Management of Horses and very hot weather

[dominobrown]

I was smug, not now. Rode early this morning, started with the black ID, finished with the ex racehorse. He was mental, fresh as ….., heat not bothering him but he lived in Kentucky for a year so maybe he thinks it’s not that bad. He was hyper.
Brought everyone in and was grooming everyone smearing on black hoof moisturiser goo, managed to get kicked in the face and was covered in goo. OH said it was too hot to deal with me being annoying and horses just want left alone so left them be and went swimming in a lake.

 

[claracanter]

Horses came in today from 11-7. They have brick stables with minimal shade in the field. They have a field shelter but herd dynamics don’t allow them all in together. They seemed ok in the stables, no one broke into a sweat, not even Garry Cushings boy who I am most concerned about. Supposedly it’s going to be 40 tomorrow but with more of a breeze. I will watch to see if they start milling around the gate about mid morning before I decide whether to bring them in or not

 

[SEL]

Not sure if it’s the heat making them cranky but 2 of my 4 have kicked the other two tonight and meant it. I would never normally think of any of them as kickers.

Mine were all grumpy by 6pm because it had gone humid and the breeze had stopped. Not even 6am and it feels sweaty so today is going to be tough.

Yard cat who I think is quite old wasn't at all happy yesterday. I don't know why he doesn't vanish into the woods.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Today is going to be tougher. Temperatures didn't drop much overnight - it's 21°C outside here at 6am, and 25°C in the kitchen.

I might just leave them out today. I brought them in yesterday, but my wooden stables did get too warm inside - they've been fine before as the stables were designed with high temps in mind, they face north and east with a high lined roof and fully lined walls. We will get fans installed - OH is on the job but they won't be in place today.

I was hosing them off every 1.5 hours, which is easier if they are in rather than having to go out into the sun to catch them in. I just wish that the silly IDx would stop standing in the full sun to doze by the water bins rather than move a few yards to shelter under the field shelter overhang - she likes the field shelter so don't know why she chooses to cook.

Hosing over fly rugs does retain the dampness a lot longer than when they are nekked, so I'll keep on doing that.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Wow, I am in south ayrshire and it is 24 degrees already, and the sun isnt even up yet ?

 

[SmartieBean09]

Plan today is the same as yesterday. Bring in at 6am to hay and a sloppy mash. She has a lovely, cool and shaded stable. Will pop back down early afternoon to hose off, offer another sloppy mash, cover in fly spray and pop back in stable. Will turn back out around 7pm. I’m fortunate that her field has a lot of shade too. She’s definitely in a better situation than I am at home! We have a lot of windows and glass and are south facing! Curtains and blinds drawn/down and fans everywhere but it’s still just unbearable! I’m such a winter girl!

 

[southerncomfort]

Not a whisper of a breeze this morning and its already baking hot.

Mini Shetland was absolutely fine yesterday, not at all bothered by the heat, but my black Fell pony was pretty miserable. The only thing that cheered him up was being sloshed down with cold water and bobbing for carrot ice cubes in his water bucket. Not sure how he'll cope today bless him. Keeping everything crossed that a breeze will pick up soon.

 

[humblepie]

Horse is in as is everything else - not ideal as his stable does get quite warm but no shade in the field and he does get very bothered by flies. Went up twice from work during the day yesterday to wash down and stand in the shade. Fortunately work is quite flexible so can do that. My car is like a water bowser carrying chilled water from work.

 

[maya2008]

I took little Welsh A’s fly rug off yesterday. NOT a happy pony - he gave us the run around this morning, refusing to be caught in case we took it off again (was popped back on overnight). Put it back on after his ride and the little standoffish soul actually gave me a ‘thank you’ cuddle. To be fair, he comes up in little mini abscesses that burst as a result of horse fly bites - and he can always dunk his head/legs in the water trough to cool down.

 

[Melody Grey]

Not sure if it’s the heat making them cranky but 2 of my 4 have kicked the other two tonight and meant it. I would never normally think of any of them as kickers.

Mine were all cranky last night turning out and I got a proper bite in the armpit from a livery’s horse as I reached over the door to check how sweaty he was- blaming the weather! Was trying to do him a favour!!

 

[Barton Bounty]

I took little Welsh A’s fly rug off yesterday. NOT a happy pony - he gave us the run around this morning, refusing to be caught in case we took it off again (was popped back on overnight). Put it back on after his ride and the little standoffish soul actually gave me a ‘thank you’ cuddle. To be fair, he comes up in little mini abscesses that burst as a result of horse fly bites - and he can always dunk his head/legs in the water trough to cool down.

after bathing bb yesterday he got bitten straight away before he dried, this is mine, I have about 10 over my body! And srill on antibiotics lol

 

[dorsetladette]

I've opened all my gates. They have the run of all fields. 2 are shady at different times of the day, one has not shade at all. Big airy shelter which has a big thick hedge behind it so stays pretty cool.
Lots of water in a shady spot and topped up 3 times a day. I've also added electrolytes to one of the water tubs. Not something I normally do but they seem to be drinking a fair bit from the tub.

