Water buffets for horses have gained popularity recently thanks to the hot weather – although hydration is also important in winter – but what are they and why do people use them?

Simply put, water buffets involve offering horses multiple water buckets with different extra ingredients in each. Various retailers sell starter kits with herbs and other additions you can put in clean water buckets.

Independent equine nutritionist Clare MacLeod tells us: “Some owners are interested in using them as a way to offer their horses variety and environment enrichment.”

Offering variety, however, does not mean a horse will self-select particular nutrients in accordance with their needs.

“We have to remember that a number of horses and ponies are harmed every year by eating poisonous plants like acorn and ragwort, and some by eating too much grass,” says Clare.

“Self-selection is a nice idea and it is a good thing to offer horses more choice, but we cannot rely on our horses to always know what is good for them, nor be able to select a balanced diet. Researchers have shown that horses will consistently select a sweetened feed over a balanced feed.”

That said, Clare adds that it can be useful for finding out the flavourings your horse likes.

“Knowing what tastes they like means you can replicate their preferences when you are away from home at riding camps, clinics or competitions, when some horses may be reluctant to drink different water.”

What to put in water buffets for horses

Herbs that are commonly added to water buffets include:

• Chamomile
• Ginger
• Turmeric
• Peppermint
• Cleavers
• Fenugreek
• Rosehips
• Dandelions
• Aniseed
• Fennel
• Cinnamon
• Garlic 
• Spirulina
• Cider apple vinegar

Other common additions are clays and a variety of mineral salts, and sometimes fruit and vegetable pieces or fruit juice.

Golden rules of setting up a water buffet

Clare says that, at best, a water buffet adds variety and interest to your horse’s day-to-day. At worst, water buffets for horses can be a breeding ground for bacteria and potentially do more harm than good.

Clare’s rules of thumb to follow when setting up a water buffet are:

1. Keep buckets clean

“When I visit yards, I see a lot of water sources that are unclean,” says Clare. “While horses will happily drink from a puddle, there is a distinction to be made between a pool of natural rainwater and a dirty container of water that is stagnant and stale.

“Keeping buckets of water clean is especially important when you start mixing organic matter. You can create a lot of bacteria, which I’m not sure people always realise.”

According to Clare, horses are particularly susceptible to digestive disturbances, such as colic, due to their delicate digestive tracts.

“Therefore, we want to keep contact with preventable bacteria and potential pathogens to a minimum.”

2. Balance the diet

“Everything a horse ingests should be considered as part of a balanced diet,” says Clare.

“We always need to balance the diet first, considering any extras like what's added to water, then consider adding extras like herbs, which are generally added for their properties, and not essential nutrients.

“Speak to an independent nutritionist about what you plan to use if you aren’t sure.”

3. Plain water is essential

Clean, plain water should be offered at all times and as well as water with added ingredients.

Does a water buffet make horses drink more?

Some owners use water buffets to encourage their horses to drink more water, which could help support good hydration and prevent dehydration.

“We have research that tells us horses prefer things that taste sweet,” she says. “So, if you are in a situation where you really need your horse to drink, adding something sweet like apple juice will likely be the most attractive flavouring.

“Of course, you need to be guided by any underlying conditions your horse or pony might have. You wouldn't want to be tipping an unknown amount of sugar into the water of a horse with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), which now often described as insulin dysregulation (ID) or hyperinsulinaemia-associated laminitis (HAL), for example.

“If your main aim is to rehydrate your horse, for example after heavy sweating, then the quickest and most efficient way to do this is with an oral rehydration solution (ORS), which has a very specific electrolyte salt content, at 0.9%.”

While she is for anything that represents positive enrichment in a horse’s environment, Clare adds that owners would benefit from ensuring their time is spent doing so in the best possible way for their horses.

“In some cases, the time spent keeping multiple water buffet buckets clean and fresh every day might be better used taking your horse out for more exercise.”

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

As those living in the UK are in the midst of yet another heatwave, and some water companies have announced hosepipe bans, where does this leave horse owners who are trying to keep horses cool and prevent dehydration?

