Beautiful warm weather is something we all enjoy. There are lots of ways we can help our horses during warm spells, such as turning out when it’s cooler, avoiding exercise in the hottest part of the day and watching out for sunburn! Here are some top tips from our expert team on feeding during hot weather.

  1. Ensure your horse has access to clean, fresh water throughout the day. Some horses turn their noses up at new water sources, so consider carrying a small water container with you when travelling your horse away from home to ensure he keeps drinking and stays hydrated!
  1. Clean water buckets and field tanks regularly. Bacteria and algae will grow more rapidly during hot weather.
  1. Keep an eye on your horses feed intake. Some horses will go off their feed during very hot weather. Keep meal sizes small and spread throughout the day. Uneaten feed can go off in hot weather so ensure any old feed is removed from the feed pot before providing the next meal.
  1. Provide electrolytes in the evening feed during hot weather or after heavy sweating. Electrolytes will aid hydration and help recovery after exercise. Electrolytes can alternatively be added to water but ensure your horse is used to the taste so that water intake is not decreased as a result!
  1. Store feed and supplements in a cool, dry, dark place. This is particularly important for high oil products which are more susceptible to going off when exposed to sunlight and high temperatures.