Touch wood no one seems to be upset/struggling with the heat to much. The old black cob is spending most of his time in the shelter but popping out for eat and drink.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Ok, so I washed his mane and tail in anti-itch shampoo. I washed his entire body with tea tree shampoo. I used fly spray, a roll on, and gel. Plus the shampoo had some citronella in it.

Still thinking I'm going to walk into his stable later today to see a half a mane left due to rubbing. Ugh, this is so hard. Why can't I just have a horse that doesn't come with "extras" I also need to bring his Flexineb today because his allergies have flared up due to the terrible air quality (a lottt of dust). He had none of these issues in Spain, oddly enough. Only in Germany. Could be they developed with age (came from Spain at 4, is now 10) but ugh! I tried to keep him cooler with loose plaits in his mane but he rubbed those out. Even with the roots slathered in mane liquid (soothing, repelling, anti itch).

Friends older horse who has no known allergies is also more itchy this year.

 

[SEL]

31 at 9am here. It's going to be tough. Both cats are really cross.

Was intending to leave the fly rug off the big boy allbut he was getting so distressed I drenched it and put it on. He seems to prefer sweating under it than not having it. Light weight amigo one with a shiny outer so I'm desperately hoping he's ok and stands in the shade. Hose off again at lunch.

And we really need rain in the SE

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Oh that's one thing; the cat. He loves this weather and we refer to him as an African cat. ?

 

[NinjaPony]

I ended up keeping the fly rug on as my Welsh came in covered in oozy fly bites. He was a bit sweaty under it yesterday but perky enough and came trotting over for his dinner. He’s coped reasonably well in the heat which is reassuring for me, just making sure he gets his 3 wash offs a day and plenty of water. Very glad he’s able to go out for a bit now, the stable starts to heat up around lunch time. If he wasn’t still in recovery from laminitis, I’d have him out all the time at the moment as the stable just seems to trap the hot air.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I've refined the horse wetting procedure to optimise time vs effectiveness. I now fully dunk the fly rugs in a trug of water, leave for a couple of mins, then heave the heavy dripping rug out and haul it straight onto the horse. The rug and the horse stay wetter much longer, and it uses less water than hosing off 3 neds.

The flipside is that I'm regularly getting covered in rug dunking water and I can't be bothered to fully wash and change in between each dunking session, I just wash the worst bits off. So I'm a bit horsey stinky, but what the heck.

 

[Barton Bounty]

That is a good idea ???

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Hm, I've hosed a horse down with a fly rug still on them. Could minimize the mess, but would likely use more water.

Did not think about submerging it. Good idea. Might try that later because I think I'll let him wear it for tomorrow.

 

[Pippity]

Mine's out during the day and seems to be enjoying the heat. Yesterday, she saw me coming with her headcollar and promptly trotted off, had a bit of a buck and a canter, and then finally deigned to be caught. This is a horse who's usually perfect to catch!

They've had the walkway to their field opened up, because the walkway has the most shade. She's in her fly rug, and seems to be cooler under it than in the parts of her that are open to the sun. (White fly rug, black horse.) Yard staff are thoroughly hosing down all horses before turning them out, including drenching fly rugs if they're being worn, and I give her another soaking when I bring her in.

The only thing I'm worried about is whether she's drinking enough. Yesterday, she cheekily helped herself to another horse's fancy water (heavily diluted Saracen Re-covery Mash) so I'm planning on picking up some of that today to tempt her to drink more.

Meanwhile, I've discovered that in my over-enthusiastic wardrobe clearout over winter, I apparently ditched all of my shorts.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Mine's out during the day and seems to be enjoying the heat. Yesterday, she saw me coming with her headcollar and promptly trotted off, had a bit of a buck and a canter, and then finally deigned to be caught. This is a horse who's usually perfect to catch!

They've had the walkway to their field opened up, because the walkway has the most shade. She's in her fly rug, and seems to be cooler under it than in the parts of her that are open to the sun. (White fly rug, black horse.) Yard staff are thoroughly hosing down all horses before turning them out, including drenching fly rugs if they're being worn, and I give her another soaking when I bring her in.

