🌞 How to Keep Your Horses Cool During High Temperatures

Summer can be a wonderful time to enjoy the outdoors with your horse—but when the temperatures soar, it’s essential to take extra precautions to keep your equine partner safe, healthy, and comfortable. Horses are surprisingly resilient, but they can struggle to regulate their body temperature in extreme heat, which can lead to dehydration, heat stress, or even heatstroke.

Here are some practical, effective ways to help your horse stay cool during hot weather:

1. Provide Plenty of Fresh, Clean Water
Hydration is the most important factor in heat management. Horses can drink between 20–55 litres (5–14 gallons) of water per day, and even more during hot weather or intense work.

Check water troughs and buckets multiple times a day.

Keep water cool and clean to encourage drinking.

Consider adding electrolytes (with vet guidance) to replace lost minerals during heavy sweating.

2. Offer Shade or Shelter
If your horse is turned out, make sure they have access to natural shade (trees) or a field shelter.

Shade is critical during the peak heat hours between 11am and 3pm.

Some horses will stand in direct sun even when shade is available, so monitor them and bring them in if needed.

3. Turn Out During Cooler Hours
Avoid turnout during the hottest parts of the day. Instead:

Turn out early in the morning or later in the evening.

Keep horses stabled during midday if possible, with good ventilation and fly protection.

4. Provide Good Ventilation in Stables
Stables can get stuffy and trap heat.

Keep doors and windows open for cross-ventilation.

Use fans (safely secured and away from chewing!) to keep air moving.

Remove rugs or sheets unless absolutely necessary.

5. Use Cooling Techniques After Exercise
Horses cool down best through evaporation and convection.

Hose them down with cool water, focusing on the neck, chest, and large muscle groups.

Scrape off excess water with a sweat scraper to prevent insulation.

Walk them in the shade or under fans to aid in cooling.

6. Limit Intense Exercise
When it's very hot and humid, consider skipping heavy training.

Work in the early morning or late evening.

Reduce intensity, allow for frequent breaks, and monitor for signs of overheating: heavy breathing, excessive sweating, dullness, or reluctance to move.

7. Watch for Heat Stress or Heatstroke
Know the warning signs:

High rectal temperature (above 39.5°C / 103°F)

Rapid breathing or panting

Irregular heart rate

Weakness, stumbling, or refusal to eat/drink

If you suspect heatstroke, call your vet immediately, move the horse into the shade, and begin cooling efforts.

8. Adjust Feeding if Necessary
Horses eat less in hot weather, and high-energy feeds can increase internal heat.

Offer wet feeds or soaked hay to increase hydration.

Provide access to a salt lick or electrolyte supplement to help with mineral loss.

In Summary
Hot weather doesn’t have to mean high risk, as long as you're prepared. With thoughtful management, regular observation, and a flexible routine, you can help your horse enjoy summer safely and comfortably.

Remember: if you're hot and uncomfortable, your horse likely is too. Stay cool, and ride smart!