Sandstone1
Well-Known Member
Any tips for helping keep horses cool in hot weather? Due to get very hot again later in the week. Horses have a shelter. One in particular hates the heat and flies. Any good ideas to help.
Keeping horses cool in hot weather
- Thread starter Sandstone1
- Start date
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
If they’ve got a shelter and use it, then that’s brilliant 
. Mine use our shelters a lot, I couldn’t cope without.
Best other thing is catching them in, hosing them off several times a day, then turning them back out still dripping, but for working people that might well not be possible.
. Mine use our shelters a lot, I couldn’t cope without.Best other thing is catching them in, hosing them off several times a day, then turning them back out still dripping, but for working people that might well not be possible.
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94lunagem
Well-Known Member
Mine tend to sort themselves out. They’re out 24/7 and I’m fortunate to have big trees and hedges as lots of natural shelter, as well as field shelters in a couple of fields including their summer field. Summer shelter is slatted one side so it lets some air through.
They don’t set foot in the shelter when the weather is bad but have practically lived in it, by their own choice, while it’s been so hot.
If I didn’t have the shelters I would be bringing in during the day before work and turning back out later in the evening, mainly due to flies. My neighbours have a lake which I think makes flies worse.
Other than that I try and get as much fly spray on as possible and prefer cream/gel on their faces. And I put an extra water bucket in, their usual buckets are huge and they’ve never needed the extra but it makes me feel better.
They don’t set foot in the shelter when the weather is bad but have practically lived in it, by their own choice, while it’s been so hot.
If I didn’t have the shelters I would be bringing in during the day before work and turning back out later in the evening, mainly due to flies. My neighbours have a lake which I think makes flies worse.
Other than that I try and get as much fly spray on as possible and prefer cream/gel on their faces. And I put an extra water bucket in, their usual buckets are huge and they’ve never needed the extra but it makes me feel better.
SO1
Well-Known Member
We have horrendous heatwave coming up. No shelters and the hedgeline at the back of the field does not have much shade. Horses are all on part livery apart from 2 on assisted DIY. One DIY livery is retired and the other works but is not 9-5.
Everyone being turned out early at 6.30 during hot weather so the yard staff can muck out and do haynets whilst it is cooler. Horses normally coming in between 3-3.30 but expect will come in earlier. All part livery horses being hosed down when they come in. The horses that are exercised by staff probably won't be during the heatwave. It reminds me of 2022 the year I lost Homey and got Covid when it was nearly 40C in the flat and was almost hospitalised due to the heat and having Covid. Luckily my sister and BIL decided to collect me in their car with windows open and I stayed at my parents house (they had not moved in) in Norfolk where it was much cooler. The last month of Homey's life was so hot. I actually think the reason why I got Covid so badly was in part due to heat intolerance that I suffer from and part of feeling so unwell was the extreme heat combined with summer.
I find the summer a lot harder than the winter.
Everyone being turned out early at 6.30 during hot weather so the yard staff can muck out and do haynets whilst it is cooler. Horses normally coming in between 3-3.30 but expect will come in earlier. All part livery horses being hosed down when they come in. The horses that are exercised by staff probably won't be during the heatwave. It reminds me of 2022 the year I lost Homey and got Covid when it was nearly 40C in the flat and was almost hospitalised due to the heat and having Covid. Luckily my sister and BIL decided to collect me in their car with windows open and I stayed at my parents house (they had not moved in) in Norfolk where it was much cooler. The last month of Homey's life was so hot. I actually think the reason why I got Covid so badly was in part due to heat intolerance that I suffer from and part of feeling so unwell was the extreme heat combined with summer.
I find the summer a lot harder than the winter.
spotty_pony2
Well-Known Member
I make ‘ice in plastic cups and put them in the freezer - I just chop up carrots, apples and any other fruit I have available at the time and put in a glass of water with either a little bit of squash or apple juice in and then when frozen tip them their feed buckets. One of the horses in particular loves them, the others tend to wait for it to melt and then eat the fruit inside 
gets them drinking a bit more though and gives them something to do when it’s too hot to do anything else. I bring them in for the hottest part of the day, I also cold hose them around lunchtime. My mare has to wear a sweet itch rug when she’s out whatever else she just gets badly bitten so I soak it in cold water before I put her out and let it drip dry on her. I know there are fors and againsts with this as horseflies are attracted to water so it’s a bit catch 22 but better than her getting too hot.
gets them drinking a bit more though and gives them something to do when it’s too hot to do anything else. I bring them in for the hottest part of the day, I also cold hose them around lunchtime. My mare has to wear a sweet itch rug when she’s out whatever else she just gets badly bitten so I soak it in cold water before I put her out and let it drip dry on her. I know there are fors and againsts with this as horseflies are attracted to water so it’s a bit catch 22 but better than her getting too hot.Nari
Well-Known Member
I found mine standing in the sun ignoring all the shade in his field. He knew what he was doing though, he was standing with his had into the wind which was then streaming along the length of his body cooling him nicely as well as keeping the flies away. I was glad I hadn't put his fly rug on because even soaked I don't think it would have done as good a job as he was managing for himself.