Currently, some customers of Southern Water, South East Water and Cambridge Water are facing water usage restrictions. Anglian Water customers will also be under restriction from 1am Saturday, 11 July.

Affinity Water has also put a hosepipe ban in place across its Central area, which covers parts of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey and parts of London – this will come into effect on Friday, 17 July.

Other areas are not currently affected, but some water companies, such as Severn Trent, have asked customers to be mindful of their usage and issued guidance on how to reuse water where possible.

Hosepipe ban exemptions?

The good news is that while the rules outlaw the use of hosepipes for washing cars and watering gardens, the use of a hosepipe for the cleaning, maintenance and general wellbeing of any kind of animal is exempt from hosepipe ban rules.

The Government requires that the welfare of animals must be protected at all times, including during a hosepipe ban – or as it is more correctly called a Temporary Use Ban (TUB).

What is allowed during a hosepipe ban?

Examples of what is allowed under the TUB restrictions include:

• Washing horses down with a hosepipe
• Filling up water troughs and buckets with a hosepipe
• Cleaning out lorries, trailers and stables with a hosepipe

As long as you are genuinely using a hosepipe for the welfare of your horse and not abusing the interpretation of these rules, you should have no concerns. Responsible use of water is encouraged at the stables, as it is in your homes, to avoid putting added pressure on the supply during this period of high temperatures with little no rain forecast.

If you’d like further reassurance or information, you can contact your local water company for clarification.

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Top show horse producer Vicky Smith on travelling horses, bitless bridles and hot competitions

With the county shows in full swing it seems busier than ever. Still, on my team we try to take just one or two horses to the busier shows, making it easier to manage for both us humans and for the horses.

Traditionally, county shows fit around the agricultural calendar, explaining perhaps why so many are crammed into such a small space of time. Any date clashes were irrelevant, as on the whole, they were attended by local people showcasing their produce and livestock.

But in this day and age, as so many hold Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifiers, having so many crammed into a short period of time – including several into just one week – poses problems.

A quick scroll on social media alone reveals that this super-busy run of fixtures has people and horses on the road up and down the country chasing qualification tickets.

At Lincolnshire Show, I chatted to John Killingbeck, who was the team vet for the British eventing team for 20 years. Before the Atlanta Olympics, he was involved in the research around transporting horses to the Games. It was concluded that broadly speaking, horses used the same energy and strain for every mile travelled as they would if they were walking there.

This is food for thought as we travel our horses.

It’s particularly worrying in the case of young animals presumably chasing in-hand tickets. For me, such youngsters should be shown a handful of times for education, and qualifying is a bonus. They should not be on a lorry week in, week out.

It’s not just a case of it posing an immediate welfare risk. Showing youngsters excessively also runs the risk of having them grow sick of showing before their ridden careers have even begun.

Welfare first

Without doubt, welfare has rightly become a more pressing issue in equestrian sport and as a result, there’s a rise in the use of bitless bridles. I recently saw footage from the UK’s first bridleless competition with both dressage and showjumping classes. The venue – Merrist Wood – was full to capacity with spectators and the event went viral on social media.

Meanwhile next month, Iverk Show in Ireland plan to host their first bitless showing class. With a prize pot of €350 (£300), it will be interesting to see how it plays out. Is there an appetite for such classes in the broader showing circuit?

I believe that the trend for using driving and strong bits is lessening its grip. But with research suggesting that around 27% of horses have mouths that are unsuitable for even a snaffle bit, I have to ask, is it time for showing to hold stricter rules on harsh bitting?

I know it has been mentioned in previous columns, but I feel I have to remind competitors that we hold full responsibility for showing’s social licence. We must be mindful of how our discipline is portrayed to the public at shows themselves and on social media. A readiness to question practice shows a willingness to prioritise welfare.

In a similar vein, is it time for professionals to question their use of gadgets at home and at competition? This is particularly the case when posted on social media, a space young riders use for inspiration and as a learning tool.

On a more positive note, it has been great to see county shows bending over backwards to ensure equine welfare at their venues during very hot recent weather conditions.

There have been extra hydration points and plenty of guidance for those competing on caring for themselves and their exhibits. Well done to them for adapting in the face of new challenges. We must do the same.

