Tips for keeping your horse cool!

The weather is forecast to be unseasonably hot this week. Here are a few tips to keep your horse cool:

• Ensure your horses always have access to fresh clean water. Horses prefer to drink water approx. 15-20^oC, so no need to add ice to their drinking water!  

• Ensure they have access to shade. 

• If your horse is sweating, ensure you replace their electrolytes (for more information…)

• Avoid exercising or travelling in the heat of the day. 

• Watch out for signs of heat exhaustion/ heat stroke (very hot/ sweaty, fast breathing rate with nostril flaring and may be ataxic (wobbly)). Call your vet immediately if you have any concerns and start cooling with copious and continuous cool/cold water over the whole body.

• To cool a horse, apply lots of cool/ cold water all over the body, and keep repeating. Don’t worry about stopping to scrape, just keep reapplying water continuously until they have cooled down. There is a lot of fake news and controversy on this topic, so ensure you read reliable sources of information. Shade and fans can also be useful alongside water cooling but prioritise water cooling.  

• Suncream may be required for those horses with pink skin. 

If you have any questions or queries please don't hesitate to get in touch!