Horses

  • Avoid riding during the hottest part of the day where possible. Early morning or late evening is the best time to ride during hot weather.
  • If you are out competing this weekend, keep your horse in the shade when possible. This includes under a tree or in a well-ventilated trailer or lorry.
  • If your horse gets overheated when competing, hosing with cold water is advisable. If you are competing this weekend, take your own water supply with you in case the venue does not have a hose or there is a long queue for the hose.
  • To compensate for losses from sweating, give your horse an electrolyte supplement in water, feed or oral paste in a syringe before and after riding.
  • Sprinkling a handful of table salt onto the feed can encourage a horse to drink more.
  • Soaking hay and wetting feed can also help to increase the daily water intake.
  • Apply sun cream to light-skinned areas of your horse regularly. This includes the nose and tips of the ears which can be particularly sensitive. Make sure to choose a sunscreen formulated specifically for horses and, as with any product, read the label and follow application instructions.
  • If your horse is likely to be in the sun all day and is prone to getting sunburnt then it is worth considering putting a sun-blocking rug, mask or hood on your horse.
  • Fly-sheets and masks are often the simplest solution to protect your horse from flies.
  • There is a huge range of repellents on the market including different sprays and gels. These often need to be reapplied regularly so are not always ideal for horses in the field, but they can work well if you are riding during the day.

  • It is vital to keep horses hydrated on hot days. All stables and fields should have a clean, fresh water supply at all times.
  • If water supplies are dirty horses are a lot less likely to drink from them so make sure to clean them regularly.
  • Keep water buckets out of the sun and change regularly so that the water does not become too warm.
  • If a horse is reluctant to drink one useful tactic is to add something succulent into the water, such as some bite-size pieces of carrot or apple.
  • During this hot weather it is helpful to put horses out in the field at night and keeping them stabled during the day. There are a number of advantages to letting horses out at night, although it might not suit every horse. This will eliminate the risk of sun burn and there are fewer flies out at night.
  • If putting your horse out at night isn’t an option, make sure that when they are out during the day there is plenty of shelter in the field.

    • Riders

  • It is important to keep yourself hydrated when working outside.
  • Drink plenty of water and if necessary take electrolytes or a sports drink.
  • Apply SPF liberally and re-apply often.
  • When you are not wearing a riding hat, wear a baseball cap to protect your head and face from the sun.
  • Wear loose, lightweight, light-coloured clothing.
  • Apply fly repellent often to avoid getting bitten.

    • Dogs

  • It is important to not forget about your other four-legged friends during the warm weather. Dogs can easily suffer from heatstroke during warm weather if they are not managed properly.
  • Symptoms of heatstroke include excessive panting and drooling, very red gums, vomiting or diarrhoea and weakness.

    If left unchecked, heatstroke can be fatal. If you suspect your dog is suffering from heatstroke it is important to contact your vet immediately.

  • Adjust your walking routine by walking your dog early in the morning or late in the evening when the ground is cooler. This will not only protect their paws but be more comfortable for them.
  • If your dog usually runs free around the farm or yard during the day, consider keeping them indoors with windows open or in an outdoor pen that has shade.
  • Dogs need to drink plenty of water during warm weather to prevent dehydration. Providing lots of fresh, clean water is essential.
  • Dogs cool themselves down from the bottom up, so it’s important that their paws and stomach don’t get too hot. Laying out damp towels or blankets for them to lie on is a simple, effective way to keep your dog cool in the heat.