Management of Horses and very hot weather

[vickie123]

Hi, I wondered what everyone is planning to do with their horses over the very hot weather period as I’m a bit concerned for my two elderly mares that live out.
I will be removing their fly rugs and just leaving fly masks on and ill give them a good spray. I have wooden stables but I was thinking of bringing them in during the morning when I know the stables are in the shade and cool, then hosing them down and popping them out when the stables heat up. I’m lucky that they are at home and I have plenty of trees for shade. My bay horse has ems so can’t really go out for long in the grass field but he is muzzled and can go in his chipped patch which has a big tree and I’ll put his water and hay there to keep him out of the sun and can hose him down from there which he will hate.
im sure they’ll be fine and I’m worrying about nothing but I’d be interested to hear what you are planning in case there is anything extra I can do to make them comfortable. I have a big bath on wheels for soaking hay so I might just sit in that until it’s all over.

 

[Sandstone1]

Plenty of water, hose off a couple of times a day, make sure they have shade, fly masks and fly spray. I might make them some ice lollys. carrots and apple sliced up and put in small tubs with water and freeze. sloppy feeds so they get extra water. Not sure what else to do. Oh sun cream on white noses etc.

 

[Abacus]

I leave mine out as the stables get hot. They do have a shelter which they use and I notice they still spend some time outside even in the heat. I think they are happier in a group as well as they swish the flies off each other.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Mine is on a livery yard and I can't get there multiple times during the day so...

He goes out at night, is in his stable attached to a small paddock during the day, and I go there in the mid/later afternoon, at the hottest part of the day and hose him off. I feed him some electrolytes and sometimes a cold snack. Fly spray and put his fly sheet back on depending on how hot it is. Then this usually keeps him comfortable until they go back out at night when it's cooler.

He might sweat just a little before I get there, but not enough to really harm him.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I just read a post on fb, a lady worried about her live out horse who suffered sweet itch so was in a SI rug, full hood and had to be muzzled.
Understandably none of these can be compromised on and she worked full time.
It’s a massive worry. I’m so grateful to be currently not working much and have the horses at home.
I’m hosing and not rugging, they are in a bit during the day. My grass is virtually gone, literally so I’ve been able to remove muzzles temporarily and feed soaked hay in the field.
Horse with SI I hose as per the others then put a wet rug back on.
I’ve also clipped my two ponies chests out to try and help them stay a bit cooler. (Added bonus of the electric fencing giving more punch!)

 

[NinjaPony]

Mine is going out in his field at 2pm and I’ll bring him in a 5pm. He is on lami recovery and the grass is finally withered/eaten down enough (thanks to some greedy lambs I borrowed!) for him to be able to have a few hours out muzzle free. His stable is shaded in the mornings and gets the sun in the afternoon and I really didn’t want him standing in a hot stable when it’s 30 degrees. So fingers crossed he will cope and won’t get too hot. I’ll hose him off before he goes back in his stable, and will do the same in the mornings. Otherwise, not a lot else I can do beyond making sure he has access to plenty of water and soaked hay.

 

[humblepie]

Mine has no shade in his field so he is in during the day. I will try to go up and hose him at lunchtime and possibly stand him outside in the shade if there is a breeze. I did that the other day and sat reading some work stuff whilst holding him!

 

[sbloom]

With good shade in a field, ideally big banks of shade that stay that way for several hours, I'd leave them out.

 

[tda]

Ours will stay free ranging, they wander in , often 3 in a shelter, and then out , they know the best places to stand. We have still had a good breeze this week, so it's not too bad.
Mainly black ponies but no one has looked overwarm yet.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Ours are here at home so I can keep an eye; also we've got one livery who is an old boy (25).

There are trees and also stables/shelters where they can all go to escape the flies and for shade and all horses have got a shared massive old oak tree which they gather under (as do the sheep).

We will be hosing them down - especially later on in the day when they've got hot - and keeping a general eye out.

Re. water: am not sure about putting ice in their drinking water - at Pony Club (OK so MANY years ago!!) we were always told not to give a hot horse a cold bucket........ don't know if anyone else has misgivings about this??

I am adding salt to feed for mine too. There is a salt lick available if they want it.

Don't think can do any more tbh.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Mine are out in a well shaded paddock with no grass but hay. They have salt with their balancer anyway but I also chop up apples and put them into the trough to encourage them to drink. Fly spray on body, cream on their undercarriages and masks on their heads although DP refuses to keep his on.