● How and where would you introduce bitless competition to the showing circuit? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events, as well as exclusive insights from top names, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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A competitor’s guide to the 2026 HOYS showing qualifiers

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The best cooler rugs for horses are typically multi-purpose. Their main purpose is to aid cooling after exercise, but they are often also used to keep horses cool while travelling and to speed drying and prevent chilling after bathing.

It is absolutely essential that the best cooler rugs for horses are breathable and possess effective wicking properties to do a good job. Some are even designed to be soaked in water in order to lower your horse’s temperature, we’ve grouped these together – jump down to water-activated cooler rugs for hot weather.

Best cooler rugs for horses

Best water activated cooler rugs for horses

These technical rugs are great for cooling horses down in warm weather, ideal for use as part of your post-cooling exercise routine, those horses who dislike hoses or when water is limited.

This cooling rug is designed to rapidly draw heat away from the horse’s body, providing up to 5.9°C of cooling without soaking your horse. It is made from a high tech, breathable open cell structure material, which is designed to effectively absorb and store water. It has front Velcro, a single belly surcingle with plastic buckle fastening and fillet string for added security. Available with or without a neck cover.

How to use: Just soak in water until it is fully saturated, wring, and drape for comfortable cooling after exercise, travel, or on warm days. It has a contoured and shaped cooling area to cover large muscle groups across the back and hindquarters with direct contact, with lightweight lower mesh panels enhance airflow and evaporation, making the cooling process more efficient.

You can reactivate it with water as many times as needed. Equilibrium advises not allowing the rug to dry out while on your horse.

This water-activated rug is designed to aid gentle surface cooling. It features embedded crystals that absorb cold water, creating a prolonged cooling effect as it evaporates, actively drawing heat away from key muscle groups. Anatomically shaped cooling panels maximise contact across the back and hindquarters, delivering targeted cooling where it’s needed most.

The lightweight breathable mesh shell fabric encourages airflow to aid in heat dissipation and evaporation. It has a single buckle front closure, adjustable single surcingle and soft fillet strap keep the rug secure.

How to use: Before the first use you need to soak the rug for two hours to activate the crystals. It can be re-activated multiple times by soaking in water for up to one hour. LeMieux recommends soaking in water at 15° or lower for optimum cooling effect. Remove the rug from your horse once the cooling crystals have reached ambient body temperature.

This breathable cooling rug uses water to help cool down the horse on hot summer days. This rug is only secured with a clip fastener at the chest and a fillet string. Neck cover available separately.

How to use: The rug comes with a practical bag that can be dipped in a bucket of water along with the rug – then just wring out the rug and lay it on your horse’s back. You can reactivate with water as many times as needed.

What is wicking material?

Wicking material draws moisture away from the body and is frequently used in technical clothing as well as rugs and saddle pads. Wicking moisture away from the body to the top of the fabric (where it can evaporate) helps keep you (or your horse) cool. Wicking material is an essential when it comes to the best cooler rugs.

If you (or your horse) are exercising and the moisture (sweat) isn’t removed, the body won’t be able to cool itself properly, while if you stop exercising and the moisture stays on the skin, the body will get cold.

• For unlimited access to the latest product news, buying guides and reviews, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

The best way to cool horses is sometimes debated in the equestrian community. Thankfully, there is a straight answer to the constant discussion between horse owners of to scrape or not to scrape – and it’s backed by science.

Heat is a major by-product of energy production and muscle function during exercise, with the amount of heat generated increasing in line with the intensity of a horse’s work. Therefore, cooling after the exertion of competition is extra important. But why?

The best way to cool horses can save lives

During exercise, a horse only uses a small proportion of stored energy to work his muscles. The rest is lost as heat through the metabolism of the stored energy. This causes heat build-up in the body, so controlling that body temperature, i.e. cooling the horse, is essential to avoid heat exhaustion.

A horse’s normal core body temperature at rest should be between 37.5°C and 38.5°C. When this rises to a dangerous level above 41°C to 42°C, you will see side effects and signs of heat exhaustion. These can range from excessively high heart and respiratory rates to dehydration, fatigue and poor recovery from exercise.

