10 Ways to Keep your Horse Healthy in the Summer
- Appropriate Feed. Your horse’s feed needs change during the summer. ...
- Water. Your horse will obviously need plenty of H2O during the hot summer months. ...
- Salt/Electrolytes. Salt licks and electrolytes are a great addition to your horse’s regular diet, especially in the summer.
- Shade. ...
- Cooling System. ...
- Exercise. ...
- Less Tack. ...
- Extra Bedding. ...
- Fly Control. ...
- Sunscreen. ...
What should I Feed my horse in hot weather?
This is important during hot weather because reducing the heat load of the horse will reduce the energy needed to lower the body temperature, which may reduce calorie and water needs. There are two Legends Performance horse feeds with 10% fat and Legends Race & Complete has 8% fat.
Should I Feed my Horse Grass?
The big message is that spring and summer horse feeding on grass might provide calories in abundance and boost protein levels but it is not more or less balanced from a mineral point of view than any other type of forage so it doesn’t make sense to rely on just calories to maintain optimum health in horses.
Do horses need Hay in the summer months?
“In almost all cases, native pony breeds turned out 24/7 will not need hay supplementation during summer months.” Clare agrees: “If a horse has free access to grass, they usually won’t need forage such as hay to be provided.” What are the signs to look out for that indicate you should be feeding hay?
Do horses need supplements in summer?
This means that some form of supplementation will always have to be fed to horses to balance for optimum mineral ratios even on summer horse feeding. Optimum ratios will allow for optimum absorption and optimum health. Horses evolved to roam, to select from a variety of plants over huge areas which did not get overgrazed.
Do you need to feed horses in the summer?
Most horses' work levels increase during the summer but if your horse is out 24/7 on good grazing the energy from grass alongside micronutrients from a balancer should easily support this. However, if your horse is working harder, additional feed may be needed to meet increased energy demands.
What is the best feed for a hot horse?
The best hay source for providing plenty of fiber without much sugar is grass hay. If the horse is unable to maintain body weight on a straight grass hay diet, grain, fortified with vitamins and minerals, can be added gradually to satisfy his energy requirements.
What should I feed my horse everyday?
Provide plenty of roughage A horse should eat one to two percent of their body weight in roughage every day. Horses who spend much of their time in stalls aren't doing much grazing, but their natural feeding patterns can be replicated by keeping hay in front of them for most of the day.
Can you feed horses when its hot?
Switch to a high-fat feed or add a high-fat supplement. This is important during hot weather because reducing the heat load of the horse will reduce the energy needed to lower the body temperature, which may reduce calorie and water needs.
Does alfalfa make horses hot?
Alfalfa hay will make a horse hot, or crazy. Alfalfa provides a significant amount of calories; however, an excess of calories in any form, whether from alfalfa, grain or oil, without the exercise to burn them, can result in an excessively energetic horse.
Which is better for horses rolled oats or whole oats?
Rolled oats have been completely flattened and are considered easier for horses to eat. Hulled oats have been removed from the husks and are the most nutritious option because everything you're feeding is pure oat seed.
Can horses be fed once a day?
Feeding a horse grain once a day is fine, but horses need a steady supply of forage throughout the day to maintain their health. If your horse is kept in a stall, it's best to feed it hay twice a day in a slow feeder.
Can horses live on grass alone?
In short, yes, all horses can live on grass alone. Healthy grass for grazing needs to be rich in nutrients to keep a horse healthy. Optimal levels of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) need to be present in the grass. Some areas don't have enough protein available.
What is a balanced diet for a horse?
Provide high quality alfalfa or grass roughage with a complementing grain to balance the horse's diet. Feed by weight, not by volume. Always maintain at least half of the ration as roughage, such as hay or grass. Never feed moldy or dusty hay, grass or grain.
What can you give a horse in hot weather?
Forage. Grass is the best food a horse can get in hot, sunny weather as it has a high water content. So, provided your ' field has plenty of shade he's probably better off being out enjoying the fresh grass with his field mates and getting some essential vitamin D from the sun!
How do horses stay cool in the summer?
Provide shade, airflow (use fans) and free access to clean water during hot weather. Avoid riding your horse when the combined air temperature (F) and relative humidity is over 150, especially if the horse is not acclimated to the heat. To cool an overheated horse, sponge it with cool water.
