Summer is definitely here! Unlike wild horses, our horses don’t usually have access to streams and lakes to cool off in. Which is why it is up to us to provide our horses with shelters, and other ways for them to keep cool during the summer.
Why is it important for your horse to stay cool anyway? A horses body temperature is normally between 99-101 degrees Fahrenheit, that means that most horses are experiencing the world at almost 11 degrees warmer than we are! Before factoring in humidity levels, and whether there is a shady spot available. Just imagine how miserable you would be if you had to wear a sweater outside on the hottest day of the year! With the temperature really starting to rise, I thought it was a good time to mention a few ideas to help your horse, and even you, stay cool in the summer heat.
Fans
The first option to help your horse stay cool during the summer is installing a fan in their stall. In warmer climate regions, it’s common for horse owners to bring their horses into their stalls during the day, and turn them out at night when it’s cooler. If you’re in a cooler climate, and your barn has really good air flow, a fan may not be necessary, but if not your horse will certainly appreciate having a cool breeze in their stall.
However not all fans are created equal. Did you know that there is a difference between a fan made specifically for residential use, and one specifically made for agricultural use? I didn’t! At least not until I read about it on Ramm Horse Fencing & Stalls website while I was scouting out different fan units. Ramm’s fans are specifically built for agricultural use, which makes them safer for use in the barn, and in the arena. Using a fan that is made for residential use can potentially increase the risk of an electrical fire due to the fact that they don’t have a motor that is completely sealed from the elements.
Clipping
Next on the list is a good haircut. Even if your horse doesn’t compete, clipping your horse is another way to help them stay cooler in the summer. A shorter coat means that your horse is able to cool off faster after a riding session, as well as dry faster after a bath, helping to reduce the risk of your horse developing any type of skin issues. Clipping during the summer also helps certain horses with health issues like Cushing’s Disease whose coats stay thicker all year round.
Cool Baths
This method of cooling off is one that both you, and your horse, can enjoy! During the cooler days I would wear a rain suit to stay dry whenever I had to give more than one horse a bath, but during the summer I was happy to be just as wet as the horses! I’ve seen lesson barns switch things up on the days that it is too hot to ride by turning lesson days into bathing days. The kids still get hands on horse care experience, and everyone stays cool in the process.
Absorbine Cool Down Rinse
The Absorbine Cool Down Rinse is another option for bathing days if you are worried about frequent shampooing stripping the natural oils from your horses coat. The Absorbine Cool Down is a concentrate of essential oils that, once added to water, you can either sponge onto your horses body, or dispense into spray bottles to spot rinse sweaty areas after a ride. The
benefit of using the Absorbine Cool Down is that it doesn’t need to be rinsed off, and it nourishes your horses coat rather than washing away the natural oils in their coat like a shampoo would. I haven’t had the opportunity to try this product myself yet, but having used many Absorbine products in the past I can honestly say they haven’t made a product that I don’t like.
Cool Treats
Everyone is always concerned that their horses aren’t getting enough water during the summer. One way to help increase your horses water intake is to make some frozen treats. You can put pieces of carrots, apples, or whatever your horse likes into a cup of water and freeze them to make a horse sized popsicle. Once it’s frozen you can either let your horse lick his way to the treat in a feed bucket, or you could add the frozen treat to their bucket of water.
Cool Toweling
This is another option I have used for myself on those really hot days! For your horse fill a bucket about halfway with ice and cool water, then take a small towel and soak it in the ice water. Be sure to really wring the towel out before you place it on your horse! We aren’t trying to soak them, or put the poor horse into shock with freezing cold water! We just want the towel slightly damp, and cold enough to cool them off as we rub it over their body.
These are just a few ideas to help our equine friends cool off on hot summer days. Leave us a comment, and tell us how you and your horse stay cool during the summer!
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