2006 K. BlocksdorfIt's important that you help your horse stay cool in hot weather and learn to prevent heat stroke. Simple things like shade and an ample supply of fresh water are important. If your horse will be working hard electrolytes might be a good idea. Free choice salt is essential and I find that horses will use a salt lick more in the summer than in the colder months. For those of you who must endure weeks and weeks of torrid weather, anhidrosis is a concern.
A tired rider makes for a tired horse, so be sure to look after yourself in the heat too. Whether you're riding, or as many of us are, harvesting hay and doing other outdoor chores around the barn be sure to stay hydrated, out of the sun and take breaks so you don't over do it.
Keep your barn cool by closing it up during the day and opening doors and windows when the air is cooler at night. The horses' body heat will warm up a barn pretty quickly, so keeping them in during the day and out at night will give the barn a chance to cool down before the hot sun comes up again. Remember to muck out stalls frequently if your horses are in to prevent flies and ammonia build-up. If you have sweet feed or concentrates with molasses, and normally store it in the barn, you might want to move your supply somewhere cool. Sweet feed can ferment and get quite sour smelling if it gets hot. If you must feed concentrates you might want to change to something 'sugarless' during the summer months.
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Helping Your Horse Cope With Hot Weather originally appeared on About.com Horses on Wednesday, July 20th, 2011 at 16:18:29.
