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It’s lovely to take advantage of our sunny weather here in the South West by going for a brisk horse ride – but when it’s hot, you have to work a bit harder to keep your mount comfortable and cool. If you have a horse or are riding regularly, you need to be aware of the signs that they are in danger of overheating. Should they have sunstroke or become critically dehydrated they’ll need treatment and intravenous fluids as soon as possible, so it’s crucial during the summer months to have access to a good local vet and horse insurance with 24hr vet coverage. Hopefully, if you take a few preventative measures, your horse won’t experience too much discomfort even on the most scorching days. You just need to allocate a little bit of extra time to their care. Keeping them cool – You might want to keep your horse inside for the hottest hours of the day, in which case their stable can’t be too stuffy. Use a fan to keep air circulating. If you do let them out, make sure they’ve got shade to hide in, water and a salt lick. It’s important to check they’re drinking enough, so fill their trough with clean water every day and check it’s not becoming stagnant in the heat. Horses with pale flashes can sometimes burn their noses, so go to your vet for special equine suncreams. Ask them, while you’re there, about de-worming your horse – nibbling insects are a big problem for horses during hot weather and as well as this process you’ll have to regularly clean their coat and stable to keep flies at bay. Cooling down after riding – If you’ve been working your horse really hard, you need to give them some time for their muscles to relax so do a few gentle walking laps of the paddock before you dismount. Once you’ve loosened their saddle, give your horse some water to drink – in sips, rather than gulps. Then, brush out their hair with a curry comb and use a sponge with lukewarm water to gently bring their temperature down. When it’s really hot, or you suspect they’re beginning to overheat, use a hose to splash water over them: first on the legs, then the body. If they’re failing to cool down and relax, they could be in serious danger, so monitor their heart rate and breathing after exercise; pale gums and skin that doesn’t pop back after you’ve pinched it are also both signs of dehydration. If they’re exhibiting any symptoms, you need to call your vet immediately and continue to sponge them down with cool water.
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