 

[Mrs G]

Im glad the super hot temps (for us in the UK!) are only meant to be for 2/3 days - its definitely a worry for me - I suffer badly in the heat myself so I'm paranoid about the horses! Our fields have no shelter at all so the horses will come in during the day; the stables are in a well ventilated barn and usually nice and cool. My friends little herd will stay out - they have a shelter which they often hide in when its hot and at their yard the stables face the sun so they are much better off out - in fact I burnt my arm on one of their stable doors the last very hot day we had - they have a big galvanised metal panel on the top of the doors and without thinking I leant against it to make it easier to slide the latch open - it had had the sun beating down on it all day and honestly you could have fried an egg on it. It really hurt and I swear I could smell singed arm hair!

 

[milliepops]

I have 4 field potatoes aged from 2 - 26 who have chosen to sun themselves all day so far this week. they have lots of shade available and if they go further up the field there's usually a bit of a breeze but they obviously know better than me!

the 2 at the yard are in during the day. the stables are hot in the mornings but better in the afternoons. both seem to be comfortable enough despite that. I can't really do any more than that and tbh based on their physical signs so far i don't feel that it's necessary. both eat, sleep and drink well so i'm quite happy that they are OK.

 

[Chippers1]

Mine's in a sweet itch rug and fly mask too and these will have to stay on as he's already managed to rub his tail enough to break the skin, even with the rug on fortunately their field has hedges and trees running along all boundaries so there's always shade for them, not that they seem to use it as they're normally out in the sun when i'm there!
Because he's grey and the rug is white(ish) it does seem to reflect a lot of the heat and I don't find him sweating too often but it is a worry.

 

[Squeak]

We're due to go up to 36 here next week now. I'm lucky that they have a choice of field shelter and stone stable that they can go into as well as the field being surrounded by mature trees. I'll make sure they have water by both shelters and have a good cover of flyspray and fly cream and have fly masks on but I don't think there's much more I can do.

If it's needed I'll wash off throughout the day as they're at home so I can easily go out.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

It is difficult.

I know that I'll have to leave the fly rug off for a few days next week, and my horse will likely rub out half of his mane and tail ?

I think he's hotter with the fly rug on. However, he will also sweat when it's off when it gets so hot.

I've thought about clipping him but idk if that makes his insect sensitivity worse and if his rug will rub him. Everything rubs him ?

 

[Auslander]

One side of the field has great big trees to stand under, with plenty of grass under them, and the water trough.
But No. They want to snooze in the sun!

 

[Aussieventer]

While 36 degrees isn’t extreme in my part of the world in summer, I appreciate it is probably equivalent to our extreme (40-46 degree) days. The horses have always been fine following some protocols. Luckily I am a teacher often on school holidays during the hottest part of the year so am able to be there. The hottest part of the day is usually 2-4pm here in summer so if working I rush home those days and aggressive cool as soon as I get there.

Hot weather protocol:
All riding/excersise to be done prior to 9am latest.
Morning feeds to be wet well and contain extra electrolytes and salt.
Rugs off (flies disappear around 38-40 degrees)
Empty and refill waters every 2 hours starting 11am. Ensure water remains in shade. (Even in shade waters heat up over 42 degrees)
Horses out with natural shade particularly for afternoon sun or with walk in/out shelter
Horses offered cool molasses water every 2 hours from 11am.
Horses hosed off in paddocks every 2 hours from 11am when waters changed.
Keep watch for any horses not sweating/ quick breathing. if puffing or not sweating regularly take to wash bay and hose continuously for 20 mins then apply ice boots. Continue on and off for 20 minute rotations keeping eye on temp and vitals. Continue to offer molasses water. Call vet if not improving (I’ve never had to, but do ice and aggressive cool at the slightest stress)
Feed late ie. after 7pm when the worst of the heat is gone and wet feed well and add electrolytes and salt. If under 30 replace fly rugs.
Late check at 8.30pm to ensure horses are eating and pooping as normal.
When we have multiple 40+ days in a row I will not work them after the first day as it does tire them out. Usually the weather will break as a storm and they will gallop around like dimwits in the rain.

 

[Annagain]

Ours have been under the two big oak trees in their field every time I've been up in the day time this week. They seem to go under at about 9 and stay there until about 6, moving around them as the sun does. There's a nice breeze there too. They have loads of trees all around the field but these two are the trees of choice! The two oldies are always deepest into the shade with the others around the edges. It's the only time Monty will tolerate anyone but Archie and his one other friend within about 5 metres of him. I think it's so he can benefit from some mutual fly swatting.

 

[JCW]

I am quite worried as mine have little shelter in the field. All the trees are on the outside of our field. the Stables are wooden and reasonably well ventilated however still get very warm and unfortunately one of mine is in the corner stable which gets very warm. I am at work so won’t be able to come up and check them either. The best I can do I think is bring them in the morning and see if I can arrange for someone to check them in the afternoon and hose down if necessary .