If left untreated, heat exhaustion can develop into heatstroke — a condition in which the body is unable to regulate its own temperature. This can ultimately lead to multi-organ dysfunction, including kidney and liver failure, abnormal heart rhythm, loss of coordination and, in severe cases, death.

The power of evaporation

Evaporative cooling — losing heat through the skin by sweating — is the most important way a horse controls his body temperature during and after exercise. Water from sweat evaporates into the air, taking heat energy with it.

Additionally, about 30% of heat loss occurs through the lungs and respiratory tract during normal breathing.

These methods of heat loss are at their most efficient when the difference between the skin temperature and the surrounding air temperature is greatest, such as in cool, dry weather.

Cooling by sweat evaporation is less effective in hot and humid conditions, because the surrounding air is already saturated with water. That means the difference between air and skin temperature is minimal, so evaporation is much less effective.

Sweat starts to drip from the body but removes just 5-10% of the heat that would have been lost through evaporation.

Should you scrape a horse off after hosing?

While scraping water off a warm horse will do him no harm, it will slow the cooling process in a dangerously hot horse. Therefore, the best way to cool horses at the end of intense exercise or competition is to apply copious amounts of cold water over his whole body, without scraping it off.

But how does this work?

Research has shown that applying cold water (9°C) to a horse after exercise in hot, humid conditions helps bring core body temperature back down to normal faster than using tepid (31°C) water. Cold water has no negative effect, such as increasing the risk of tying-up.

How to explain the scraping myth? Water is a good conductor of heat, which is why cold water on a hot horse heats up – the horse is losing body heat to the water. Some owners might infer this means that the hot water is insulating the horse, but this isn’t true.

Then, the horse is cooled further as the water evaporates, because evaporation cools the surface the water is sitting on.

Along with a team of researchers, Dr David Marlin undertook extensive study in this area leading up to the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

He says: “When faced with a horse that is moderately to dangerously hot after exercise or a horse that isn’t coping in hot weather even at rest, the most effective and safe way to cool is to apply water all over the body.

“Any water cooler than the horse – ideally less than 25°C – will work. The cooler the water the better and quicker the horse will cool down. The best indicator of body temperature and how effective your cooling is, is actually the horse’s breathing rate and how hot they feel to touch.

“Don’t concentrate on specific areas of the body – just apply water continuously either with buckets or a hose from the neck to the tail. Don’t scrape as this wastes time better served applying more cool or cold water and actually results in the surface warming up.”

How to keep competition horses cool

In addition to continuous cooling by applying cold water without scraping, other good ways to keep horses cool include:

• keeping them in shade as much as possible
• using a misting fan – you’ll find these most often at elite events
• ensuring they appropriately fit – fitness and acclimatisation to local weather conditions are additional key factors in avoiding heat stress
• maintaining a healthy weight and body condition score – an overweight horse will struggle more
• helping with electrolytes – electrolyte supplements help to keep your horse hydrated, and a hydrated horse can cool regulate their temperature better
• using ice boots to cool legs – some evidence states cold therapy has a positive effect on tissue metabolism and enzyme activity when skin temperature is reduced to 10°C or when joints are reduced to 30°C. However, ice must be applied thoughtfully and at reasonable intervals to avoid freezer burn

How to tell if a horse has heatstroke

Ambient temperature and humidity levels in the UK rarely reach those of more tropical climates. However, signs of heat exhaustion are not uncommon in horses competing here in the summer — particularly if the weather suddenly becomes hotter.

Signs of heat exhaustion include:

• prolonged and delayed recovery (beyond 10 to 20 minutes after the end of the competition)
• persistently elevated heart and breathing rates
• continued, excessive sweating
• shaking
• weakness
• loss of awareness of surroundings

Ongoing increases in rectal temperature after the end of exercise are a strong indicator of heat stress and the potential to develop heat stroke.

In its most severe form, this can leave a horse unable to sweat, reluctant to drink water or to walk. It can cause staggering, depression and collapse – even death.

Urgent cooling and appropriate veterinary treatment, including intravenous fluids in some cases, is vital.

