Our ponies handle the heat pretty well because they can sweat easily. This weekend, temperatures are expected to reach around 30 degrees, so here are a few tips to keep your pony as comfortable as possible.
Driving
Make it easier on your horse by riding either early in the morning or late in the evening. It's cooler then, and you won't be riding in direct sunlight.
Water
A horse drinks 30–35 liters of water a day. On hot days, this amount can double. Make sure your horse has plenty of clean, fresh water to drink. Do you think your horse isn’t drinking enough? If so, add a splash of apple juice to the water.
Shadow
Take a good look at your pasture or paddock—can your horse stand in the shade? Make sure the horse has a place to take shelter, or don’t put it outside until the sun goes down. Does your horse have a pink nose? If so, apply sunscreen to it to prevent sunburn.
Cooling
The best way to cool your horse down is to spray it with cold water. Then dry the horse using a sweat scraper. Repeat if necessary.
Minerals
When horses sweat, they lose minerals such as sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium. You can replenish these with a salt block or electrolytes. You can mix electrolytes into their feed or administer them orally.
Competitions/judging events?
For competition organizers, the KNHS has a piece of advice designed to take measures to make the experience as pleasant as possible for the horses and riders.
Source: KNHS / De Hoefslag
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