7 HORSE CARE TIPS FOR SUMMER

How To Keep Your Horse Healthy in Hot Weather

The hottest days of the summer are around the corner! We all love summer because we have more time to ride and care for our horses in long summer days, but as responsible equestrians, we should pay attention to our horses’ health during this season. 

• Hydration: For body maintenance, an average horse needs at least 5 gallons of water a day. This can easily double or triple when they’re working hard in hot weather, so make sure your horse is hydrated throughout summer. Keep several water sources available and refill the water buckets or troughs with fresh water regularly. Also, troughs may be more likely to harbor algae or the water can turn stagnant when it is warm, so clean the troughs and buckets more often than usual. If you are going out for a hack or trail ride, consider the water need of your horse. 
  
  
  

• Shade: If the horse lives outdoors or if he has to be outside during the day time, provide shelter to relieve them. A run-in shed is the best option but trees can provide some cool shade in hot weather as well. Also, don’t forget that white/gray horses are more sensitive to the dangerous rays of the sun. Horses with pink around their muzzles or eyes can suffer from sunburn, so they need more attention in summer. Remember to apply sunscreen around their muzzle and consider using fly masks that also have light filter. 
  
  
  

• Fresh Air: When the heat is too high, horses need more fresh air than normal. The air in the barn must be in circulation during summer. You can use fans to move the air and fill your barn with fresh air. Just pay attention to the horses’ safety when using the fans. Don't leave any loose cables around and keep the outlets safe. 
  
  
  

• Work schedule: If you work between 11am-2pm, change your work schedule for the sake of your horse. Ride or exercise your horse during the cooler times of the day - such as early in the morning or late afternoon or even evening- and them rest when the sun is high. If you cannot change the schedule, just lighten the work and keep the sessions shorter.
  
  

• Minerals: When they sweat more, horses need more minerals for their body maintenance. Don’t forget to provide them some salt blocks in the paddock and in their stalls to keep their mineral income balanced. 
  
  
  

• Bugs: Mosquitos and flies are everywhere and they annoy horses during the summer season. To keep mosquitos away, get rid of any standing, stagnant water in your horse's stable or water trough. If you have too keep your horse’s water standing in the barn or paddock, you can simply add some apple vinegar in it. To keep the flies from bothering your horse, muck out regularly, and consider using a fly mask or a fly rug. 
  
  
  
  
• Tack safety: As horses sweat more while exercising during summer, you should prefer high-quality saddle pads and leg protection boots or wraps for their health. Make sure the saddle pad you use is made of breathable materian and can absorb the sweat. Make sure to choose breathable material for boots as well to avoid overheating the tendons. 
  
  

CHECK OUT OUR UNIQUE SADDLE PAD SETS FOR THIS SUMMER