How do I keep my horse cool in extreme heat?
To Treat Heat StressStop your workout. Dismount and prevent your horse from producing even more heat as he exercises. ... Give him a cold water bath. Douse your horse's entire body in very cold water. ... Offer water. ... Find shade. ... Provide a breeze. ... Call your vet.
What can you give a horse in hot weather?
Forage. Grass is the best food a horse can get in hot, sunny weather as it has a high water content. So, provided your ' field has plenty of shade he's probably better off being out enjoying the fresh grass with his field mates and getting some essential vitamin D from the sun!
What is hot feed for horses?
Feed ingredients such as oats, corn, barley, alfalfa and molasses have been identified by horse owners as causing “hyper”, “fizzy” or “hot” horses. Grains contain starch and sugar that may result in large fluctuations in blood sugar and result in mood or behavior changes.
Does barley hay make horses hot?
Many horse owners prefer barley over oats because the former is less likely to trigger “hot” behaviour. It's considered a good feed for putting condition on a horse, but it's certainly not the perfect feed.
Why is my horse hot?
Hot horse behaviour is associated with changes in stress hormones. Cortisol is a stress hormones that has a cascading effect on the horse's body. Chronically elevated cortisol levels in horses are associated with ulcers, colic, and impaired immune function.
What to feed a horse in hot weather?
Following are some feeding tips that can help to decrease the horse's heat load and increase the stamina and health of the show and performance horse during hot weather. Supplement electrolytes to hard-working horses: When horses sweat, the minerals they lose in the greatest amounts are sodium and chloride (commonly known as salt) and potassium. ...
What temperature should a horse be fed in the summer?
Most show and racing seasons occur during the summer season when we experience the hottest weather of the year. The horse has a thermal neutral zone of 68° F, which means that above or below this temperature he has to expend additional energy to warm or cool his body. The major means that the horse uses ...
Why is my horse tired?
One of the most common causes of fatigue in the performance horse is overheating. Keeping the horse well hydrated will insure an adequate amount of water in the horse's body to maintain normal sweating rates to maintain normal body temperature and prevent fatigue. Switch to a high-fat feed or add a high-fat supplement.
How much protein is in alfalfa hay?
Good quality alfalfa hay will contain 17% to over 20% crude protein, so limit the amount of alfalfa hay fed to a maximum of ten pounds daily, or use a good quality grass hay that tests 8 to 10% crude protein for total hay needs, or provide a mixed hay such as timothy/alfalfa or orchard grass/alfalfa that has an intermediate protein level. ...
Why is fat important for horses?
This is important during hot weather because reducing the heat load of the horse will reduce the energy needed to lower the body temperature, ...
How does a horse cool his body?
The major means that the horse uses to cool his body is accomplished by sweating. During hot weather and muscular activity, the horse's body temperature increases and he must increase his sweating rate and respiratory rate to decrease the heat load.
What is the BCS score for a horse?
A proper body condition score (BCS) for a performance or show horse is 4.5 to 5.5 on a scale of 1.0 to 9.0.
How long should horses be stabled?
Clare adds: “If stabled for more than four hours, they will need some forage provided, even if they are overweight, in order to avoid stomach problems. Use the ‘four hour fast’ rule as a guide. “Feeding hay can also help horses who suffer from digestive disturbance on too much or rich grass.
What happens if a horse's pasture is poor?
“If the pasture is poor quality, the horses on the pasture don’t appear to be thriving, include a mare supporting a foal, non-native breeds, equines in hard work, or the weather conditions are particularly ...
Can grass be eaten off in summer?
A paddock can look very short but in summer weather, the grass will still grow and be eaten off as it grows up,” says Kirsten. “This means that the newest shoots of grass, which are the most nutritious, are constantly being eaten.
Can a horse eat hay?
If they are overweight then only a small amount of hay should be fed, haynets can be doubled up so it takes a longer time for the horse to eat the hay and hay can also be soaked to reduce the sugar content,” explains Kirsten. “Ideally, hay should have a sugar content of 11% or less, and if a horse is overweight it should be fed no more than 1.5% ...
What feed should I feed my horse?
