Keep Your Horse Cool

It is more than 40 degrees in the baking sun and you can’t even walk outside without feeling that you’ve been drained of every single scrap of energy you ever had. If you feel this way, imagine just how your horse feels.  Pretty much the exact same.  If you happen to be hot, then they are too.

What will you be able to do to further cool your horse down?

At all times have lots of clean, cool, fresh water on hand.  It is really hard for them in heat like that to go too long with no water.   It’s usually a good idea not to exercise them too strenuously in extreme temperature and high humidity levels.  It is really punishing on their systems.  And if you do work them, be Extremely cautious about letting them drink when done.  Only permit them to have little amounts and space those quantities out over a period of time.  If you’re working them easily and they are not sweating and heaving, give him water at the very least every thirty minutes.

You would possibly think this seems funny, but think about it.  Don’t put your water container out in the open sun.  Why is this?  The water contained might get so hot it could blister your horses lips.  Place the dish or pail in the shade.

A further cooling down suggestion, your horse loves cool bathing – not arctic cold – but cool spray from the garden hose over their chest, back and legs.  Some are fussy about water over their heads, so pass up that area.  The first thing it usually does after having been bathed is roll over in the mud and make themselves a pleasant bacteria screen layer on their coats.  The bugs are nastier in hot climate.  If you do not own a hose which has a spray attachment, then you can sponge his head and face off with cool water.

Even if you have a block of salt outside, it isn’t sufficient for those viciously hot days.  You will need to have extra salt on hand.  All you need to do is introduce some table salt to his feed or hay.  He’ll consume what he wants.  The majority of equines sweat about enough to require four ounces of salt each day in scorching climate.

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