How to Keep Your Horse Cool in Summer: 12 Expert Tips
Posted by Aubry Farmer on 3rd Jul 2025
As riders and horse owners, we wait all year for summer, but it can be a dangerous season for our equine partners. When temperatures soar, horse heat stress can set in faster than many owners realize, leading to dehydration, colic, and even life-threatening heat stroke. Below you’ll find a comprehensive, 1,500-word guide packed with practical summer horse care tips that answer the big question on everyone’s mind: how to keep a horse cool without sacrificing training goals or pasture time.
As riders and horse owners, we wait all year for summer. Gone are the mornings of busting ice in water troughs, making sure our horse has the right blanket weight for the wind chill, and dreading getting out of our warm beds in the morning. Well, maybe we still do the last part regardless of the time of year. As wonderful as summer usually is - it can be a dangerous season for our equine partners. When temperatures soar, horse heat stress can set in faster than a lot of owners realize, leading to dehydration, colic, and even life-threatening heat stroke. Below, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide packed with practical summer horse care tips that answer the big question on everyone’s mind: how to keep a horse cool without sacrificing training goals or pasture time.
1. Know what “Horse Heat Stress” Looks Like
Heat stress begins when a horse’s core temperature rises above ~102°F (38.9 °C) and natural cooling mechanisms (sweating, respiratory evaporation, and peripheral blood flow) can no longer keep pace. Early warning signs include:
- Profuse or absent sweating
- Elevated respiration (>60 breaths/min)
- Rapid pulse (>60 beats/min)
- Lethargy, stumbling, or “tying-up”
- Dark, concentrated urine or refusal to drink
Left unchecked, heat stress can progress to heat stroke—an emergency that demands immediate veterinary attention.
Pro tip: Use this equine heat index by Mad Barn (air temperature + humidity) to properly track conditions. Once the index climbs above 150, reduce ride intensity and double-check shade, airflow, and hydration
2. The Hydration Hierarchy: Water First, Electrolytes Second
A 1,000-lb (455 kg) horse at rest drinks 6–10 gallons of water daily—and far more in heat or heavy work. Make sure clean, cool (45–64 °F / 7–18 °C) water is always within reach, and scrub tanks more frequently to curb algae growth.
Replacing Sweat Losses
Sweat doesn’t just drain water; it siphons sodium, chloride, potassium, and trace minerals. Even with free-choice salt blocks, performance horses often don’t lick enough to restore what’s lost.
Millbrook Tack Pick:
Add a syringe of the fast-acting Electro-Plex Paste after hard rides or trailering to quickly replenish electrolytes and encourage drinking.
For daily maintenance, sprinkle 1–2 oz of loose salt per 1,000 lb body weight into feed or offer a balanced mineral:
Try Daily Red™ Crushed Mineral Supplement for a convenient source of salt, trace minerals, and Redmond clay that supports digestive health.
3. Shade & Airflow: Design a Cool Micro-Climate
Horses prefer ambient temperatures between 18 °F (-8 °C) and 59 °F (15 °C). Anything hotter, and they rely on shade and airflow to dump body heat.
- Pasture setups: Rotate turn-out to paddocks with ample tree cover or add portable shade shelters.
- Barns: Cross-ventilation is non-negotiable. Install ridge vents, increase fan count, and keep aisles clutter-free to promote air movement.
- Traveling? If you must travel in the heat, park trailers in the shade, open vents, and use battery fans to move air while parked. Always, always, always make sure you’re offering your horse water during travel!
4. Schedule Smarter, Not Harder
Work in the coolest windows: dawn (5–8 AM) and late evening (7–10 PM). If you must train midday, shorten sessions, incorporate walk breaks, and ride in breezy arenas. Use the “4:1 rule”: for every 4 minutes of trot/canter work, give 1 minute of loose-rein walk to promote heat dissipation.
5. Master the Art of the Post-Ride Cool-Down
A strategic cool-down is the single best answer to how to keep a horse cool after exercise:
- Dismount & loosen girth.
- Hose or sponge large muscle groups with cool water (not icy). Continuous water flow dissipates heat fastest.