Correction: 29 June, 2026

This article was first published on 25 June 2026 and it contained an error that stated Dr David Marlin had published a study showing that cold hosing the legs of leisure horses resulted in reducing the subjects’ temperatures. The study was not published by Dr Marlin and he does not endorse this as a cooling method. His position is that effective cooling involves applying cool of cold water over the horse’s entire body, without scraping the water away between applications.

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Summer horse care hacks are about so much more than keeping cool. During the season, you want to make the most of the long daylight hours with time at yard and streamline your time at home. You want to keep pesky insects away (using the best fly sprays), avoid sun damage (with sun cream for you and sun cream for your horse), and it might be useful to lighten your mental load with some organisation ideas.

Without further ado, here are some of the summer horse care hacks I recommend to guarantee a smoother season. The best part? Some of the bits and pieces I’ve picked out to help you through summer also have discounts as part of Amazon Prime Day, which ends today (26 June).

Summer horse care hacks and tips you need to try

1. Flies, begone!

Don’t worry, I’m not about to tell you to use fly spray – you definitely already know that! But flies don’t just annoy horses, they annoy us too. Therefore, you also deserve insect repellent!

As well as for hacking, I used this Jungle Formula on a trip to India a while back and don’t recall getting bitten at all, so it’s decent stuff.

While you’re at it, why not pick up a magnetic fly curtain to keep winged pests out of your tack room? I have a set that I use to keep bugs out of my home – being able to keep the door open in the evening without stressing about moths and other flies is genuinely amazing.

2. Make aircon a reality

Whether for your tack room or for use at home, a portable air conditioning unit is a must when heatwaves land – and you just know the next one isn’t far away.

I bought this Delonghi compact air conditioner last year and honestly haven’t looked back. I no longer fear a heatwave and get plenty of sleep to be on my A game for my horse. My miniature schnauzer also absolutely loves it, so if you have a lorry dog who needs a cooldown, I would highly recommend.

Portable air cons are a bit of an investment, but I promise your comfort is completely worth it. Or, if you’re not quite ready to commit to several hundreds of pounds, a tower fan (like this one) will certainly tide you over.

3. No more heavy hauling

Have you seen these fold-away carts around and about? Some people load their kids into them, others will trundle a picnic to the park, but I say: these babies belong on the yard.

Pile them with haynets, take them to shows, or finally make it from the tack room or feed room to your horse in the elusive single trip with feed, hay, tack and rugs all safely ensconced within.

4. Cue the music

Long summer days are begging to be spent at the yard. Personally, I love poo-picking as a summer activity, and taking a bluetooth speaker (I have this one) can crank up the good times.

Worried about phone battery? Pack yourself a power bank (like this one) for peace of mind.

5. Get savvy with storage

Winter rugs clogging your tack room? And, at home, are you sick of the sight of your long riding coats and waterproof breeches?

Use these vacuum compaction bags to store them without taking up space. You’re welcome!

Need something to store your rugs in? Check out this massive plastic storage chest.

6. Happy hosing

A hosepipe without an attachment is awkward to use – using your finger over the end only goes so far. Instead, try this hose attachment with loads of settings to cool your horse.

Not only that, there’s a reservoir for your pick of the best horse shampoo that will make bathing your horse easier than ever.

7. I’m a “fan” of this one…

Airflow in the stable is the thing to help keep your horse cool while he’s in. What’s more, a gentle breeze can also disrupt midge flightpaths, meaning they leave your horse alone.

You’ll want a portable fan (like this one) to help achieve this. They can be hung or stood on the floor and many have great battery life, so you don’t need to worry about having any power.

Want to cool down on the go? I just discovered this Shark Chill Pill hi-speed personal misting fan – I can see it being a hit at summer shows like the Royal International. If you want something at a cheaper price point, this personal fan is in the Prime Day sale.

8. Slip, slap, slop

Sun protection is an essential summer horse care hack, but it’s super important for humans, too. I always take suncream with me to the yard on summer days for top-ups, especially to my face.

This viral sun cream is currently in the Prime Day sale and one of my faves.

