21/05/2026
☀️ Heatwave incoming for the Bank Holiday weekend! ☀️
If you’re hacking to the pub this weekend and enjoying a cold drink in the sunshine, please remember your horse can’t nip to the bar for a refreshing pint afterwards!
Very hot weather can increase the risk of dehydration and impaction colic, so it’s really important to encourage plenty of fluid intake:
💧 Fresh clean water at all times
🥣 Wet mashes or soaked feeds
🌾 Soaked hay
⚡ Electrolytes where appropriate
🌳 Access to shade and good airflow
If your horse has been exercised, travelled, or is simply feeling the heat, we also advise thoroughly hosing them down with cool water and allowing the water to remain on the body to evaporate naturally, rather than scraping it straight off. As the water evaporates from the skin, it helps cool the horse effectively. Cooling the skin also encourages vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels near the skin surface) which helps the horse release excess body heat more efficiently.
So while you’re sitting in the pub garden this Bank Holiday, make sure your horse is parked in the shade with plenty of water and a good cool-down too!
