An extremely long and dry summer.
For us humans, summer might be lovely – plenty of time outdoors, a relaxed atmosphere, holidays, no muddy mess, and so on.
But for horses, it’s actually quite tough.
- The heat, which takes a lot of energy. Horses are at their best when the temperature is between -5 and 15 degrees.
- The insects, which can cause a lot of stress.
- Grass that is severely stressed by the drought.
- Ensuring they have plenty of fresh water, shade or, better still, a cool stable.
Topping up the water isn’t the same as replenishing it
On a hot day, a horse drinks around 40 to 60 litres. And if it’s sweating – on really hot days (or during training, when it’s a bit warmer) – it often loses quite a lot of fluid through sweat.
What you can always do: make sure plenty of salt is available (Celtic sea salt mixed into a bucket of water is a good option here).
And on days when the horse has really been through a sort of sweat bath – for example, after a strenuous ride, a competition or simply grazing in the field – you can top up with electrolytes.
Stressed grass is sugar grass
This is the tip that shocks most people.
And I don’t want to scare you, because volume matters too (the amount of short grass the horse can eat).
But grass that’s struggling – due to drought, heat or having been grazed bare – will produce extra energy to grow ‘at top speed’. And that means more sugar.
That bare, yellow patch of pasture can contain more sugar than the lush green grass you were so worried about back in May.
So: bare and parched doesn’t automatically mean safe. Sometimes it helps to keep an eye on the fructan index, which you can find on Google. But even better, keep a close eye on your horse: for example, is your horse often bloated after grazing, does the mane become a bit harder than usual, is your horse tiring more quickly, walking a bit stiffly, showing less energy, and so on? These are all warning signs that you need to take action, such as letting your horse graze on shorter grass for a shorter time, or supporting them with herbs or supplements.
The skin works overtime all summer long
Insects, sun, sweat, itching.
A rug helps. But a rug does nothing to address what’s happening on the inside. The skin needs building blocks such as zinc, sulphur, certain amino acids and proteins, and a body that can efficiently eliminate waste products.
Does your horse get itchy around this time every year? Then next spring is the perfect time to get a head start. But you can still give him a helping hand right now.
If you could do with some tips on this, please do let me know!
I’ve also created a seasonal page with a clear overview of all the products that can support your horse through the summer:
👉 Click here for the summer page
And if you’re unsure about your situation, just reply to this email with as many details as possible about your horse (age, breed, symptoms, hay/pasture situation). I’ll be happy to think through the options with you, as that’s something I enjoy doing.
Warm horse-related regards, Karin
Comments