Great tips for making sure your horse stays cool when the heat is on this summer.. (From Hereford Times)

Great tips for making sure your horse stays cool when the heat is on this summer..

9:00am Monday 22nd June 2009 in

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FEELING the heat? British Horse Society welfare executive Emmeline Hannelly advises on dealing with the heat of the summer.

KEEPING COOL “Although the UK does not have high humidity, high temperatures are often experienced during the summer months. If possible it is advisable to ride horses either early in the morning or late in the evening, particularly if strenuous work is to be undertaken.

“However, this isn’t always feasible, particularly when competing your horse. If at a competition try to warmup your horse in a shady area if possible and while waiting to go into the arena try to find some shade to stand in to prevent exposure to direct sunlight.

“After exercise/competition, it is important to cool down the horse as soon as possible. If there is access to shade, keep the horse in that area and begin washing the horse down with cold water using a large sponge.

“Once the water is applied, scrape it off (otherwise the water becomes warm on the horse) and continue to add more cold water, remembering to scrape it off again.

“If there are limited grooms available it is more important to keep adding the cold water, scraping the excess water off less frequently, perhaps every 30 seconds or so. Water can stop being applied to the horse when the horse’s skin feels cool. Packs of ice should not be used to cool the horse as this will restrict the skin blood flow for that area and therefore inhibit the removal of heat.

“It is important that the horse is offered the opportunity to drink to replace the fluid lost which therefore promotes recovery. At first the horse should be offered a small amount (half a bucket) of water. Horses should NOT be given ice-cold water to drink. As the horse continues to cool down, small amounts of water should continue to be offered until the horse has fully recovered.

“Electrolyte losses will also need to be replaced due to the fluid lost via sweating.

Electrolytes can be added to the horse’s water or feed.

“On hot summer days it is important for field-kept horses to have access to shade and shelter away from the direct sunlight. If such facilities are not accessible it is advised that horses are kept stabled during the hours of peak temperatures.

“At all times it is essential that clean fresh water is available, as even during rest the body will be working to help keep the horse cool.”

BUZZ OFF “There are many fly repellents, summer sheets and fly masks available on the market today aiming to protect the horse from fly bites and from flies constantly landing on the horse.

“Horses suffering from Sweet Itch require extra protection and care.

Specialist creams and rugs are available to provide protection against the condition, which is an allergic reaction to the saliva of biting midges.”

SUNBURN “Horses, like humans, are also prone to being sunburnt especially horses with pink or white areas. It is important that these areas are protected from becoming burnt, which can lead to sores and open wounds. Sun cream designed specifically for horses is available on the market.”

■ To get the most from your hacking the BHS offers the following advice: BE PREPARED

■ Make sure you and your horse are sufficiently fit and equipped.

■ Ensure that your horse’s tack is wellfitting and not in need of repair.

■ A well-fitting helmet approved to the latest safety standards should always be worn. Current hat standards are PAS 015, BSEN 1384, ASTM F1163 and Snell E2001. The hat should also show either a BSi KITE mark or the American equivalent, the SEI mark.

■ The British Horse Society recommends that hi-viz gear is worn on both the horse and the rider. A driver can see a rider wearing hi-viz wear three seconds sooner than they can see a rider without – this is three seconds which could save your life.

■ What else you should take with you depends on the length of your hack and the time of year. It is usually a good idea to take windproof and waterproof clothing for yourself. A bum bag containing a hoof pick, a penknife and binder twine for tying up poor gates is a useful extra.

■ Additional items such as basic first aid for horse and rider – a sachet of antiseptic, insect repellent, sterilised dressings, plasters, bandages – and a s u r v i v a l b a g m a y b e n e c e s s a r y f o r longer rides.

■ With the summer approaching it is important to take extra precautions before making the most of the better weather.

■ A holder for a water bottle that is attached to the saddle is a sensible consideration in hot weather. On a long ride, a sponge tied to the saddle can be used to cool the horse when fording streams.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

■ Are you going on a long-distance e x p e d i t i o n , o r a h a c k a r o u n d y o u r town? The British Horse Society recommends you use an Ordnance Survey map to plan your route and that you take the map with with you – a map holder is available from the BHS bookshop.

You should also take a compass and know how to use them both.

■ Make use of Ride UK (ride-uk.org.uk) and Emagin (emagin.org.uk). Ride UK is a directory of promoted routes (long and short) and Emagin is The British H o r s e S o c i e t y ’ s n e w g e o g r a p h i c a l information system. The BHS hopes to launch Emagin online next year and when this point is reached, members of the public will be able to view a wealth of BHS information, and specific comprehensive data on equestrian access throughout the UK and Ireland.