 

[Bellaboo18]

My plan is, out first thing (5ish) for a couple of hours, then in for the morning, 11.30 i'll give a cold shower and out until the stables have cooled down in the evening. Our field is by far the best option for us, the stables are wooden and hot. We've got shade in the field.

I'll also give them some recovery mash in the afternoon to keep them hydrated.

 

[Squeak]

While 36 degrees isn’t extreme in my part of the world in summer, I appreciate it is probably equivalent to our extreme (40-46 degree) days. The horses have always been fine following some protocols. Luckily I am a teacher often on school holidays during the hottest part of the year so am able to be there. The hottest part of the day is usually 2-4pm here in summer so if working I rush home those days and aggressive cool as soon as I get there.

Hot weather protocol:
All riding/excersise to be done prior to 9am latest.
Morning feeds to be wet well and contain extra electrolytes and salt.
Rugs off (flies disappear around 38-40 degrees)
Empty and refill waters every 2 hours starting 11am. Ensure water remains in shade. (Even in shade waters heat up over 42 degrees)
Horses out with natural shade particularly for afternoon sun or with walk in/out shelter
Horses offered cool molasses water every 2 hours from 11am.
Horses hosed off in paddocks every 2 hours from 11am when waters changed.
Keep watch for any horses not sweating/ quick breathing. if puffing or not sweating regularly take to wash bay and hose continuously for 20 mins then apply ice boots. Continue on and off for 20 minute rotations keeping eye on temp and vitals. Continue to offer molasses water. Call vet if not improving (I’ve never had to, but do ice and aggressive cool at the slightest stress)
Feed late ie. after 7pm when the worst of the heat is gone and wet feed well and add electrolytes and salt. If under 30 replace fly rugs.
Late check at 8.30pm to ensure horses are eating and pooping as normal.
When we have multiple 40+ days in a row I will not work them after the first day as it does tire them out. Usually the weather will break as a storm and they will gallop around like dimwits in the rain.

Thanks AE that's really useful advice from someone who is used to dealing with extreme heat more than we are. I'll make sure I do cold sponge every couple of hours and also physically check the temperature of the water as well visually checking they still have enough. I'll also add in some sloppy sugarbeet to his morning feed and I wouldn't have thought to hold off on his evening feed until later in the evening.

 

[SEL]

My stables take the full afternoon sun and are baking if you open the doors in the evening - so they have to stay out. My Appy collapsed when we had the 37 degree day a few years back but I've just checked my weather Ap and it's showing 38 for Mon and Tue ? She's been showing signs of sweaty armpits recently so ??her sweating mechanism won't shut down again.

I don't work far away so I'll go up about 1 and be prepared to hose off. We're trying to see if we can set up some form of misting system by the field shelter.

I might try flavouring one water bucket with ribena

 

[Fransurrey]

I just read a post on fb, a lady worried about her live out horse who suffered sweet itch so was in a SI rug, full hood and had to be muzzled.
Understandably none of these can be compromised on and she worked full time.

I'm in the same position as that lady. I did try to remove her SI rug on Sunday, but found her covered in massive lumps on Monday, so back on it went. They do have a shelter and from the amount of pee in there and poos not far away, they're spending considerable time in there. I'm more worried about lack of grass, now. I'm feeding more than I do in the winter. The field is literally just a bare, crispy layer.

 

[Antw23uk]

Fly mask, left out but with yard and stables open. I also put up an extension to my field shelter the other day and covered it in that scaffolding netting, to act as a shady porch to the shelter. Ive yet to see him use it!

Slopping recovery mash feeds and hosed off once or twice a day. I can do no more so that will have to be good enough.

 

[SEL]

. I'm feeding more than I do in the winter. The field is literally just a bare, crispy layer.

Mine too. It's yellow and bald.

 

[milliepops]

same. My field at the yard is tiny and overgrazed, it's the big compromise i make to stay there. fortunately my hay is free

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I'm happy if anyone wants to send me over some who need to mow!
My top 2 acres are waist high, another acre is still 6" of green stuff as shaded by trees during the afternoon.
Just mend what you break and poo pick. No gormless babies tho or entires.

 

[meleeka]

Mine just have haynets under the tree where there’s a slight breeze. They have to wander over to the water, but that keeps joints mobile as they are older. They seem perfectly happy at the moment.

 

[Auslander]

I'm happy if anyone wants to send me over some who need to mow!
My top 2 acres are waist high, another acre is still 6" of green stuff as shaded by trees during the afternoon.
Just mend what you break and poo pick. No gormless babies tho or entires.

Don't fancy a 2 yr old warmblood colt then?