For high-strung types, steer clear of feeds containing grains and molasses (starch and sugars). Look for formulated feeds that contain concentrated calories in the form of high fat (at least 10 percent) and highly digestible fiber, such as beet pulp. More laid-back horses can be fed commercial grain formulas.
What to feed a horse that has lost weight?
For high-strung types, steer clear of feeds containing grains and molasses (starch and sugars).
How much hay should I feed my horse?
Add an extra 5 pounds of hay per day to put 50 pounds on your horse in 50 days, or 2 to 3 pounds more of a bagged feed per day (since calories are more concentrated). Again, stick to higher fat/lower starch and sugar concentrates if your horse is excitable or has a condition such as insulin resistance.
How to get rid of a horse on pasture?
Some horses may not like the brown trace-mineral blocks, so plain white blocks are available. Put out at least two per pasture so the horses at the bottom of the pecking order are allowed to access one.
Why is it important to keep horses well watered?
If tanks or buckets run dry, there is a higher likelihood of impaction colic, so keeping your horse well-watered is essential to the health of his digestive tract. Check water daily to make sure it is clean and free of debris.
How much water should a horse drink in the summer?
While horses may drink only 5 to 8 gallons of water per day in the winter, they can drink up to 25 gallons in the summer.
Why does my horse's grass dry out?
This is often the point in the season when pasture grass starts drying out due to heat, not providing as much nutrition as it once did. Keep this in mind when meeting your horse’s higher calorie demands, supplementing with hay and a bagged feed (mixed grain or fat and fiber, depending on the horse).
Can horses eat human food?
While the nutritional needs of a horse are dependant on things like their age and workload some foods can be consumed by all horses regardless of any particular needs they have, whether as part of their daily diet or as occasional treats. There are so many ‘human’ foods that can help your horse which is why I thought I’d write this article.
Do watermelons help horses?
They have vitamin A that can help with eyesight (not that horses need much help with that ), vitamin C that can not only help to improve your horse’s immune system but also speed up the healing of wounds, and vitamin B1 and B6 that can help to give your horse ‘cool’ energy.
Cleansing herbs
Milk thistle – is a super food for protecting, detoxifying and regenerating the liver, one of the most important organs of the human body and your horses body too.
Stimulating herbs
Mint – All mints in the mint family work to improve and clear the senses as well as increase the flow of energy in a very pleasant and uplifting way.
Adaptogen herbs
Adaptogen herbs help the body to “adapt” to stress, fatigue, anxiety and traumas from the external environmental influences or internal imbalance.
Nutritive herbs
Alfalfa – It is one of the oldest cultivated plants for this reason and has been used as the fuel to feed horses for centuries.
When do horses need fresh air?
Fresh Air: When the heat is too high, horses need more fresh air than normal . The air in the barn must be moved during summer. You can use fans to move the air and fill your barn with fresh air. Just pay attention to the horses’ safety when using the fans.
What are the things that annoy horses during the summer?
If you cannot change the schedule, just lighten the work. Minerals: When they sweat more, horses need more minerals for their body maintenance. Don’t forget to provide them some salt blocks in the paddock. Bugs: Mosquitos and flies are everywhere and annoy horses during the summer season.
What type of padding should I use for my horse?
Tack safety: As horses sweat more while exercising during the summer, you should prefer high-quality saddle pads and leg protection boots or wraps for their health. Make sure the saddle pad you use is made of 100% cotton to absorb the sweat and make sure material of the boots you use is breathable.
How to keep flies out of horse water?
To keep the flies from bothering your horse, muck out regularly, and consider using a fly mask or a fly rug.
How much water should a horse drink?
Hydration: For body maintenance, an average horse needs at least 5 gallons of water a day. This can easily double or triple when they’re working hard in hot weather, so make sure your horse is hydrated throughout summer.
What to do if your horse is out for a long ride?
If you are going out for a longer ride, consider the water need of your horse . Shade: If the horse lives outdoors or if he/she must be outside during the day time, provide shelter to relieve them. A run-in shed is the best option but trees can also provide cool shelter in hot weather.
Why do we love summer?
We all love summer because we have more time to ride and care for our horses in long summer days, but as responsible equestrians, we should pay attention to our horses’ health during this season. Just like humans, horses are sensitive to heat.
