June 25th 2018 Sarah
Hot weather can be dangerous for horses, making them vulnerable to dehydration, heat stroke, lethargy, and stress. As temperatures rise, you must prioritise your horse’s wellbeing and understand how to keep your horse cool in the summer. This guide includes our top tips for keeping your horse comfortable, hydrated, and healthy throughout the hottest months.
Horses can become overheated quickly when exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. Providing accessible shade is one of the simplest and most effective ways to cool your horse down. Natural shade, such as trees and hedgerows, is helpful, but a purpose-built field shelter offers consistent protection throughout the day.
Mobile field shelters are ideal for summer as they provide shade and airflow without requiring planning permission. In addition to reducing heat, shaded areas naturally deter flies, giving your horse a cooler, calmer place to rest.
Another alternative is choosing cooler turnout times. On hotter days of the year, we would advise you to turn out your horse into pasture during the cooler hours. Night time is ideal, but if that’s not possible, send your horse outside as early as possible during the day. Early in the day is generally the coolest and helps avoid your horse becoming overheated.
Hydration is a vital part of how to cool down your horse. Water left in the sun becomes warm and unappealing, so refresh buckets regularly and keep them shaded where possible. If your horse sweats heavily, adding electrolytes can help replace lost salts, but always offer plain water alongside electrolyte water to allow choice.
During extreme heat, lighten the workload or split up exercise into several shorter sessions. Horses find humid conditions especially difficult because their ability to evaporate heat is reduced. Exercise early in the morning or later in the evening when the temperature is lower.
After riding, cool your horse down by hosing their neck, inner thighs and body with cool water. These areas contain major blood vessels close to the surface, allowing heat to dissipate quickly.
Horses with pink skin, white markings, or sensitive areas are at risk of sunburn. Apply sun cream designed for horses, especially to noses and exposed patches. However, the best protection is avoiding strong midday sun altogether.
If your horse has a long or thick coat, clipping can help them regulate temperature more effectively. While coats provide protection in winter, they trap heat in summer, making it harder for your horse to stay cool.
Heatstroke is a serious emergency. Signs include rapid breathing, elevated heart rate, high temperature, excessive or absent sweating, and visible distress. If you suspect heatstroke, move your horse into shade, cool them with water, and call your vet immediately.
Feeding cooling horse treats is a fun way to encourage hydration and help regulate body temperature. Always feed treats in moderation, especially if your horse needs low-sugar horse treats.
Freeze water with slices of apple, carrot, or your horse’s usual feed. These homemade treats cool your horse from the inside and provide hydration and enrichment on hot afternoons.
We’ve probably all played a game or two of bobbing apples, but have you ever considered providing a bucket of water and apples for your horse? Bobbing apples is not just a fun bit of entertainment; it is also a great way to give your horse a healthy snack and encourage him to drink more during the day! If you’ve never given bobbing apples a go, see what your horse thinks.
Let’s be honest, horses love carrots and apples. So, why not combine them for a cooling summer treat? It’s an easy way to cool your horse down, and carrot and apple bites are very simple to make, too.
All you need to do is grate one carrot and an apple, then pop the segments into an ice cube tray. You can either top up the ice cube tray with water or spoil your horse with some tasty apple juice. Pop in the freezer and in a couple of hours, you will have a dozen delicious summer treats for your horse. Let your horse enjoy them straight after they come out of the freezer, as they will melt quickly in the heat.
Another great way to keep your horses cool and encourage them to play and have fun is by using the hay string trick. Simply thread string through slices of apple and carrot and freeze. Once fully frozen, remove from the freezer and tie onto a large length of string alongside their paddock. Your horses will enjoy prising the fruit and vegetable pieces from the string and enjoy the refreshing temperature change, too.
Watermelon is around 90% water and makes a hydrating summer snack. Horses can eat the rind too, but offer this fruit in moderation.
Knowing how to keep your horse cool in the summer can prevent serious health risks and ensure your horse stays comfortable during hot weather. With the right shade, shelter, hydration, careful management and creative cooling treats, your horse can enjoy summer safely.
Field shelters are essential for protecting your horse from sun, wind, rain and unpredictable weather all year round. We design, craft, and install top-quality timber field shelters and mobile field shelters across the UK and Europe. Speak to our friendly team today or request a free brochure.
