Properly Caring For Your Horses During The Summer Months

The hot summer months are soon upon us. It is usually a time of rest and relaxation for many of us. We spend time at the pool, have cookouts and go on vacations. However, before you make your summer plans you better a plan for your horses this summer. You cant have them simply standing in the sun all day, every day. The summer can be very stressful for a horse if they arent properly cared for.

Here are a few tips that Ive put together to help you make sure your animals are comfortable and healthy during these hot weather months:

I never clip off my horses mane in the summer. While manes look like they would make the horse warm, they actually serve a purpose. They use their manes to swat away pesky flies and other biting insects. The same is true for their tails. Never cut a horses tail shorter than their hocks.

I know some horse owners who keep their animals inside their stalls all day as a way to protect them from flies and other biting insects. I would much rather use horse fly sheets than do that to my horses. Think about how boring it must be for them to be trapped in a stall during a nice day. My animals would prefer to be outside in the pasture, nibbling on grass, than stuck inside for hours on end.

Do you have a horse that tends to sweat a lot? My advice is to bring it into the barn and give it hose down to wash the dirt and sweat off its body. I recommend doing this a few times a week or more depending on how warm its been.

Some horses are very susceptible to getting sunburned. This is especially true for those with white markings on their faces. These horses can get bad sunburns around their noses and muzzles which will peel, get sore, and possibly blister. The best treatment for sunburn is to prevent it from happening in the first place. I use the same type of sun screen you or I would put on. Look for one with a high UV protection rating, too. You can also protect the horses eyes from getting sunburned by having it wear a mask.

It is important that your horse has enough water every day and for you to check that it is drinking its water. Just like any other animal, horses need to drink plenty of water of warm days in order to stay cool and hydrated. If you believe that your horses arent drinking enough water, you can also add electrolytes to their feed.