Hot Horse - What to do?

[LittleSoph]

I felt so sorry for Freddie today. I went into his stable, which wasn't particularly boiling and had a breeze going through and he was just standing there sweating. The side where his mane lies was obviously hotter, but even the other side, on his shoulders and neck, were sweating!

Bless him! How can I possibly tack him up and ride him in the school when he's already baking just standing still!!?!

I plaited his main into a running plait, and plaited his forelock, rode for about ten minutes and then hosed him off and turned him out.

But I just can't believe how hot he was. Perhaps he's just a hot bod and doesn't cope well in the heat. Anyone any ideas why? Do I need to do anything? Any ideas to cool him down/keep him cool?
He has his summer coat. And it's going to get a lot hotter than this.

 

[Grey_Eventer]

is he old? how thick is his coat? we had a pony once who was 31 years old, and it was in that heat wave a few years back when she got very very hot. they clipped her, as althuogh she had her summer coat through it was still fluffy. they had to bathe her every hour, she was inside with fans on... but she sadly had to be PTS as she just couldnt cope- but she was very very old. i would make sure he has shelter in his field. no rug, cool water availble, and if hes very sweaty still i would just hold the hose over his back with cold running water running down him. that should cool him off. if he gets very bad you should call your vet as they may be able to lower body temperature. hope he stops sweating so much!

 

[Cheiro1]

Im pretty sure the weatherbeeta kool coat airstream combo is meant to be really good for keeping horses cool. I think it is DarcyLu who has one she is really impressed with, you could PM her and ask her opinion?

 

[cokelly]

My black cob sweats in his stable in the heat- around his girth area and his quarters! No fun for him poor man but when I take him out to ride he's often fine and raring to go!

During summer time I always give him a good showering off and take him for a walk to dry off

However I understand that some cob owners clip their summer coats :O Which I suppose I can understand but Buster doesn't have a thick summer coat so... I havn't bothered yet!

Good luck

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

My coblet gets hot in the summer - she can sweat just standing in her field!!

I never stable her as it is better for her to get the benefit of any breeze there is. I plait her mane into several long plaits which helps keep her neck cool instead of a heavy curtain of mane. I try and ride her either first thing in the morning or when it cools off later in the day. Is always quite happy to work and pings along quite happily

- is yours out 24/7?

 

[Ziggy_]

My TB really feels the heat. She barely has a summer coat at all and hardly grows a winter coat either as she just doesn't need it; she sweats a lot in the field on hot days.

The field doesn't have much shade (and she's too daft to use the shade that is available) but I usually bring her in to stand in the shade for an hour or so before I ride so she isn't baking hot, and if it gets really hot over the summer I'll probably bring her in for a few hours each day as well. Like the above posters I try to ride morning and evening and her mane is pulled short.

Mine is happy to work in the summer even when she's sweating under her tack before I even get on, so I wouldn't worry too much about your guy, although you could clip him out if you think he's really suffering in the heat. In fact we have more trouble in the winter with people deciding that the poor delicate flower can't possible have her rugs removed and leave her sweating instead

 

[MagicMelon]

How about clipping him? Ive clipped some of mine all year round before - one who was doing a lot of eventing, another who is generally a "hot" horse and I have just this second come in from clipping my elderly shetland!! She's just had a hunter clip simply because she has a thicker coat nowadays with her age so I simply clip her out and she is so much happier and will no longer be puffing on a warm day.

 

[Donkeymad]

How long was he in the stable, and why? if possible, I would keep him out but make sure he has something to give good shade, a shelter or large tree.
If you have to keep him in, it seems you will need to provide more ventilation, can you use a stall guard rather than the lower door to start with (if you don't already)

 

[LittleSoph]

Thanks for the replies guys. He was in the stable because he's on a livery yard and they rotate them in the fields. There's no strict rota, they just try to get them all out as much as possible. He'd been out all night, so he'd been brought in for a few hours in the day.

Perdy, he's just turned 4, so it's definately not old age just yet, lol.