By Mike James for Pet News and Views
We just welcomed autumn, and while we look forward to cooler temperatures, it’s important to note that those hot humid days are not behind us. Summer weather hasn’t left. When it comes to the hot weather, it can be uncomfortable and stressful for you and your horse.
With hotter weather occurring later on in the year, horses may experience a heightened sense of discomfort. The stress of hot days and biting insects makes it a smart idea to be watchful and to take careful steps to ensure your horse stays healthy.
Staying Hydrated
Make sure your horse always has fresh water available. Check on the water regularly as it will quickly warm up in the heat. If your horse is reluctant to drink a lot of water, water down his feed to ensure that he stays hydrated, or provide a salt lick to encourage him to drink more.
Sometimes your horse may benefit from a cool hosing down or by using a fine mister. Take care not to leave the mister on as dusk approaches; this could cause your horse to get a chill. A misting machine is generally more effective than simply hosing down your horse once every few hours.
Insect Repellent
With the hot weather come pests and insects. Make sure to use insect repellents and fly sheets to prevent insects from biting your horse. If your horse has a longer hair coat, try to clip it to reduce heat and to prevent insects from nesting in the long hairs.
Ventilation and Gentle Exercise
You can also set up fans in the barn to create an air flow that will disrupt flying insects from coming into contact with your horse. Many biting insects aren’t very good at flying, so creating an air flow will both cool down the barn and repel insects.
If you work your horse every day, it is common sense to assume that a horse will not be able to handle the same amount of work in high heat. Try to lighten the work or spread the work out over the course of a few hours to give your horse enough time to rest and cool down. Take extra care in high humidity as this will make your horse tired much faster than normal.
Providing Shade and Shelter
For horses that live outdoors, it is important to provide a shelter or place of rest from the sun. A run-in shed is ideal for providing shade. Trees can provide ample shade, too, but if your horse is tied up remember that the shade will change depending on the position of the sun. Ensure that your horse has access to ample shade throughout the whole day.
Take care and observe your horse’s behaviour. Every horse is different. You should know what he needs better than anyone. On those hot days, it doesn’t hurt to be extra careful to ensure that he stays in good health.
Mike James has been passionate about horses and ponies from a young age and is privileged to be a member of an active amateur equestrian team. He also writes about relevant issues for Dollar Bedding, suppliers of natural animal bedding.
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