When the sun after a long cold winter finally comes, temperatures can rise to 30 degrees, most people prefer T-shirts and shorts, go on vacation or cool themselves off in the outdoor pool. When we are too warm in the sun, then we go into the shade or bring us a cold drink from the fridge. But what will your horses do in such circumstances? She cannot just walk in the shadows, jump into the pool or wear flip-flops.
You can protect your horse against sunstroke in the summer!
Also, horses can get circulation problems.
Avoid overexertion in the midday sun, a horse ride is quite sufficient.
Demand performance in healthy horses in the morning or evening hours.
If your horse is in the box, it should get plenty of fresh air.
If the horse remains barefoot, her hooves might split at this time of the year. If her feet appears bad, plan your farrier more regularly so that she could trim the hoof and even cracks if any.
Grazing on hot days
For your horse, it is best if it gets enough air in the summer months and not on the lawn in the blazing sun. Thus, the grazing on the night should be moved because the air cools overnight. If you do not want to leave your horse outside overnight, then it should in any case have a shady, cool spot in the pasture. If several horses are on this meadow, you should offer “shady spot” for several horses. Since horses as herd animals, they need social contact.
Always place a salt block inside the field so that your horse is able to lick it whenever she needs it. Salt will encourage your horse to drink plenty of water which you must make it available in her field at all the time.
Sufficient water is very important. Here tubs should be avoided, because the water can quickly become putrid. If tubs or large bucket can’t be avoided, then the water should be changed every day.
How do you recognize when your horse is too hot?
If horses is too warm, you recognize the fact that they are fundamentally not in a good mood. Their fur is sweaty. Add to this rapid breathing (pumps) and in the worst case your horse fluctuates while running. Here you should act quickly and a veterinarian should be consulted. You can help the animal by cooling his legs with a light spray of water.