Across North America, the dog days of summer are still upon us, bringing intensely hot days along with hot summer nights. In southwest Idaho where I live, we are heading towards a record-breaking 25 days of triple digit temperatures and we’re currently hotter than in Arizona. The challenge this poses to horse keeping are immense—just accomplishing chores in 90+ degrees is a big deal, let alone riding or providing other care.
I recently held an informal poll on the Horses for Clean Water Facebook page to get a sense of how the horse community makes the summer weather more bearable. Check out this selection of submitted answers for some ideas to help you and your equine companions beat the heat.
Heidi Garbe, Texas: “UV sleeves for people are a tremendous help. Port-a-cool fans are great for any horses stuck in stalls!”
Tania Partridge, Washington: “Sprinklers in pasture. Fan in Paddocks. Ryobi makes a battery-operated bucket mister fan.”
Stephanie Jackson: “I always have sprinklers going in the pasture for the horses and cows and I don’t ride in the heat.”
Nancy Schmechel, Central Texas: “1 Tbsp salt a.m. and p.m. in addition to a (free-choice) salt lick, soaking hay in hay net (for extra hydration), horses inside in the shade of barn from 12-5 pm, grooming to remove salt and dirt from coat (using a Magic Brush), feeding from hay bags outside in pasture, Kool Kurtins to cut heat and light and bugs from barn aisle and stalls, water troughs in shade (less algae will grow in them), close off stall doors to block out heat, fans where you have electricity. For people: drink 1 liter of water an hour if temperatures are 100+ and you are working outside similar to hiking, [wear a] loose, sun-protective fishing shirt, broad-rimmed hat, dark sunglasses, be sure to eat as well as drink, nuts and snacks are good for energy in the afternoon. Do all your heavy, physical tasks in the early morning such as moving hay or mucking stalls.”
Kris Troxel, Southwestern Idaho: “Simple approaches – shade, airflow, lots of water access, only ride during cool hours, fresh feed if possible – if not then water down hay to avoid colic (from dehydration).”
Jamece V., southwestern Idaho: “Early morning and late evening chores and riding. Fans for stalls and cold, fresh water for horses to drink. This year we added misters for the horses, too. Stormy will even push her food to even eat under the misters!”
Joanne, northeastern Washington: “Not my idea, but I saw a suggestion of sprinkling bags of cubed ice down the middle of the shavings it you are hauling horses in the heat to help cool the trailer. Haven’t tried it, but sounds like a great idea.”
Dana Lovell, southern Idaho: “Chilly Sport cooling neck towel soaked in ice water.”
Brittany Ayres, central Oregon: “Weaver Cool Aid icing and cooling products for horses like polo wraps, neck wraps, and sheets. All chemical-free cooling. Misters for horses outdoors and indoors. Ice in water troughs. High velocity, enclosed motor fans for stalls or barn aisles. Do chores and ride either early or late in the day. Add shade and airflow however possible. Consider adding electrolytes. Sunshades for horses. And frequent hose down bathes also are great for cooling horses!”
Helyn Hasse, southwest Idaho: “Cooling vests work for about an hour for those of us with heat intolerance. Drink lots of water and learn and be aware of your individual limits of heat tolerance. For me getting up at the crack of dawn (for chores or riding) is the only way to exist during the HOT summer days.”
Jeanine Kern, western Washington: “I changed up the turnout schedule for my horse. Out at the crack of dawn, then bring him in when it hits 80-85 for “brunch”. I rinse him off before dinner and then he goes into the evening comfortable and cool.”
Stephanie Nelson, central Idaho: “I’m pleased with the Hilason sun/fly sheet. My horse is cool underneath, even in this heat. I don’t use the belly band, it’s the only place I find sweat. The sheet stays in place nicely.”
Patricia Cosgrove, Western Washington: “Along with all the stuff mentioned here I take off their fly sheets in the morning for turn out. I tried a sprinkler in the paddock but when turned off the humidity rose, so didn’t help.”
Mary Ann Shaff, Southeastern Idaho: “I irrigate my pasture during turnout and my horses eat where water spray gets them. It’s 100 degrees today.”
Christine Burns Rickert, western Washington: “I hung shade cloth panels on the run-in shelter. Last year I had to hose all the horses off-and-on all afternoon when it got to 110. (This year) they seem to be doing okay with us being in the upper 90s.”
Cheryl Smith, San Francisco Bay area: “I saddle up my horse and we hang out under a shade tree with a nice breeze.”
Alexis Valenti, western Washington: “I spray the concrete barn aisles with water and turn on the fans.”
Susanne Beutler, Oregon: “I run a hose through the no-climb fence and attach a select-a-spray type sprinkler on the inside, set to a fine spray. I turn the spigot on just slightly, which conserves water but still projects well. One of my horses stands close in and gets blasted directly in his face, one stays a bit further back, one stands just beyond the spray where the air is cool but not wet. And finally we have my hussy mare, who runs through the spray tossing her mane as if it were a wet t-shirt contest.”
Joan Deutsch, western Washington: “I try to keep the water tanks clean and cool, so I clean them often and run a cold hose in there for a while every afternoon when they get warm. I also started using one of those round screens with a handle meant to keep grease from splattering from frying pans. It does a great job of scooping out the crud and debris in the water tank, keeping the water a bit cleaner. Any time I think it’s a pain to do this extra work, I remind myself of what happens if they don’t drink enough and colic.”
