Tips for Beating the Heat from Equiery Readers


We are deep into the summer and that means things are heating up here in Maryland! Summer in Maryland also means kids riding outside at summer camps, riders of all ages competing across the state and recreational riders hitting the trails more often with the longer daylight hours. So how do we be sure to keep ourselves and our horses cool during these summer months? See below some helpful tips from Equiery read- ers! Want to add your own tip? Email editor@ equiery.com.


Tips to Keep Riders & Horses Cool


1. Ride and do barn chores early in the morning and late evening when possible.


2. Avoid riding altogether if the combined tem- perature and humidity is above 150 degrees.


3. Keep reusable water bottles half full in the freezer and then fill with more water when tak- ing them out to drink.


4. Make sure horses have access to cool, fresh water at all times.


5. Provide salt blocks or supplement salt to en- courage horses to drink more.


6. Set up fans near the edge of the arena and take breaks in front of them when riding.


7. Keep rides light and short.


8. Hose down your horse before you ride and then ride while your horse is still wet to help keep them cool while they naturally dry.


9. Bathe your horse after you ride with cold run- ning water and let the horse air dry.


10. Shade! Ride in a covered, well-ventilated arena or in a shaded field or trails.


11. Be sure horses have access to shade when out on pasture too.


12. If horses are in stalls during the day, be sure the barn is well ventilated with doors and win- dows open. Fans are a great way to keep air mov- ing as well. (For fire safety, use only sealed motor fans approved for agricultural use.)


“I take one of my hus- band’s old white long sleeve dress shirts. I completely wet it and then put it on. Keeps me cool while I’m cut- ting grass and pro- tects my skin from the sun too!” – Leah DeR- ocilli (Epona Stables, Elkton)


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“You can use streams and creeks as ‘nature’s aquatreads’ to keep your horse’s muscles work- ing and keep her cool in the water at the same time.” -- Kim Egan (Woodbine)


“Wear a wrap-around neck fan when doing [barn] chores and look forward to winter when I will complain it is too cold!” – Leslie Raulin (Frederick Area Dressage Shows)


“When traveling to shows or other events, fill an in- sulated picnic cooler with ice and add some water. The ice will melt throughout the day, and the cold water can be sponged over your horse as needed.” - Jane Seigler (Dressage at Sundown)


THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION | JULY 2024 | 17


“For horses I’ve made freezer blocks (or a few ice cubes in inside water buckets) for them to lick or play with. Throw in a few fruits (watermelon is a favorite) for them, freeze and set wherever you need when ready. Encourages them to play, stay hydrated, plus a great way to keep them enter- tained if they’re on stall rest too.” – Sam Kaiulani (Ellicott City)


“Katie, Lilly and Lilly hop into horses’ water trough at Starry Night Stables!” – Jamie Dice (Starry Night Stables, Frederick)


“I carry a sponge on a leash when I trail ride. Dip it in a trough, creek or any water source to then run and squeeze it on your horse’s neck. Make sure you desensitize [your horse] before using it.” – Miana Patterson (Roanoke, VA)


“Sunshirts, sunshirts, sunshirts! Great way to stay cool and keep from being sunburnt while doing barn chores, teaching and rid- ing. Fly fishing shirts from outdoors stores are a great and slightly cheaper alternative too.” – Katherine Rizzo (Forward Motion Training, Woodbine)


Erin Gilmore Photography


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