Summer heat is brutal and can lead to severe problems in our four legged buddies, especially if they are training or competing.

 Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and anhidrosis are all common in July and August especially in the southern states.

Dehydration can lead to impaction and possibly big vet bills for fluid therapy or even abdominal surgery. It can also be the trigger event for development of anhidrosis. There are several things we can do to minimize the possibility of these problems.

1.     Make sure you have fresh water available at all times.  It’s difficult to realize how much your horses can drink when the days and nights get hot and humid. Add an extra bucket to their stall or install automatic watering devices. 

2.   Make sure they have a breeze and adequate ventilation. Fans
tend to help keep the air moving and increase the efficiency of their natural cooling system by increasing the evaporation of perspiration, especially if the humidity is high.

3.   Ride at night or early morning to avoid the brutal midday heat. 

4.   Add electrolytes to the drinking water. Sometimes the water away from home tastes funny.  Add a little Kool-Aid to the electrolyte
solution to mask the flavor. Do this occasionally at home to accustom them to the Kool-Aid taste.

5.  Cool them down properly when you’re through riding or
training. The more superficial blood vessels are along the underside of the neck (jugular area) and in inside of all four legs. Bathing your horse with attention to these areas is much more effective than just rinsing them down the topline.

6.  Make sure they have free choice salt. Horses lose a
tremendous amount of salt when sweating. I personally like Redmond’s Real Salt. It contains additional trace minerals as well as potassium, iodine, and magnesium. The little blocks on a rope are perfect when hauling. They can be hung in the trailer or in a stall at a competition.

7.    Most of us, including myself, don’t think as well when we’re melting like a popsicle so think about what you’re doing.  Don’t leave your buddies standing in a hot trailer or tied in the sun with full tack. 

 Enjoy your summer!