For most of us the summer months are the easiest and cheapest when it comes to caring for our horses. It's important to continue
For most of us, summer is the easiest (and cheapest!) season when caring for our horses. It's important to correctly manage our horses still to keep them healthy, sound and feeling well - not just chucking them out in the field! Heat, flies and hard ground are the main causes for any health concerns through the summer, so correct management throughout will keep us in the saddle and enjoying our horses.
Summer Care Checklist
It's time to enjoy all of the hard work you've put in when getting your horse fit and ready to go competing. Follow our summer care checklist to support your horse's health, keeping him sound and in tip-top condition, ready to perform at his best.
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Health checks:
- Keep hooves healthy and moisturised to prevent them from drying and cracking
- Summer worming
- Weigh and condition score your horse
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Seasonal conditions:
- Protect your horse from flies and biting insects - they are at their worst through the summer, so consider protecting your horse with a fly mask and/or rug
- Use an effective insect/fly repellent
- Consider stabling your horse through the day, away from the worst of the flies and the heat
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Skin & coat care:
- Horses with pink or sensitive skin may need suncream applying to sensitive areas to prevent sunburn
- Use a UV protective fly rug and fly mask to protect sensitive-skinned horses and to prevent dark coats from bleaching
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Re-evaluate nutrition:
- Supplementary feeding may be needed when we are riding and competing more through the summer
- Keep an eye on grass growth slowing in the heat of the summer - you may need to supplement grazing with hay
- It's really important to offer enough fresh water - an average horse can drink 50 litres of water in hot weather
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Routine changes:
- If you decide to stable your horse through the day, make the change gradual and try to leave other horses in at the same time to prevent stress
- Consider exercising your horse early morning or late evening to keep out of the heat
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Field management:
- Grass growth may slow down through the heat of the summer, especially if it's dry
- Manage weeds and poisonous plants with sprays and a ragwort fork to prevent them from wreaking havoc
- Allow horses access to shade as much as you can: field shelters, hedges and trees will help to keep your horse cool
- Ample fresh water should be available and regularly checked
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Prepare your kit:
- If you're doing a lot of jumping/cross country, it's worth considering using ice boots to cool the legs (if you don't already)
- Fly masks and fly rugs will get heavy use through the summer - it may be worth having a spare
- Waterproof fly rugs are a great option for changeable days
