How to Keep a Horse Cool in Summer

The sun is high, the humidity is up and it's hard to imagine how you can possibly keep a horse cool when you can cook an egg on the barn floor. Thankfully, horses are naturally equipped to stay cool in the heat with plenty of blood circulating just under their skin. Owners simply have to implement good summer management and exercise practices to help keep the horse's system in tiptop shape.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Fresh, clean water
• Electrolytes
• Fan

1. Provide plenty of fresh water and make sure it is clean and always available. A dry water bucket is the quickest route to dehydration and heat stress.
2. Consider giving your horse electrolytes if he's performing heavy work. You can add them to his water, but some horses don't like the taste of electrolytes in their water and will stop drinking. You can also add electrolytes to their feed and many horses find this more palatable. Plus it gives you more control over how much electrolytes they ingest.
3. You can keep your horse in during the day during the hottest time of the year if your barn has good ventilation and fans.
4. If you use a fan, make sure you keep all cords well out of your horse's reach.
5. Place a fan in the aisle way or fasten one to the outside of your horse's stall to keep the barn from getting stuffy. Make sure that the fan is approved for use in hazardous areas where straw, shavings, dust, and hay are present. Keep all cords tied up and out of your horse's reach.
6. If you don't keep your horse in during the summer, make sure she always has someplace shaded to rest in her paddock, either a large tree or a run-in shed.
7. Get your horse in shape. A horse in good physical condition is less likely to overheat quickly. Excess fat on your horse will make it more difficult for him to move, so he will have to use more energy which in turn generates more internal heat. So try to keep your horses fit especially in the summer.
8. Change your riding schedule for the summer. Try to ride early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is low and the temperature is a bit cooler.
9. Reduce the amount of tack you ride in during the summer. Use thinner saddle pads and only put on boots when necessary.
10. Wet your horse down before and during your ride. Keep a bucket of water and sponge hanging in your arena and sponge off your horse's chest and stomach during rides, especially when the temperatures are high.
11. Avoid riding, especially unfit horses, when the temperature and humidity are both high.
12. Loosen your girth or cinch when you're done riding, and make sure to give your horse a long walk after exercise. You can offer him some water after a hard ride, but don't let him gulp down an entire bucket while he is still hot and sweaty. A cold bath is also a quick, and often highly appreciated way to cool your horse off. Make sure that her breathing, heart rate and temperature have returned to normal levels before you turn her out or put him back in his stall.
13. Learn the tell-tale signs of heat stress—raised temperature, elevated respiratory and heart rate, profuse sweating, lethargy, and discolored mucus membranes. If your horse starts showing signs of heat stress, stop what you are doing and try to cool him down. If you are riding stop the workout, dismount and untack your horse. Try giving him a bath, offer him some water and then stand him in the shade. If you have a fan around, plug it in and stand him in the breeze. Contact your vet immediately if the symptoms get worse or do not improve within 15 minutes.