I give soaked feed and add electrolytes, I wash off (to his disgust) if I think he's too hot, and I don't ride.
I give soaked feed and add electrolytes, I wash off (to his disgust) if I think he's too hot, and I don't ride.
Nari
Well-Known Member
I found mine standing in the sun ignoring all the shade in his field. He knew what he was doing though, he was standing with his had into the wind which was then streaming along the length of his body cooling him nicely as well as keeping the flies away. I was glad I hadn't put his fly rug on because even soaked I don't think it would have done as good a job as he was managing for himself.
I give soaked feed and add electrolytes, I wash off (to his disgust) if I think he's too hot, and I don't ride.
I give soaked feed and add electrolytes, I wash off (to his disgust) if I think he's too hot, and I don't ride.
AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
Clip, exercise at stupid O'clock, wash and in for the day with wash offs if needed. Being big and black really isn't helpful in this weather.
SEL
Well-Known Member
I've got shelters and a deep hedge which casts a lot of shade mid afternoon. I think I'm going to clip at least one of my cobs who struggled last weekend
33 degrees forecast next Sat when I'm supposed to be at test & train. I'm probably going to pull out.
I feel like some summer version of the Xmas grinch at the moment - i like my summers to max out at 25 degrees with enough rain to make my grass grow
33 degrees forecast next Sat when I'm supposed to be at test & train. I'm probably going to pull out.
I feel like some summer version of the Xmas grinch at the moment - i like my summers to max out at 25 degrees with enough rain to make my grass grow
MrsMozartletoe
Just passing through...
Usually have a good breeze here, so they prefer to stand out rather than be in the shelters.
All retired so no exercise other than what they choose to do.
Free access to big mineral salt licks.
Fly spray over bodies, the cream on faces, and flysheets on those that'll wear them.
All retired so no exercise other than what they choose to do.
Free access to big mineral salt licks.
Fly spray over bodies, the cream on faces, and flysheets on those that'll wear them.
Celtic Fringe
Well-Known Member
Mine much prefers to be out so the yard pop him in a paddock that has a big bank of trees and also a shelter so he has constant shade during the day. He either has days off or we ride by 8am. He happily stood under a sprinkler for a couple of hours the other day - his choice as it was in the adjacent paddock but also watering part of the one he was in. Nothing gets between a cob and nice grass to eat! He has a salt lick and if the flies are not too bad we leave off his fly rug and mask.
Celtic Fringe
Well-Known Member
Mine much prefers to be out so the yard pop him in a paddock that has a big bank of trees and also a shelter so he has constant shade during the day. He either has days off or we ride by 8am. He happily stood under a sprinkler for a couple of hours the other day - his choice as it was in the adjacent paddock but also watering part of the one he was in. Nothing gets between a cob and nice grass to eat! He has a salt lick and if the flies are not too bad we leave off his fly rug and mask.
sarcasm_queen
Well-Known Member
Ours are getting hosed off several times a day, which they seem to thoroughly enjoy.
feesh
Well-Known Member
We don't have a heat wave per se, but I think our summer temps are your heat wave? (high 20s/low30s)
Ours have paddocks that get a reasonable breeze, and shelters. They choose to be in shade during the middle of the day when it's over about 25C, but that honestly seems to be more about flies than heat. They have free access to salt licks, and we'll top up the water troughs a second time at the end of the day if they're drinking a ton, but otherwise we don't do much, and they don't seem to mind.
I'm the only one who rides, and I aim to be done before the temps rise - my exact cutoff temp depends on humidity, whether there's direct sun, whether there's a breeze, etc, but usually around high 20s. Lately that's meant that I'm getting to the barn at 6-6:30am, and sometimes skipping my second horse. But also we're not doing very strenuous work - groundwork and walk-trot.
Last summer when I was working with a black horse, he'd get hosed off after being worked, which he loved. Current horses are a chestnut and a paint. I'm told the paint will burn if he's wet in hot sun, so he's getting a pass, but I may end up hosing off the chestnut once he's working harder.
