29/05/2026
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐? โ๏ธ
Have they been coping well or are they struggling? ๐ฅต
Every horse is an individual, and there are many reasons why some cope better with hot weather than others. But not every horse shows obvious signs of heat stress.
Some donโt sweat excessively.
Some donโt look distressed.
They simplyโฆ do less.
And thatโs often where the early signs are.
๐ฆ๐๐ฏ๐๐น๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ฒ:
๐ค Quieter than usual
Less interaction, lower energy, or just not quite themselves.
๐ฟ Reduced appetite
Leaving forage or feed - something we often see when internal temperature is elevated.
๐ฎโ๐จ Slower recovery after exercise
Taking longer for breathing rate to return to normal can indicate the body is working harder to dissipate heat.
๐ณ Standing still in shade for long periods
A normal cooling behaviour but if prolonged, it may suggest your horse is limiting movement to reduce heat production.
๐ง Changes in drinking habits
Increased demand is expected, but reduced intake can quickly contribute to dehydration and reduced thermoregulation.
Horses rely heavily on sweating and respiratory heat loss to regulate body temperature. When these systems are under pressure, youโll often see subtle behavioural changes before more obvious clinical signs appear.
So the question becomes:
๐ Is your horse choosing to rest, or needing to?
Because a horse who is struggling in the heat may start to:
conserve energy,
reduce intake,
and limit movement to cope with rising body temperature.
Small changes like these are easy to overlook but theyโre often the earliest indicators that adjustments to management, workload, or routine are needed.
In hot weather, itโs not just about preventing heat stress, itโs about recognising when your horse is working harder than it should be to stay comfortable and needs more help.
๐
