20/06/2025
Brilliant advice from 608 Equine Vets for helping to keep your horses cool during this heat wave ☀️
☀️🥵 Are we allowed to say it’s too hot…!? 😂
Here are our top tips on how to look after your horse during the hot weather! ☀️
🐎 Exercise your horse during the cooler times of the day where possible. Consider your individual horse’s overall health and fitness and how they are likely to cope when being ridden in the hot weather.
💦 Cool your horse down using cold water. For the most effective cooling, start at the poll and work your way backwards, focusing on long cooling of the gluteals.
🚿 The most recent research suggests that there is no need to scrape the water off your horse when hosing down - leaving water on a horse will not cause them to be warmer. Continuous application of cold water is the most effective and efficient way to reduce body temperature quickly.
🪣 Make sure your horse always has access to clean, fresh drinking water. If your horse isn’t a big drinker, flavour their water with molasses or apple juice to encourage them, or give them a sloppy mash 😋
🚛 If you need to travel your horse, consider soaking your hay to keep up their water intake. Check the traffic before you leave and open all windows.
🌡 Watch out for signs of heatstroke, including high respiratory and heart rates, and an increased body temperature - a horse’s normal body temperature should be between 37.5 - 38.5.
🧂 Add salt to your horse’s diet, particularly if they are sweating - this can be via a salt lick, table salt added to their normal feed or electrolytes.
🌳 If your horse is out, make sure they have access to natural shade or field shelters where possible.
📞 If you need any advice, give us a call on 01564 783404.