- Scrape, re-hose, repeat until excess water runs cool.
- Hand-walk 10 minutes in shade or under a fan.
- Monitor rectal temperature; aim for <101.5 °F before stalling or hauling.
Boost Your Bath Game
Swap ordinary shampoos for a formula that actively draws out heat:
Try E3® Cooling & Rejuvenating Shampoo infused with peppermint and tea-tree oil to soothe skin, lift sweat salts, and leave a refreshing tingle that keeps pores open for post-ride cooling.
6. Cold Therapy for Limbs & Tendons
Heat-laden tendons stay inflamed longer, increasing the risk of strains. After strenuous rides or jumping sessions:
- Apply ice boots or cold-water wraps for 15–20 minutes.
- Choose boots with even compression to avoid “cold spots.”
Our pick: Revive by Tough-1 Cooling Tendon Wraps
7. Nutrition Tweaks that Lower Internal “Furnace” Heat
Digesting protein produces more metabolic heat than carbs or fat. Consider these feed strategies (always consult a qualified nutritionist before major diet changes):
8. Skin & Hoof Care When It’s Hot & Humid
- Groom often: Sweat salts trap dust and clog hair follicles. Curry, shampoo, and condition regularly to avoid dermatitis.
- Fly control: Heat invites insects that spread disease and cause stress. Use fly sheets with UV protection and rotate repellents to prevent resistance.
- Hoof moisture: Dry ground can desiccate hooves, while afternoon storms can lead to bacterial “hoof funk.” Maintain a 6–8 week trim cycle and consider topical conditioners.
9. Tack & Equipment Adjustments
Leather stretches in high humidity and shrinks when it dries, causing pressure points.
- Clean & condition after every sweat-soaked ride.
- Check saddle fit monthly in summer; heat can cause small but significant muscle changes.
- Switch pads & leg protection regularly and ensure you’re thoroughly cleaning sweat-soaked gear after your ride - even if it isn’t leather.
10. Pasture & Turn-Out Management
Hot spells often coincide with the “summer slump,” when cool-season grasses lose nutritional value and horses may overgraze in full sun. Rotate to fresh pasture, seed warm-season forages like teff, or supplement with hay to maintain fiber intake without encouraging sun exposure.
For metabolically challenged horses—including those with PPID or insulin resistance—this season requires even more vigilance. Heat-stressed horses are less active and may graze more than usual, so consider using a well-fitted grazing muzzle or restricting turnout to early mornings and late evenings when sugar content in grass is lower.
11. Special Considerations for Horses with Special Needs
Seniors may sweat less efficiently; clip heavy coats and monitor hydration more closely.
Foals dehydrate quickly—check mucous membranes and ensure creep feeders aren’t baking in the sun.
Dark coats absorb more solar radiation; turnout sheets with UV-reflective fabric can reduce radiant heat by up to 30%.
Metabolically challenged horses, including those with PPID or insulin resistance, may struggle to regulate temperature and are more vulnerable to heat-induced laminitis—clip heavy coats if they are struggling to shed out, restrict access to sugary grasses and avoid intense work during hot, humid conditions.
Horses with pink or lightly pigmented skin (especially on the nose or around the eyes) are highly prone to sunburn. Apply equine-safe sunscreen daily and consider UV-blocking fly masks or nose covers for added protection.
12. Build a Summer-Heat Emergency Kit
- Digital thermometer & stethoscope
- Instant ice packs or frozen gel boots
- Electrolyte paste & loose salt
- 5-gal collapsible water bucket for trailering
- Small battery-powered fan
- Copies of veterinarian & farrier numbers
- Spare lead rope & halter
Having these items ready shaves precious minutes in an emergency and lets you act before horse heat stress escalates.
Conclusion: Keep Training, Keep Cool, Keep Thriving
Summer shouldn’t put the brakes on your riding goals. By combining proactive management—ample shade, strategic ride times, tailored nutrition, and targeted cooling products—you’ll not only prevent horse heat stress but also maintain peak performance and wellbeing.
Need supplies to put these summer horse care tips into action? Visit Millbrook Tack in-store or online for clinician-approved solutions.