July 25, 2025
With summer finally in full swing, temperatures in the region are at their hottest. For us humans, that means fun days playing in the water and cooling off in the air-conditioned indoors with a tasty frozen treat. However, for our equine friends here at Longmeadow, cooling off isn’t as simple as a cannonball into the pool. Here are our tips to help keep horses cool during the summer.
You can lead a horse to water and make sure it drinks
The Longmeadow horses that live our in the pastures, because of generous gifts from multiple donors, have access to automatic waterers. These systems deliver fresh, cool water while continuously refilling, so the animals always have water available. Just like people, horses need to stay hydrated to regulate their body temperature during the hot summer months.
Early birds get the worm and stay out of the heat
As the days get hotter and longer, it is important to be cautious when doing strenuous exercise in the heat. Our trainers must decide daily if the combination of air temperature and humidity is too high for horses to be ridden. If that’s the case, they find other ways to provide training, like teaching them to accept a shower from the hose or spray bottle and walk through a creek. Or they may just get the day off from work on those days. At home, you could consider just a grooming session or hand grazing your horse — both great options to bond with your companion.
Fans have some serious horsepower
Another great way to keep equines cool is with shade and air circulation. It is important for equines to have the opportunity to seek shade, if outside, to cool down and give their skin a break from the sun. Along with shade, air circulation is important. At Longmeadow, our barns have large doorways that allow for generous airflow. They are equipped with fans to help keep the air moving and bring the temperature inside the barns down.
While our horses can’t do cannonballs, they still know how to make a splash
A dip in the pool on a hot summer day is unmatched. For our equine friends, a cold shower is the same! Hosing a horse down on their neck, chest, and leg areas with cold water helps to cool their overall body temperature as those areas are known to have major blood vessels.
Additional ways to help keep your equine friend cool:
- Frozen blocks of ice with small pieces of treats inside
- Horses that are unable to shed a heavy coat will benefit from a complete body clip.
- Make sure to provide free access to salt in your pasture and stalls. Your horses might benefit from additional electrolytes added to their feed.
- Check on your horse to make sure they are sweating and breathing normally.
- If your horse is struggling in the heat, contact your veterinarian for an evaluation right away.