The only thing I'm worried about is whether she's drinking enough. Yesterday, she cheekily helped herself to another horse's fancy water (heavily diluted Saracen Re-covery Mash) so I'm planning on picking up some of that today to tempt her to drink more.

Meanwhile, I've discovered that in my over-enthusiastic wardrobe clearout over winter, I apparently ditched all of my shorts.

Asda here you come lol

 

[Fransurrey]

It was already 30 degrees when I left the yard this morning at 8.55 and we're high up. For the first time ever my 20 yo mare is struggling. I pushed her bum into the shelter as she'd stood in the sun whilst I mucked out and she grunted her way in. Not like her at all. She's had a thorough wash in dilute Selsun and BB on her mane, dock and undercarriage. She only had one more small wound this morning (now a total of 3), so she's not doing badly on that score. There was a full day's worth of poo in there - I don't think I've ever taken out a full barrow load out before! Managed to move some fence posts back into the winter grazing, which I know they'll find overnight. The ground has gone the other way, now. So dry it's crumbling so I could get posts in!

 

[honetpot]

after bathing bb yesterday he got bitten straight away before he dried, this is mine, I have about 10 over my body! And srill on antibiotics lol

Och. Poor you.

 

[honetpot]

I am worried about my cows, they have coped so far, but it was already hot early this morning. I moved the old Rice trailer in the paddock near the water trough to try and make some shade, young bull just wanted to rub on it, put a wind break for shade. Filled another trough, and my water bowser in case the water supply is reduced.
They are actually in the coolest field because it gets the most breeze, and it was warm and still in the shed and I left them eating the hedge, but I am sat inside with a fan. The ponies can be in or out, and they seem to be mostly out, although there are piles of hay in the shed.

 

[Tiddlypom]

My equine vet practice normally keeps going whatever, but they are closing early for the second day running.

Due to the extreme heat our office will be closed from 12pm today and phones diverted for emergency calls only

 

[southerncomfort]

I am worried about my cows, they have coped so far, but it was already hot early this morning. I moved the old Rice trailer in the paddock near the water trough to try and make some shade, young bull just wanted to rub on it, put a wind break for shade. Filled another trough, and my water bowser in case the water supply is reduced.
They are actually in the coolest field because it gets the most breeze, and it was warm and still in the shed and I left them eating the hedge, but I am sat inside with a fan. The ponies can be in or out, and they seem to be mostly out, although there are piles of hay in the shed.

I've been watching my neighbours cows.

Unlike the sheep that find a shady wall to lie against, the cows go right to the top of the hill perhaps seeking a stiffer breeze. But it means they are out in the glare of the sun all day.

 

[dorsetladette]

I've been watching my neighbours cows.

Unlike the sheep that find a shady wall to lie against, the cows go right to the top of the hill perhaps seeking a stiffer breeze. But it means they are out in the glare of the sun all day.

My sheep haven't really been out of the shelter much in the last 4 days (during the day) It won't do them any harm to go on a self imposed diet but you can't help feeling sorry for them. I take cold water into the shelter for them and they have a few soaked sheep nuts around 4pm.

FYI - they are bottle fed pet sheep, so spoilt rotten!

 

[Squeak]

My sheep haven't really been out of the shelter much in the last 4 days (during the day) It won't do them any harm to go on a self imposed diet but you can't help feeling sorry for them. I take cold water into the shelter for them and they have a few soaked sheep nuts around 4pm.

FYI - they are bottle fed pet sheep, so spoilt rotten!

We've got some sheep as well and they're sensibly staying in the shelters during the day but I do still feel sorry for them as they're breathing pretty heavily and look hot. I don't think there's anything more I can do for them, they've got fresh water, a salt lick and I've given them some hay so that they aren't tempted to stray out to get food although they would be the same as yours and a self imposed diet would do them no harm.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I went down yesterday afternoon to find them both under the horse chestnut tree quietly snoozing. They have a trough but I put extra water under the trees for Apple bobbing and they had a couple of buckets of cold water sloshed over them. DP is almost black and was radiating heat while B felt much cooler to the touch but I was happy to see neither of them were sweating. This morning the flies seemed less annoying so I have left masks off as there is a lovely breeze which is getting stronger and will go and check on them later this afternoon again and they can have another sloppy feed with more salt. I think as long as you have shade being out is better and they seem to be coping very well and I’m not at all concerned about them.

 

[SEL]

I've been watching my neighbours cows.

Unlike the sheep that find a shady wall to lie against, the cows go right to the top of the hill perhaps seeking a stiffer breeze. But it means they are out in the glare of the sun all day.

There's a big herd on my way to the yard who could get in the shade of a hedge but don't seem to bother. Can't spot neighbours sheep though so they must be huddled down somewhere