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Is Your Horse Ready for the Summer?
As every person who has ever cared for horses knows, a lot goes into ensuring they stay healthy and stress-free to continue performing optimally. During the hotter and more humid months of summer, it’s important to remember that horses require a bit of extra care and attention to fare well in the heat while maintaining their health and performance standards.
During the summer, overheating presents serious health risks to horses, and it can occur as a result of several factors including hot weather and humidity, poor ventilation, prolonged sun exposure, transportation, excessive work, obesity, and a lack of fitness.
Before summertime hits New York in full force, our veterinarians are here to provide you with a few tips to make sure you are well-prepared to care for your horse this summer.
5 Tips for Caring for Your Horse in Summer
1. Provide Plenty of Fresh, Clean Water
Horses cool themselves naturally in hot weather by sweating. As a result, they need to drink more water in warm weather than they do during the cooler times of the year. Make sure yours always has access to a safe water source.
2. Consider Adding Electrolytes
Horses need electrolytes to stay hydrated. These can be added to water. However, it’s important to also provide a source of plain water since some horses do not like the taste of water that has been treated with electrolytes, and they might drink less as a result.
3. Reduce the Intensity and Duration of Work
Foals and horses that are older, obese, or out of shape are more prone to heat stress. Reduce ride time and intensity to protect them from these risks.
4. Provide Shelter From the Sun
Ensure your horses have free access to shade at all times and consider adding fans to stables and barns to improve the airflow.
5. Avoid the Hottest Parts of the Day
Turn out your horse and travel with your horse during the coolest times of the day to avoid the most extreme heat.
Summertime Care for Horses With Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley
At Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley, our veterinarians are highly experienced in ensuring horses stay cool, healthy, and hydrated in the humid summers of New York. We can help you assess the airflow of your stables, your horse’s water intake, and your horse’s electrolyte levels to ensure proper hydration and cooling.
To learn more about seasonal horse care or our comprehensive veterinary services for equids, we welcome you to contact our office in Fishkill today.
