Summer Horse Care Tips

Summer is a beautiful time of year, but hot weather can be tough on animals and cause overheating, especially if they are out of shape and have long, thick coats.

Just like humans, horses are sensitive to heat. Extreme summer heat and sunlight can be dangerous for horses resulting in dehydration, lethargy, and general malaise.

Here are a few tips to keep your animal healthy and safe during the summer season!

Hydrate

An average horse needs at least 5 gallons of water a day for body maintenance. This can easily double or triple when working hard in hot weather, so ensure your horse is hydrated throughout summer. Keep several available water sources and refill the buckets or troughs with fresh water daily. Also, troughs may be more likely to harbor algae, or the water will turn stagnant when it is warm, so clean the troughs and buckets more often. If you are going out for a longer ride, consider the water need of your horse.

Protect Against Bugs

Mosquitos and flies are everywhere and annoy horses during the summer season. To keep mosquitos away, get rid of any standing, stagnant water in your horse’s stable or water trough. If you must keep your horse’s water standing in the barn or paddock, you can add some apple cider vinegar to it. To keep the flies from bothering your horse, muck out regularly, and consider using a fly mask or a fly sheet.

Replenish Minerals

When they sweat more, horses need more minerals for their body maintenance. Don’t forget to provide them with some salt blocks in the paddock.

Prioritize Shade

If your horse lives outdoors or must be outside during the daytime, provide shelter to relieve them. A run-in shed is the best option, but trees can also provide cool shelter in hot weather. Also, don’t forget that white and gray horses are even more sensitive to the sun’s dangerous rays. Horses with pink around their muzzles or eyes can suffer from sunburn, so they need more attention in summer.

At Personalized Products, we have the items you need to keep your horse safe and protected from the sun’s harmful rays and pesky summer pests. From custom horse clothing to protective fly gear, you can trust and count on the quality and performance of our products.

Contact us today to learn more about our products and services!