Heat and horses

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Snuffles

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I have brought mine in today as its nearing 30 and they have no shade or shelter in the paddock. It has struck me recently how many horse fields locally don't have any shelter at all. Do horses cope with the high temperatures outside, am I being too soft ?
 
When I left the yard at 10 this morning, all 3 of mine were happily snoozing in the bigger field shelter. It's 22ft x 12 and under a large oak, but they also have access to a smaller one in the adjacent paddock.
No way could I ever keep mine in a field without shade of some sorts.
 
Mine have been in for the last few days. One struggles with flies and by the time I've masked, rugged, sprayed etc it's almost easier to keep them in. Added benefit of keeping them off the grass too. They go out about 7pm until 7am.
 
Horses will cope better with cold weather than heat, but as long as there is shade and water they should be fine as tbh a lot of stables will be hotter than outside especially if made of wood. Flies are a pain but again they do come into stables and outside they can swat each other with tails so you have to decide what's best depending on what you've got. I also prefer to bring in during the day due to our set up which does have trees for shelter but in the morning the shade is facing the wrong way - and it gets them off the grass for a bit. They are all at the gate by 8am covered in flies wanting in, by 4pm they are bothering me to go back out :)
 
mine has shade but never uses it even when the temp is very high. i poo pick and dive into the shade every so often as the heat really gets to me, its actually quite pleasant in the shade so i cant understand why neither of ours seem to use it....seems pointless to bring them in if they arent bothered so ive left them out..
 
My field is adjacent a woodland so lots of shade all down the 2 sides. On the other side they have a huge oak tree so there is always a shady sheltered spot from sunshine or the rain!!
I do have stables with a corrogated roof and they get really hot so don't bother in the summer when iys very warm.
 
In the first part of the day my field has shelter, but by the end of the day there is none, so i tend to try and bring mine in around 3PM, put them back out about 9Pm. I have access to shelter and what not, but they don't tend to use it as one sun worshiper will lead the heard. I know they technically should be able to decide themselves, cause they are not stupid...but id rather not risk it.
 
My two were out today, their paddock has lots of natural shade and they have plenty of water. Horses at the yard are stabled at night all year round so turning out at night isn't an option. Brought them in tonight and my mare was dripping with sweat. Thinking of leaving them in tomorrow and even possibly Wednesday as well and then back to normal turnout on Thursday when temperatures are forecast to be around 17 or 18 degrees. Luckily they have very large, cool and airy stables and don't mind staying in.
 
My paddock doesn't get shade for most of the day - our fields either get it first thing or last thing. They both came in at 12 today as my old draft was dripping.
 
Ours were suprisingly fine today. I finished work early as I was bothered they would have been too hot, (car said 30 degrees!) and hogging the gate desperate to get in but they were in the middle of the field grazing.
 
Mine was rattling the gate this morning to come in - having left them out last night. He also comes and stands opposite the kitchen window when the weather is wet and nasty. Fussy, eh?
 
My two aren't bothered but are non hairies. They have shelter from a massive hedge all up the South side of the field but only in the afternoons. This afternoon they were on the complete opposite unshaded side of the field grazing and snoozing. They currently live out. I did bring them in to feed and wash down but neither were overly hot.
 
It does surprise me as I travel up and down the country, how many horses are out in the blazing heat with no shade whatsoever..... seemingly.

However, do consider some may be out on a rota like many livery yards like to rotate turnout in small areas if it's a shared commodity. These horses might only see sunlight for a couple of hours a day.

Some might only have just been out for the morning or are about to be brought in for it - again, similar story as above but on shifts.

It's nice to think horses should have acres and acres of land and woodlands to paddle about in to their hearts content but life is not like that. Most horses in the UK live in spaces no bigger than a prison cell 23 hours out of 24 so next time you see one out there roasting, consider the other side of the coin - perhaps they are the lucky few to see some sun.

Of course there are those left to bake with no shelter out in quartered amenities of no bigger than a dog run. I've presented extremes here but worth thinking about if you're out there wondering...
 
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Debating this morning if my two are coming in or not. One has a large airy concrete stable. The other a wooden box. Both large fields surrounded by hedges, plenty of water of course. Both black and usually live out all summer.

