The temperatures are soaring, and the heat is brutal. How can we help our horses?
◆︎ Water and Feed
Horses cool themselves through evaporative cooling, primarily by sweating. Because equine sweat is composed primarily of water and electrolytes, replacing both is critical to keeping your horse’s cooling system functioning properly.
➡ Water: It is important to have fresh, cool water available at all times. Many horses will not drink water that tastes funny, has an algae bloom, or has gotten hot in the sun. To encourage additional water consumption, consider feeding a soupy mash or soaking your horse's hay. If they don’t have a large tank to drink from, nor an automatic waterer, consider hanging a second bucket for additional water. Some people use a new, clean muck bucket to hold plenty of water.
➡ Salt and Electrolytes: Horses lose a tremendous amount of electrolytes when they sweat. Supplement ample salt and electrolytes. This becomes critically important if the heatwave is prolonged. A horse may seem fine the first or second day of a heat spell, but after several days, the cumulative deficit catches up with them. Insufficient electrolytes mean the horse's ability to cool itself will be severely compromised.
➡ Feeding Schedule: The digestion of hay in the hindgut creates a tremendous amount of heat. Consider adjusting your horse’s feeding schedule so that the bulk of their hay is digested at night during the cooler hours.
◆︎ Environment
★ Shade: It is imperative that horses have access to shade. Large, leafy trees are ideal. Barns or run-in sheds are also suitable, but only if they have adequate airflow. Fans and cross-ventilation are important in enclosed areas to prevent them from becoming solar ovens. Installing a misting system can also help drop the temperature.
★ Turnout: If you have paddocks without trees, alter your schedule to use the turnout only during the coolest times of the day. This could be overnight or in the cool early morning hours.
◆︎ Management and Exercise
☛ Transportation: Avoid transporting horses in the heat of the day. A horse trailer is notoriously poorly ventilated and can quickly become a metal oven. If transport is absolutely necessary, consider doing it late at night or very early in the morning.
☛ Exercise: Exercise quickly builds up internal core heat from the contraction of large muscle groups. Consider restricting all riding and training to the early morning hours, or in the evening after it cools down.
☛ Body Condition: If a senior horse has a long, thick coat due to PPID (Cushing's Disease), it is kind to give them a full-body clip. Removing that excess hair is important for allowing sweat to evaporate from the skin.
◆︎ Emergency: Recognizing Overheating
If your horse is overheating, it’s important to take immediate action. Signs of heat distress include an elevated heart rate, heavy blowing or heaving flanks, lethargy, stumbling, and an elevated rectal temperature.
The very first step is continuous cold-water hosing. This does not mean just getting the horse wet; you must continuously run cold water directly over the large blood vessels in the neck (jugular vein), chest, and the inside of the upper back legs (femoral arteries). This is one of the fastest ways to drop the horse's core temperature.
◆︎ Call a Veterinarian If your horse continues to exhibit signs of heat stress despite hosing, or if they stop sweating entirely, call your vet immediately. This can be a life-threatening emergency.
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Disclaimer: Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.
©Joan Kulifay, MSc. 2026