Hot Weather Tips for Horse Owners: Keep Your Horse Cool & Safe

Everyone loves when the weather warms and days grow longer. For horse owners, summer is a busy time full of activity. However, soaring temperatures can be challenging for horses. They can quickly become dehydrated, lethargic, or suffer heatstroke, and digestive upsets like colic may occur, so keeping a close eye on your horse during hot spells is essential.

Below are 12 expert tips to help you keep your horse cooler, safer, and more comfortable during the hotter months.

1. Turn Out at Cooler Times of the Day

It’s best to avoid turning your horse out during peak heat. Early mornings and evenings when the sun is lower are ideal for turnout. This is especially important if your turnout paddock lacks shade or shelters. Horses with grey or predominantly white coats, particularly those with pink skin, are prone to sunburn, which makes avoiding daytime turnout vital.

2. Provide Shade and Shelter for Horses Living Out

For horses kept outside full-time, ensure there is adequate shade available for escape from the sun. Trees provide natural shade, but as the sun shifts, coverage changes. A field shelter offers consistent shade throughout the day and can be roped off to control access, helping your horse stay comfortable.

3. Ensure Proper Barn Ventilation

If your horse is stabled, make sure barns have good airflow to help keep the air fresh and cool. Installing ceiling fans can be beneficial but always position fans out of reach to avoid injury, and allow horses to acclimate to any new sounds or breezes gradually.

4. Use Hosing as a Cooling Method

Many horses enjoy a cool hose-down on hot days whether inside or turned out. Avoid hosing horses in gateways to prevent muddy, slippery spots that can be hazardous to horses and handlers.

5. Keep Water Fresh, Clean, and Easily Accessible

Fresh, clean water must always be available. Regularly clean water troughs and buckets to prevent algae accumulation that can reduce water intake. Encourage your horse to drink frequently, which is crucial for preventing dehydration during heat.

6. Offer Electrolytes to Replace Lost Minerals

Horses that sweat heavily need electrolytes to replenish minerals lost through perspiration. Add electrolytes carefully to water or provide a salt lick in the stable or field. Always offer a separate bucket of plain fresh water, as some horses won’t drink medicated water. Consult your vet about appropriate amounts to avoid harm.

7. Lighten Your Horse’s Workload

Reduce the intensity and duration of rides during hot weather. Breaking training sessions into shorter routines during cooler parts of the day helps reduce heat stress. After exercise, remove tack immediately and sponge your horse down, allowing them to cool gradually. Only allow small sips of water until fully cooled.

8. Maintain a Consistent Routine

Horses thrive on routine. Sudden changes, especially in feeding or exercise, can provoke digestive upset such as colic. Stick to a stable schedule to support their internal clock and overall wellbeing in heat.

9. Clip Your Horse’s Coat if Needed

Thick or long summer coats can trap heat. Horses prone to conditions like Cushing’s disease or PPID often grow unusually long coats in summer and benefit from clipping. This helps them shed excess heat more easily and stay more comfortable.

10. Recognise and Act on Signs of Heatstroke

Being able to identify heatstroke is vital. Symptoms include:

• Rapid heart rate not returning to normal promptly
• Excessive or absent sweating
• Temperature over 103°F (39.4°C)
• Lethargy or depression
• Signs of dehydration such as dry mucous membranes or poor skin elasticity

If you suspect heatstroke, immediately move your horse to a cooler area and contact your vet without delay.

11. Manage Fly and Insect Control

Flying insects increase discomfort and can worsen heat stress. Implement a fly control programme with regular manure removal, fly sprays, fly sheets, and fly traps to reduce insect bother and the risk of insect-borne diseases.

12. Acclimate Horses and Adjust Feeding

If you are moving your horse to a hotter climate or during early summer, gradually increase exposure over 15 to 21 days and limit exercise intensity until your horse adapts. Feed smaller, more frequent meals during cooler times of day to reduce metabolic heat and prevent digestive upset. Consult an equine nutritionist if necessary to adjust diet appropriately.

Conclusion

Summer offers many opportunities to enjoy working and riding your horse with longer daylight hours. However, hot weather challenges horses' wellbeing and requires attentive management. By modifying turnout times, providing shade and fresh water, lightening workloads, offering electrolytes, and recognising heatstroke signs, you can help your horse stay cool, comfortable, and healthy during warm spells.