Those with hairies, how to keep cool??

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Kub

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Just feel bad for my boy at the mo as he's sweating up in this heat, bless him!! I hosed him off yesterday to cool him down a bit but just wondering is anyone has any good tricks for keeping them a bit cooler in all that hair? Thanks :)
 
When I was out in South Africa, when we got hot horses back from safari we used to wash them in 'equi-ice' (i think) it was ment to be a muscle rub, but you could also wash horses with it, full of menthol and lots of other cooling goodies, similar to this - http://www.tackdirect.co.uk/prod_show.asp?id=104
left my hands and arms all cool and tingily for hours - Lush!!!
Maybe very wrong, but it was africa so not sure!!!!
 
Mine aren't hairy, but they don't like the heat.

I bring mine in during the day, and I fully expect them both to be asleep when I go up in 30mins for the farrier!!!

If yours has a long mane, I would be tempted to put it into a few chunky plaits, that way his neck can get more air to it.
 
I have to low trace clip my hairy. I only did her a couple of days ago. She looks very similar to yours in your photo. She really feels the heat. She still lives out all summer absolutely fine. She enjoys a hose down but rolls in the dry dusty patches immediately after so I'm mean and rarely wet her all over but do let the hose trickle down her legs when it's unbearably hot.
 
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To keep my old "hairy" cool, I clipped him out in the late spring, kept his mane fairly thin and short, stood him in during the day if I thought he needed it, and would hose him off too.
 
full on shower and shampoo !! He's come up lovely, but it'll last a few hours if I'm lucky. I think just that, shade and cold water, fly spray and sunscreen is all we can do. sm x
 
My welshie has a field shelter to use...he hides in there to get away from the flies more than the heat though.
 
Plait the mane, loads of flyspray, shade and plenty of water.

Star was sweated around her ears today when I fetched her in from the field. Gave her a good wash and turned her back out.
 
I do an arab plait to keep his mane off his neck. I'm going to get him clipped this week, he was dripping with sweat after our hack today and we only walked. I wanted to do some traditional show classes with him, but I'd rather he was comfortable so it's all coming off!
 
I full clipped my cob yesterday as he was sweating just stood out in the field, im just hoping he wont now get too hot in the fly rug he has to have on so his pink skin doesn't get burnt:o
 
I sponge them down everyday, being black and all, although in this heat it doesn't last long, mine also love to play in their water so make sure there is enough around.
 
:eek::eek::eek: CLIPPING ???? :eek::eek::eek:

Ooo dear, it'll definitely be the five am rides for us ! I've looked at the weather forecast, and it's going to cool down next week (:confused:) so we may have a reprieve... sm x

ps, he was still in show condition tonight after his bath this morning - what a good boy, me thought. ;) sm x
 
My Fell x Mels (in my siggy) is sweating stood in the field, and my welsh B Seri is puffing like shes been galloping (shes a dark bitter choc colour) so I hose Seri and bucket wash Mels (she hates the hose) and then stand them in during the day with a soaked haynet. Its too hot to even put fly sheets on them! Mad! I cant stand this heat so just imagine being black and hairy!! x
 
i've just bathed mine today and plaited her mane today because it was really hot here. She hates water so the bath was interesting and i think i got more water on me than anything.
 
Thanks peeps, I've plaited up his mane now but left his forlock for fly attack hehe. Luckily he's good with being washed and I think he likes have a quick hose down :)

Our stables are no cooler than outside so not much point bringing him in, he's happier outside anyways.
 
I put their manes into plaits that I kust leave to hang down dreadlock style. I leave them like this for weeks unless they are going to a party. They dide it on a riding holiday I went on where this weekends temps would have been considered normal.
 
Have today had my Cushings pony and old donkey clipped. The pony in particular was just standing sweating before, she is so much happier now. She also had a very thick, long mane and I'm ashamed to say I did take the scissors to it :o, she looks a bit of a bugger but her comfort has to come first. She never goes anywhere, obviously you couldn't do this with a horse that goes in public so long plaits sound like a good idea, at least the air will get to the neck.
 
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