99-101.5°F is considered the normal resting range in the equine population, but it’s best to know what your horse’s normal temperature is when measuring regularly. Remember that your horse’s temperature will increase with exercise, decreasing back down to normal within about 30 minutes.

Supplements

Platinum’s wellness formulas are designed to be fed with a forage-based diet to fill in any nutritional gaps and ensure horses have all the necessary vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids for complete daily health. With all the summer stresses of heat and travel, providing a comprehensive foundation can ensure horses stay strong, healthy and perform at their best all summer long. You may also consider adding zinc and lysine during travel to provide additional immune support.