18/06/2025
ARE YOUR HORSES READY FOR THE HEAT??
With temperatures set to hit 30 degrees Celsius in the next couple of days, how will you ensure your horses don’t suffer in the heat?
Yes, horses cope with much higher temperatures abroad, but for our horses, these are extreme temperatures.
1. STABLING
If you have a reasonably cool stable, then stabling during the day is by far the best option. Wooden stables can get quite hot, but if not facing the sun, and if no clear plastic on the roof, they are still likely to be cooler than your horse standing in direct sunlight for the whole day.
Brick and block stables are ideal, and should definitely be utilised over the next few days.
If your stables get extremely hot, and you can’t improve the ventilation by opening windows, then your horse may be better off out.....
2. SHADE IN FIELDS
All of my nine horses are either in fields with big field shelters, or in their stables after midday. I don’t have any big trees/natural shade in my fields, so this is necessary.
If you have natural shade in your fields for most of the day, then it’s perfectly fine for your horses to stay out, and the best place to be. It may be worth checking that they are actually using the shade/shelter however, and maybe pop some hay and buckets of water in the shade if not. I have seen horses go to sleep in one spot, in direct sunlight, and then by the time they realise it’s too hot to stay there, heat exhaustion has already started to kick in, and they don’t feel like moving.
3. RIDING
Either don’t ride, ride very early, or just go for a light hack.
A couple of days off, or walk hacks, won’t kill them, but galloping around in the heat could. Sadly I’ve already seen ponies being cantered and jumped on rock hard ground in 25 degrees this week.
4. FLY RUGS
I use fly rugs on all of mine. I don’t find that any of my horses are hot under them. I use the white Amigo Aussie Allrounders. They keep the burning sun off their backs, and stop them being eaten by flies. Always ensure a fly rug is mostly white if using in very high temperatures.
5. CLIPPING
If you have a horse with a thick summer coat/one with Cushings, then I always advise clipping them out during the Summer months. Just be careful if they are pink skinned, as they will definitely need a light fly rug on to prevent sunburn if so.
6. ELECTROLYTES
It is a good idea to feed electrolytes throughout the summer months, but if you haven’t been using them, then it’s too late to load up today for tomorrow. I don’t advise putting them in water, as you don’t want to put a horse off drinking, but adding to the feed is a sensible move. This is a huge topic, and I’ve written articles on this before, but the main point right now, is don’t try to load up with electrolytes now if you haven’t been using them.
7. WASHING OFF
If your horse seems very hot in the next few days, then washing off with cold water is a good idea, and the best way of quickly cooling a horse. Ideally, hosing with water at 5-7 deg is the best option, and hose all over the horse.
8. REHYDRATION MASHES
A mash, such as Premier Performance Fibre Hydration Mash (Mabel’s favourite!) are a great way to get electrolytes and fluids into your horse on a daily basis.
So, to summarise.....in an ideal world, your horses are best in either a shady area of a field, or a cool stable for the next couple of days (or whenever it is hot).
If you are completely stuck, and only have a field with no shelter, then check your horse regularly, and every time you do, offer some water if possible. They may end up feeling too hot to bother walking to the trough. Sloppy feeds and soaked hay will also help prevent dehydration if your only option is a hot field.
Most of this is clearly common sense, but all worth thinking about as the weather is meant to hit the 30s for a couple of days. Obviously if you live in a hot country, then this doesn’t apply to you as your horses will be acclimatised; this is aimed at people in the UK!
If your horse seems very lethargic, and/or isn’t interested in eating, then call your vet straight away.
Feel free to share, but not to copy and paste the words as your own. The most tropical looking photo I have - superstar Johnnie, of course!
