Water is Key
Your horse loses water through annoying sweating.
Therefore, make sure to provide your horse with up to 80 liters of water on hot days – it sounds like a lot, but it is necessary to protect your favorite from dehydration.
To be sure your horse is not suffering from water deficiency, there is a simple method:
Pinch a fold on the straightened horse’s neck and release it. If the fold does not disappear immediately but slowly returns, your horse might be dehydrated. Digestive disorders, loss of appetite, and weakness are further signs.
Electrolytes, Our Friend and Helper
Along with water, important minerals are lost through sweating.
With a high loss, your favorite can become weak, suffering from fatigue and exhaustion or, in extreme cases, muscle weakness and organ failure.
To protect your horse from these consequences, administer additional electrolytes.
Effol’s electrolyte syrup is easy to use as it can simply be mixed with the feed.
It is important that you offer the electrolytes before the water so your horse can absorb the substances better.
And a little tip: you can also feed the electrolytes 24 hours before a competition to ensure a perfect start on a hot summer day.
Summer? – Only in the Shade, Please!
To keep your favorite cool-headed, let him stand in the stable or under a shelter.
The time of day is also crucial; move your horse preferably during cooler times like morning or evening once the temperatures have dropped.
A ride at sunrise or sunset can also be very nice.
However, insects also prefer cooler temperatures; especially in the morning, horseflies and mosquitoes are active. Protect your horse with a Fly Rug, Fly Mask, and insect spray.
During training, retreat to an indoor arena if available and make sure to give your horse enough rest breaks.
Airy Instead of Sweaty
You probably know it: the area under the Saddle Pad, the Bridle, or on the legs under the Brushing Boots is always particularly damp in summer.
Sweating cannot be completely avoided, but special materials and products make summer easier for our four-legged friends.
Make sure to use a Saddle Pad made of breathable Material. The 3D AIR EFFECT FLEXI Dressage Saddle Pad is a good choice here; the mesh fabric promotes excellent air circulation.
In extreme heat, you should avoid bandaging; to still provide protection, you can use breathable Brushing Boots.
Fancy a Cool Down?
A cool shower after riding will definitely do your four-legged friend good. Make sure the water is lukewarm, as cold water can cause tension.
Start at the hind legs from bottom to top. Only wet the kidney area on hot days.
Since few horses allow a water stream on the head and there is a risk of water entering the ears, it is best to use a soft sponge.
After the well-deserved cool down, remove excess water with a sweat scraper and dry your horse a bit before putting him in the stall.
You can also visit a shallow lake with your horse. Besides the cooling effect, you and your horse will surely have a lot of fun.
With these tips, you and your favorite will definitely survive the hot summer days!
