How to Protect and Comfort a Horse in the Heat of Summer

If you care enough to have a horse, then you probably want to know how to care for him throughout the summer. In the scorching heat of long summer days, whatever people experience in terms of being too hot, tired and generally uncomfortable, also applies to equine animals. Even though there is not as much we can do for them, there are a few things that you as horse lover or owner can do to make these days more bearable. And your horse will appreciate it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Hose
• Clean drinking water
• Bug spray

1. Provide your horse with a plentiful and steady supply of cold, clean drinking water. In the summer it is very important to make sure that your horse does not get dehydrated for lack of enough water to properly support him. The other thing to watch out for in the summer is bacteria, which will grow faster than you may think. After your horse drinks out of his water bucket a few times, a strange film can grow over the top of the water. Many horses will not drink the water when it is in that condition; therefore, water should be changed often.
2. Schedule workouts around hot weather conditions. Working horses in the summer can be somewhat dangerous due to the hot and sometimes humid weather. When you work your horse in the summertime, try to keep all of the activity restricted to either early morning or late evening. These times are preferable because either the the sun has not completely come out or is not at the hottest temperature. Also, whenever you conduct your exercise sessions, try to keep them as short as possible.
3. Cool down your horse appropriately after any work session. Start by running cool water from a hose over your horse’s entire body. Begin with his chest first, then move to his neck and legs, then cover the rest of his body. Take your horse for a walk after you have rinsed him to finish cooling him down. This is a very safe and effective practice, and you will enjoy it as well. Also, make sure that your horse does not eat any solid grain for at least an hour after a good workout.
4. Bring your horse inside during the heat of the day if possible. Keeping horses outside all day is acceptable as long as there is a source of shade and plenty of clean, fresh water. If you or someone cannot be around during the day, the best plan is to turn them out only at night and in the early morning.
5. Keep flies and bugs off your horse during the hot summer. Flies and other pests that can annoy your horse and inflict nasty bites are attracted to the horse’s sweat, so in the summer they will swarm. Invest in some strong fly or bug spray that will keep your horse bug-free and happy.