The Heat is On
Care for your horse during hot summer weather.
DVM BY ANNA O’BRIEN,
Byour horse rides, make sure for those long summer out to the barn efore you head have planned. for all the fun you is in tip-top health
SKIN CARE
your to prevent sunburn, the summertime from exposed skin in faces often suffer put sunblock on their and pink skin on cream on Just like you should with white areas zinc oxide diaper some, too. Horses blocker like summer horse might need physical of safe sunblock or the longest days can use a baby- once a day during sunburn, but you nose. Application those rays. a painfully pink protection from them to prevent should be enough
FLY CONTROL
during bugging your horse the worst thing due Flies are probably a common problem Watery eyes are properly the summer months. it fits help. Make sure
A fly mask can out in it. to fly irritation. turning your horse too tight) before sensitive (not too loose, not with really be helpful for horses coat A flysheet can also the horse’s mesh blanket protects he gets. skin. This lightweight bites number of bug also reduces the from from the sun and way to keep flies regularly is another spray in Using fly spray A thorough your horse as much. biting and pestering routine to get into. evening is a good the morning and
Depending on when and where you ride, you might want to spray when you saddle up, too. If you want your fly spray to last through a long ride where your horse is sweating, look for special “sweat-resistant” formulas. Otherwise, give your horse a fresh application of fly spray after riding.
Good manure management is another way to help decrease flies around the barn. This means keeping your horse’s stall as clean as possible and having the muck heap far away from the barn and the pasture. Picking up manure piles periodically in small paddocks and pastures helps decrease areas where flies feed and breed.
HYDRATION
Your horse loses a lot of water through sweating and breathing hard during summer exercise. Even if your horse is really hot after a ride, always let him drink. Keeping a hot horse from drinking can cause dehydration and muscle cramps and can even contribute to colic.
Always provide your horse with a salt block in his stall or field. Horses are able to self-regulate their needed salt intake. If he doesn’t like a plain white salt block, try a brown trace-mineral lick, loose salt, or a Himalayan salt rock.
KEEPING COOL
For maximum comfort in the heat of the summer, try to make sure there is some shade available for your horse in the pasture. This may be in the form of a run-in shed or a nice big tree.
If your horse is stalled, he’ll be in the shade, but the air in a barn can quickly become stagnant and oppressive when hot. Have the barn as open as possible to encourage airflow.
If possible, try hanging a fan in his stall to help move the air—some horses find this so comfortable they take a nap with their faces right in front of it! Fans have an added bonus of preventing flies from landing on and biting your horse. Make sure to use a fan made for agricultural or outdoor use—these have a motor sealed against dust to reduce the risk of a fire.
A quick bath after a hot ride is a welcome relief, too. This not only rinses off sweat, which can turn into a salty crust and cause skin irritation, but also brings down your horse’s body temperature.
Make sure you use a sweat scraper to remove the water, which heats up almost instantly and will insulate your horse instead of cooling him down. So sponge or spray with cool water, then scrape, and repeat. The process of evaporation as he dries will cool him down, as well.
HOOF CARE
The wet/dry cycles of summer can create a challenging environment for your horse’s hooves as they dry out and get wet again.
Regular farrier visits should be continued through the summer, and dry, cracked hooves might need some daily moisturizer to prevent chips and cracks. Try to avoid having your horse stand in a wet wash stall for long periods.
Alternating extreme wet and dry ground may also cause hoof abscesses as the hoof naturally expands and contracts in response to its immediate environment, creating tiny openings in the sole for bacteria to enter.
By keeping these summer health tips in mind, your horse should be ready to tackle any adventure you have planned this season.