Hot 'traditional' horses- any tips?

[holeymoley]

My new guy who is a traditional cob seems to be about 5 degrees warmer than my other guy(who's not traditional cob but a trimmed up cob x native). Any tips on keeping him cool?

He has quite a fine coat but masses of feather and mane. I've sectioned all the mane and put it in to individual plaits in the hope to make him a bit cooler. He's just so warm though! Hosing down isn't really the answer as if I put him out a bit wet he'll get attacked by midges Any tips that I'm missing? Or is it a case of bucket and sponge constantly!

 

[rara007]

Clip, 50% extra fitness to what you think you need and water on hand.

 

[holeymoley]

Clip, 50% extra fitness to what you think you need and water on hand.

Thanks, he's only rising 2 though so no fitness schedule for him just yet. I'll consider clipping although he is very fine coated, I don't want too short in the hair to burn his pink bits. Ironically after posting this the forecast is rain for the next few days!

 

[Ossy2]

I compete a friends cob quite high level dressage and he gets clipped (body and half head so feathers stay on) every 6 weeks year round

 

[Highmileagecob]

My old boy is the same. Nothing I do seems to make any difference, and we have loads of shade and overhanging hedges in the field. On the hottest of days when the herd is under the hedge dozing, who is stood in the middle of the field happily grazing - yep, right first time. Makes me wonder if this is native insulation?