Blog Layout
Beating the Heat for Equines
Ross Cooper • July 26, 2022
Ross provides some key ways to help your horse in the heat this Summer!
Beating The Heat!
As we see the arrival of true British Summertime weather, the temperature has began to rise and in recent weeks we are regularly seeing numbers in the high twenties. I am never one to complain about the weather, for me it is a waste of energy, so I always enjoy what we are given, rain or shine!
Though when it comes to our equines and a warning of extreme heat, there are some adaptations we need to consider for the welfare of our horses, and all our animals. Remember, missing a ride won’t kill your horse, just like missing a walk will not kill your dog. Below are a few key considerations to help you beat the heat this Summer!
- Ensure equines have access to clean, fresh water at home at all times, and if you are travelling.
- If travelling, take your own water with you; horses can be sensitive to the change in water PH and taste.
- Provide optional electrolytes and salt alongside clean fresh water to aid rehydration; some horses don’t like the taste so always give them an option.
- Cooling down your horse by soaking them with water will not fry them as myths may say, it will actually help them!
- If you must travel, ensure the box is well ventilated, ideally kept in the shade and allowed to air with the doors open before any loading; asking your horse to walk in to a furnace as soon as the doors are open is not best practise.
- In high temperatures and extreme heat, I would advise not to travel at all, I put welfare over competition every single time. If you must travel, be aware the temperature within the box can increase rapidly, even with good ventilation.
- Make sure your horse always access to shade and shelter; this is a must year round, but more important in the sun and hotter weather, as this is prime time horses tend to seek the shade.
- It takes horses approximately two weeks to adapt to a 10 degree drastic change in temperature, therefore ensure you adapt your horses exercise and management routine to reflect this.
- Include the cooler times of the day, if they are not acclimatised, when exercising your horse, and accommodate a reduction and adaptation to the training programme.
- Avoid using oil-based products in the sunlight
- Protect those little pink noses using a UV fly mask and sun-cream.
- Be aware horses are individuals, so do what is right for your horse.
- Sometimes keeping your horse in a stable with no air flow is worse than allowing them to find a breeze and comfortable place to rest in the paddock.
- Continuously check in that your horse is hydrated using the skin pinch test around the shoulder; the skin should be elastic and snap back; the more this response is delayed, the more dehydrated your horse is.
- Signs of the onset of dehydration and heatstroke include; lethargy, nostril flaring, increased breathing and pulse rate, excessive sweating, raised temperature, dark urine, red mucous membranes and thick saliva. If you are concerned your horse is starting to suffer from heat exhaustion, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Please do not let your horse get to this stage.
Most importantly, be sensible, keep hydrated and enjoy the Summer!
No Ordinary Horse Podcast, Episode 13 with Ross Cooper
Connection Misdirection?
Do You Know When NOT To Ride?
The September edition of Horsemanship Journal features Badger's first cover photo, and one of my favourite images to date! This latest issue features more on the Unbridled Connection Retreat, the pro's and con's of rugging, and my latest article 'The Zim Diaries', talking about the convergence of conservation and horsemanship.
The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa, for he has so much to look forward to.” - Richard Mullin So, after two years in the planning, we finally made it to Zimbabwe to partake in an equine and wildlife conservation project! Two years ago in the midst of the pandemic, I wanted to organise something special for a group of my clients and those interested in working with me after an unsettling few years; a little something to look forward to where we could make a difference; this combines my passions of horsemanship, conservation and wildlife all in one! For the week we had planned a personalised itinerary where I would be facilitating daily clinics and workshops with the bush horses as part of the project; aside from this, we will be getting hands on with important aspects of conservation including assisting with their Black Rhino and Elephant conservation programme on the reserve! Now I am back, the time spent in Zimbabwe was such an incredible experience, how could it not of been! I would class myself as very fortunate to visit a country like Africa again, especially after so much uncertainty over the pandemic, though most of all, to be able to share how special Africa is with such an awesome group of people who wanted to join me there, for horsemanship and conservation. We really could not of asked for better company, so thank you to all who came along! Throughout this blog, you will find snippets from my journal, social media and aspects of what we all got up to working with the bush horses in Zimbabwe, from teaching the early morning clinics and the accessibility of training, to how horses benefit game management conservancies. As the week heavily focused around conservation, I will naturally be including some of the conservation roles we got involved in to help raise awareness of the trails and tribulations the natural world still continues to face. Happy reading y'all!
10 Things Your Horse Wants You To Know..
When I Can Hear You From Madeira...
Results; does it matter how you get them?
Located in the North Atlantic is a small cluster of Islands, with the largest of the sleepy Islands known as Madeira. Madeira, with it's capital of Funchal, is a beautiful volcanic island belonging to Portugal since it's discovery in the 1400's. With it's warm climate year round, sometimes known as the 'Island of eternal Spring', it seemed like the perfect escape for a few days in March!
Grab your snowshoes and sunglasses, you’ll need them both in Iceland! Iceland had been on the wanderlust list for some time, always seeming like one of those places that belongs on a far-away planet than a short plane ride away. So, instead of ‘lusting, I booked a weekend trip for my girlfriend and myself, for our first trip of the year! Let's see how we got on!
