03/02/2025
Pro Tips – Summertime and managing Horses
We are well underway into some beautiful summer weather here in Gippsland! Whilst glorious summer days and coolmornings / evenings make for some beautiful horsey time, the heat can pose several challenges as far as management of your equine friends.
1. Access to fresh water – Sounds crazily simple! However, horses can drink up to 20-50 litres per day. Especially during higher temperatures and humid weather. Horses in group turnout can occasionally be bullied away fromdrinking, which can lead to dehydration. Owners ensuring to observe herd dynamics is important. It is always first on the list to always ensure access to plenty of clean water. If using smaller troughs, aiming to ensure they have some shade throughout the day, so the water does not heat up whilst sitting in the sun.
2. How can I tell if my horse is hydrated? A quick test for owners to assess hydration, is to lift your horse's upper lip, and gently press on their gum. Their gum through be pink & moist. Many owners will also know of the old tried and tested skin pinch test, raising a tent of skin on your horse’s neck and watching how quickly it returns to normal. This is not always accurate however, and often only shows change when horses are significantly dehydrated. If concerned your horse is suffering from de-hydration, best to give your equine vet clinic a ring tochat to one of the team.
3. Consider wet feeds – Dehydration in horses can lead to several issues, some of which are life threatening, such as impaction colic. One way to increase water intake in your horse’s diet, is to consider feeding a soaked feed ormash, such as beet-pulp. Beet-pulp will double in size once soaked and holds an immense amount of water. It is also an ideal vessel to add electrolytes into your horse’s diet on extreme temperature days, without them sifting to the bottom of the feed bin! Here at GVG Equine we use the Restore Electrolytes from KER, in either paste or powder form.
4. Plenty of shade – another basic point, but so often overlooked! Ensuring there is shade in your horse’s pasture is vital, especially during the afternoon by hours when the sun and UV are strongest.
5. Looking after skin – Horses with pink skin will often be prone to burning in the summertime. Many horses have pink skin around their eyes and muzzles. Generally, the easiest way to combat this is with a UVrated Fly mask. However, some horses are excellent at removing their fly mask, and as such owners may choose to implement products containing zinc & sunscreen for some added protection.
6. Riding - Avoid working horses in the heat of the day – aim for early mornings or late evenings when temperatures are milder.
7. Rug appropriately – On extreme heat days, it is recommended that your horse have either no rug, or a very light flag or mesh rug, as once temperatures reach over 30degC, many horses’ will sweat even in cottons.
If you have any concerns about your equine friends, please reach out to any of our clinics in South Gippsland and Bass Coast for advice!
