For many people, the summer months bring more shows, more trail riding, and more time with our horses. However, as temperatures rise, our horses are more prone to overheating and depend on us as owners to keep them comfortable and safe.

With a few simple precautions, you can help your horse weather the heat this summer.

risk of heat stress

As in humans, the horse’s primary cooling mechanism is the evaporation of sweat. They get hot and sweaty, and the sweat evaporates from their skin, which allows them to cool down. However, as the temperature and humidity increase, this mechanism becomes less and less effective until the horse can no longer cool down.

If you are concerned about your horse’s risk of heat stress, calculating the heat index can help you determine your horse’s level of risk.

If the sum of temperature and relative humidity (%):

• 130 or less – low risk, the horse’s cooling mechanism must be effective.
• 140 to 170 – Medium risk, your horse’s cooling mechanism should be working partially and your horse may need help to calm down.
• Over 180 – High Risk, your horse’s cooling mechanism is essentially ineffective.

If your horse needs help calming down, you can use the options below. Whether you want to keep your horse from overheating or you want to cool it down after it gets too hot, these are very useful things to know as a horse owner.

air circulation

To keep your chest nice and fresh, you need to keep the air moving. Here you can use convection (warm air rising, puddles of cold air) to your advantage and at least leave windows and doors open in the heat of the day.

As the warm air rises, the air enters your chicken coop through open windows and doors and rises as it warms. As warm air rises, cooler air moves in its place. This ensures some airflow through the cabin.

Ideally, vents in the ceiling of the barn provide a place for this air to escape so that warm air is not trapped in the barn.

If you want to increase the airflow even further, fans in the stable and fairways can help keep the air circulating to keep your horse cool! However, be sure to keep extension cords or power cords safely away from curious ponies.

In addition to cooling, air circulation is also ideal for insect control. Flies are less likely to try to fly through the moving air, so they’re less likely to enter the stable and land on your horses. Kill two birds with one stone!

Scheduled exercises

If possible, avoid training your horse at lunchtime. Early morning and late evening are the coolest times of the day, so workouts should be scheduled around these times whenever possible.

If you must ride in the heat, try pedaling lighter for shorter periods of time. For example, instead of one hour-long session, you should do two half-hour sessions, giving your horse time to calm down, hydrate, and rest in between.

Also, remember to calculate the heat index to make sure your horse can work safely.

drink enough

Horses should always have access to fresh, clean water. The only time a horse should limit its water intake is during or immediately after strenuous exercise. So the horse should have moderate access to water and not drink large sips, preferably several small drinks.

If you are concerned that your horse is not drinking enough water, you can add table salt or other supplements to the feed to replenish the salts and encourage him to drink more water. Access to a salt or mineral block can also help and the horse actually replenishes his electrolyte/mineral needs if given free access.

Check out this fun Pony Popsicles recipe to replenish electrolytes and keep your horse cool!

Cum on a hot horse

Growing up I was always told never to wet a horse or it could cause colic. After some research I found this to be a myth.

It’s actually a good practice to get into the habit of watering your horse after exercise, or even on a hot day, to cool it off.

The water that evaporates from their skin acts like sweat and even helps them cool down even after washing them. Make sure you scrape the excess water off the crotch so the hot water doesn’t just stay on it.

Spraying a horse in heat can help lower its body temperature and make it more comfortable.

Sun protection

Protecting your horse from the sun is just as important as protecting him from overheating. Sure, the sun can contribute to overheating and heat stress, but sunburn can also cause serious problems for horses.

There are many products on the market that protect our horses from the sun, as well as precautions owners can take.

For more detailed information on the importance of sun protection for horses, see our blog post: Sun Protection for Horses.

change options

In general, I prefer to be there 24 hours a day. But I know it’s not ideal for all horses. A stable at specific times means that a night’s rest is always available to keep the horse cool.

I understand that this is not a viable option for everyone and not everyone has somewhere to house their horse. However, this option protects your horse during the hottest, sunniest, most rolling parts of the day.

If you go outside at night, you will not only keep your horse cool, but you will also protect him from burns and insects, provided he is protected from them in the stable.

By taking precautions and implementing these solutions, your horse should be ready to brave the heat and be ready for anything this summer. Get ready for a hot happy summer and spend some quality time in the saddle knowing your horse is safe and comfortable!