Ours have paddocks that get a reasonable breeze, and shelters. They choose to be in shade during the middle of the day when it's over about 25C, but that honestly seems to be more about flies than heat. They have free access to salt licks, and we'll top up the water troughs a second time at the end of the day if they're drinking a ton, but otherwise we don't do much, and they don't seem to mind.
I'm the only one who rides, and I aim to be done before the temps rise - my exact cutoff temp depends on humidity, whether there's direct sun, whether there's a breeze, etc, but usually around high 20s. Lately that's meant that I'm getting to the barn at 6-6:30am, and sometimes skipping my second horse. But also we're not doing very strenuous work - groundwork and walk-trot.
Last summer when I was working with a black horse, he'd get hosed off after being worked, which he loved. Current horses are a chestnut and a paint. I'm told the paint will burn if he's wet in hot sun, so he's getting a pass, but I may end up hosing off the chestnut once he's working harder.
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
I was pleased with my prep. Rigs had a field with natural shade and water, then a track system to allow him into the stable (brick and insulated tile, with a front and back door so breezy and also with water) but he still got a minor colic due to dehydration.
Black horse, thickset, and he's older too at 20 yrs. If we have another summer like a few years ago, he will be clipped out. He doesn't like a fly rug, they are soon shredded.
The white, younger horse is much better. He wears a fly rug, eats in the sun, occasionally retreats to eat in the shade and has been fine.
Black horse, thickset, and he's older too at 20 yrs. If we have another summer like a few years ago, he will be clipped out. He doesn't like a fly rug, they are soon shredded.
The white, younger horse is much better. He wears a fly rug, eats in the sun, occasionally retreats to eat in the shade and has been fine.
Lauraback
Well-Known Member
I’ve been brining my 2 boys in at lunchtime with a soaked hay net and turning them back out in the evening
dorsetladette
Well-Known Member
Mine have a large shelter, auto water and shade on all sides.
They tend to spend the hottest part of the day in the shelter out of the flies and heat and then once the far part of the field is shady they wonder down there in the afternoon.
If it's very hot I bring them in sponge them down and turn back out. They usually have a funny 5 mins after this.
They tend to spend the hottest part of the day in the shelter out of the flies and heat and then once the far part of the field is shady they wonder down there in the afternoon.
If it's very hot I bring them in sponge them down and turn back out. They usually have a funny 5 mins after this.
frankieduck
Well-Known Member
I've given up with the ones that live out, they have shelters and big hedges that offer natural shade but seem determined to stand in the glaring sun all day and sunbathe!
I leave fly rugs on as the flies are horrendous but hose them off and leave them in wet rugs, which they are suitably disgusted by. Make feeds extra sloppy and change water buckets twice daily so the water doesn't get too warm or discourage them from drinking.
The ridden 2 come in during the day and are out at night anyway so I won't change much other than probably riding early doors before it gets too hot. I've not made any riding plans this weekend as it will just be too hot to travel or do much, they will get hacked first thing and I'm having a weekend of gardening instead!
I leave fly rugs on as the flies are horrendous but hose them off and leave them in wet rugs, which they are suitably disgusted by. Make feeds extra sloppy and change water buckets twice daily so the water doesn't get too warm or discourage them from drinking.
The ridden 2 come in during the day and are out at night anyway so I won't change much other than probably riding early doors before it gets too hot. I've not made any riding plans this weekend as it will just be too hot to travel or do much, they will get hacked first thing and I'm having a weekend of gardening instead!
myheartinahoofbeat
Well-Known Member
Ours have trees and shade in their summer field but they are all still keen to come into their stables during the day to get away from the flies.
humblepie
Well-Known Member
Mine is in from mid morning and has a big stable but it is quite stuffy. Have recently got a rechargeable fan which I hang up and have just ordered another. Have a big fan which I can't leave in the stable but if I am there and he is out of the stable I put it in the stable on full or can have it on slower when he is in and the door chain across. He gets hosed down and I sit in the shade outdoors with him. I can fortunately do some work from the yard on my phone or laptop.
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
I’ve just clipped the senior PPID mare out with the snap on 4.8mm wide blades on my Liveryman Harmony clippers. Her summer coat had seemed sleek and shiny before clipping, so it’s surprising how much coat came off.
She looks very smart and she has enough coat length left that no pink skin shows through, so she is not in danger of getting sunburned.
This is actually a pic of her from July last year, just after I’d clipped her with the same blades.
She looks very smart and she has enough coat length left that no pink skin shows through, so she is not in danger of getting sunburned.
This is actually a pic of her from July last year, just after I’d clipped her with the same blades.