Horse care tips for summer

Long summer days are enjoyable for owners, but hot weather can be hard on horses. They can become dehydrated and tired, and heat can upset their digestion and raise the risk of colic. A few changes to your routine help keep your horse comfortable and safe.

Shade and shelter

If your horse lives out, make sure there is shade all through the day. Trees help, but the shade moves as the sun moves, so a field shelter gives more reliable protection. A shelter you can close off also lets you keep your horse in when it is very hot.

If your horse is stabled, the stable or barn needs good airflow to stay cool. Fans can help where air doesn't move well, but they must be fitted out of the horse's reach, with cables safely out of the way.

Water

Your horse must always have clean, fresh drinking water. Check buckets and troughs every day, top them up, and clean them regularly so they stay free of algae, debris and insects. Horses drink much more in hot weather and after work.

Turnout and exercise

In very hot weather, it is often better to bring horses in during the hottest part of the day and turn them out early in the morning or in the evening, especially if the field has little shade.

If you need to ride in hot weather:

• ride at cooler times of day;
• shorten the session and reduce how hard your horse works;
• take the tack off promptly afterwards;
• cool your horse down with water and offer plenty to drink.

Most horses enjoy being hosed down on a hot day. Try to hose them somewhere that won't turn the gateway into mud.

Routine and clipping

Horses like routine, and sudden changes can upset their digestion. Keep feeding and turnout times as regular as you can.

Some horses grow a heavy coat and sweat a lot in warm weather. Horses with PPID (equine Cushing's disease) often have a long coat that doesn't shed properly, and may benefit from clipping in summer. Ask your vet if you are unsure.

Sunburn

Grey horses and horses with pink skin on their face or legs can get sunburnt. To protect them:

• use a fly mask with UV protection;
• apply a sun cream suitable for horses to pink areas, such as the muzzle;
• give them shade, or bring them in during the strongest sun.

Ask your vet if your horse's skin is sore, crusty or peeling.

Flies

Flies are a constant nuisance in summer and can cause sore skin and eyes. Fly masks, fly rugs and fly repellents made for horses all help. Keeping the muck heap well away from fields and stables also reduces flies.

Laminitis

Grass can be rich in sugars at some times of year, and some horses and ponies are at risk of laminitis, a very painful condition of the feet. Overweight horses and those with PPID are at higher risk. Your vet can advise on managing grazing for a horse at risk.

Signs of laminitis include reluctance to walk, a short, careful stride, leaning back onto the heels, and hot feet. Contact your vet straight away if you see these signs.

Ragwort and other toxic plants

Ragwort is poisonous to horses and can cause serious liver damage. It is still dangerous when dried in hay. Check your fields regularly and remove ragwort safely, wearing gloves. Look out for other poisonous plants and trees in and around your fields too, and ask your vet if you are unsure about a plant.

Travelling in hot weather

If you need to travel, try to go at cooler times of day. Make sure the trailer or lorry is well ventilated, offer water on longer journeys, and never leave your horse standing in a parked vehicle in the heat.

Signs of heatstroke

Heatstroke can happen at any time in hot weather, especially during or after exercise. Signs include:

• a temperature above about 39.5°C (103°F);
• dullness or depression;
• a fast heart rate or fast breathing that doesn't settle with rest;
• signs of dehydration;
• heavy sweating, or not sweating at all;
• weakness, stumbling or collapse.

If you suspect heatstroke, contact your vet straight away. While you wait, move your horse into shade and start cooling them by pouring or hosing cool water over their whole body, and keep going. Offer small amounts of water to drink. Follow any further advice your vet gives you on the phone.