Beat the heat
When summer temperatures soar, our survival guide will help you and your horse to stay cool
Photos: Jon Stroud, Nigel Baker Photography/Shutterstock
Last year’s long heatwave was enough to leave any horse and rider feeling drained. You may remember getting up – practically in the middle of the night – to ride and bring your horse in before the fly fest, or the endless sponging down needed to offer him temporary relief from the relentless heat.
Forecasters are suggesting there could be another hot spell in 2023, so we explore some useful products and management practices to help you and your horse breeze through summer this year.
Help your horse
There’s no time like the present to stock up on useful products to make life more comfortable for your horse through a hot spell. Be sure to include…
• a good quality fly rug and mask (a spare is a good idea, too)
• fly repellent. Buying more than one bottle will allow you to leave one by the field and the other in your grooming kit. It’s a good idea to buy a roll-on fly repellent or gel, too, so you can pop it in your pocket or grooming kit for hacks or taking to shows