With summer on its way, ensure your horse is kept cool and comfortable.

By Equestrian Life

1. Hydration is essential. Your horse should always have access to adequate, fresh water. If you are out at a competition and they seem reluctant to drink, you can try soaking some hay in water to provide extra hydration.

2. Feed a minimum of 1 tablespoon of salt to horses each day. When horses sweat, it’s important to ensure you replace the minerals they lose through sweat with a good quality electrolyte formula.

3. Where possible, it’s best to avoid working your horse when temperatures exceed the internal environment of the body. For a horse, this is around 37.5 degrees Celsius. Consider spelling or resting your horse during heat waves, alternatively ride in the evenings or early mornings during the cooler parts of the day.

4. Hose down your horse after riding to help cool him quickly. Horses that are sweating in the paddock will also appreciate being brought in for a hose off!

5. Shade is extremely important - ensure there is shade in the paddocks for all horses. If there are no trees, consider installing shelters or shade sails.

6. Flyveils are a good idea during the day as they protect from flies and can help to keep the sun off - however they do restrict vision at night so it’s best to remove them overnight if possible.

7. A fan is a good way to move the air around on very hot days if horses have to be stabled. This will also help to keep the flies from settling.

8. Horses get sunburnt! Be sure to apply sunscreen or zinc to all white areas on the nose, or use a flymask with a protective nose flap.

9. Learn to recognise the signs of heat stress, including excessive sweating - or in some cases, no sweating - increases in respiratory and heart rate, high rectal temperature, and hot/dry skin.

10. Don't forgot to remember your own hydration and health needs, as the horse's owner/rider! The principles of hydration, electrolyte replacement, cooling off, access to shade, and recognising heat stress are important for humans too.

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