It's to be around 20 here, some wind and some clouds. Beside the sea so always a breeze. I guess they might stay out.
 
Mine are all out.they have quite a bit of shade but rarely use it...we are on a bit of raised ground so often get a bit of breeze thro...horse flies gave woken up this week tho, which is a pita.
 
Current field doesn't get much shade at all. However my mare has been absolutely fine and not even broken a sweat the past few days. Heaven knows how. Bringing her in is pointless as her stable is wooden and gets very hot. She's closely monitored though so any signs of issues with the heat would be spotted.
 
I'm another with no shade apart from afternoon shade from the stables over the yard area. The yard is open, the stables are open (and roasting inside!) so they have the option of shade in the stables but they generally doze and graze on and off throughout the day.

I put suncream on noses and fly spray every morning and they have fly masks but thats about it. Feel sorry for them with the horseflies but putting fly rugs on just makes them sweat and then they are more attractive to horseflies so you cant really win!

They came onto the yard last night about 1730 (coloured mare was already there in the shade, grey gelding out grazing) for a nice cold shower which they both appreciated.
 
I keep having this debate with my horse. he is black and black absorbs heat more than other colours, so I put a sheet on him to help to reflect some of the suns heat, but I never know if I am actually heating him up more. he is also the target for all the horse flies and flying ants, so does genuinely need a fly rug as he comes up in massive weeping welts when bitten, some of the lumps haven't gone away since last year! He is also the wuss of the field, so if the others are in the shelter he will choose to stand out in the blazing sun rather than try to edge in (even though they would let him if he tried). Yesterday even at 8pm he was dripping with sweat, but our stables are so hot and have no breeze at all, so he is best off out and at least has a chance at some shade.
 
What do you do when your idiot horse wont go in the shade or be caught to come in for a shower & some shade?? Horses! He seemed quite warm but wouldnt get me catch him!! He is newly retired, so I think he is enjoying it!!!

There was a nice breeze in his paddock though as I was sitting in it for a while :)
 
It is 31 degrees here at the moment and although there is a breeze, it still feels sweltering. Mine went out this morning and are now in their stables which are pretty warm, but at least in the shade. Have just seen the forecast and they are saying it could be even hotter tomorrow, just can't wait for Thursday for normality to resume.
 
My boys field doesn't have a lot of shade but his stable is even hotter. He seems more comfortable in the field and I'm taking him out in the evening and giving him a cold shower, and electrolytes, but it's not ideal. Hoping it will be short lived and the yard are keeping a close eye on all the horses.
 
Ours have access to a large barn with hay and water and have barely left it during the day since Saturday, the flies are horrendous and they are choosing to just go out at night.
 
Mine are choosing to use their field shelter all day. I got there just after 5 this morning and they were all in it. I will not get there until gone 9pm tonight and I am sure they will all be in it then.
 
KatPT said:
I keep having this debate with my horse. he is black and black absorbs heat more than other colours, so I put a sheet on him to help to reflect some of the suns heat, but I never know if I am actually heating him up more. he is also the target for all the horse flies and flying ants, so does genuinely need a fly rug as he comes up in massive weeping welts when bitten, some of the lumps haven't gone away since last year! He is also the wuss of the field, so if the others are in the shelter he will choose to stand out in the blazing sun rather than try to edge in (even though they would let him if he tried). Yesterday even at 8pm he was dripping with sweat, but our stables are so hot and have no breeze at all, so he is best off out and at least has a chance at some shade.
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This has intrigued me over the decades.... this whole business of black.

I'm not a huge genetics expert and yes black does absorb more heat of the sun but much less of the danaging rays....

Interestingly, there was a study that showed trued black horses with super shiny coats reflect more light that dull coated horses of any colour... so grooming to a sheen may be more reflective than a white rug :)
 
tallyho! said:
Interestingly, there was a study that showed trued black horses with super shiny coats reflect more light that dull coated horses of any colour... so grooming to a sheen may be more reflective than a white rug :)
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Thats interesting.
Neither of my ponies are true black, they are both very dark brown, but they both are really shiny (mad keen on being groomed both of them) and although they do sweat they don't seem to get any hotter than lighter colours.
 
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