• For unlimited access to the latest product news, buying guides and reviews, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Equestrian events and fixtures are being cancelled owing to the sweltering June heatwave.

British Showjumping (BS) and British Dressage (BD) have cancelled all competition in areas for which red extreme heat warnings are in place on Wednesday (24 June) and Thursday (25 June).

A BS spokesperson urged riders to check the BS website and social media, as well as venue announcements, before travelling as affected areas can change and some venues where competition is set to start on Friday are limiting arrival times.

“It is very important during this period of hot weather that horses are kept as cool as possible and out of the sun with plenty of access to clean water,” added the BS spokesperson.

A statement from BD said any venues within the red warning area “will be cancelling their BD competition or training activity with immediate effect” to “protect the health and safety of all participants, both equine and human”.

The statement added that riders will be entitled to refunds and venues will have the option to reschedule if they wish.

“For venues running in amber warning areas, a decision will be made on a case-by-case basis as to whether the scheduled competition or training activity can still safely go ahead. If a decision is made to cancel, and a rescheduled date can be arranged, you will be contacted directly in due course,” added the statement.

“Please note that these warnings are subject to change and the Met Office can often update their guidance and advice at short notice to extend the areas covered by red and amber warnings, so we would recommend checking their website regularly.

“As this is the last week of summer qualification and entries are now closed, if the venue chooses to reschedule their dates, please note that only a transfer of existing entries will be offered and no late entries will be accepted.

“We understand that this might be a disappointing and frustrating decision, however the welfare of our competitors, horses and venue staff is always our paramount consideration. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.”

Wednesday’s racing fixtures at Kempton Park, Salisbury, Worcester and Ffos Las have also been abandoned owing to the forecast high temperatures. Three of these courses fall within the red warning zone – Ffos Las is just outside but people would need to travel through the red zone to reach the racecourse. The meetings have all been rescheduled for early next week.

Timings for Thursday’s racing fixtures at Nottingham and Newmarket, both in amber alert zones, have been shifted to start earlier to avoid the hottest part of the day. Nottingham’s card will run from 10.30am to 1pm and Newmarket’s from 10.45am to 1.15pm, and the Dereham Handicap at the latter has been rescheduled for Friday (26 June).

“The [British Horseracing Authority] BHA will continue to liaise with racecourses hosting fixtures in amber warning zones this week to consider any further mitigations that may be needed, in line with the industry’s hot weather policy,” said a BHA spokesperson.

“Each fixture will be managed on a case-by-case basis, with several factors considered according to the local weather forecast and environmental conditions.

“Trainers are advised that horses should not be moved from or through any areas where red heat warnings are in place.”

The Army is amending its ceremonial operations across London and Windsor in light of the red heat alert.

“The wellbeing of our soldiers, military working horses and the public who gather in large numbers to watch these events is always our priority,” said an Army spokesperson.

This means there will be no ceremonial guard changes in London or Windsor on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. On Wednesday, the King’s Life Guard at Horse Guards will change without ceremony at 8am to avoid heat stress to the horses.

Hot weather cancellation policies: what do they say?

Each of the individual governing bodies for horse sport in Britain has its own approach to hot weather.

The BS rule book spells out that “competitions must not take place in extreme weather conditions if the welfare or safety of the horse may be compromised” and that “provision must be made for cooling horses quickly after competing in hot or humid conditions”.

The BHA and BD hot weather policies both feature traffic light-style systems. Racing fixtures are automatically abandoned if they fall within a red warning area, and BD rules state that competition “must be cancelled” in the event of a red weather warning, unless there are extenuating circumstances and it is agreed in advance with BD.

A British Eventing (BE) spokesperson told H&H BE does not operate a Met Office red/amber zone policy or a specific hot weather traffic light system, as its events and venues vary significantly.

“As with any extreme or adverse weather conditions, decisions around whether an event can safely proceed are managed on a case-by-case basis, the BE technical adviser and BE steward working closely with the organiser,” said the spokesperson.

This is echoed in the BE rulebook.

The spokesperson added: “At the moment, we are continuing to monitor forecasts across the UK, particularly at venues hosting events this weekend, and are working closely with organisers to ensure appropriate measures and support are in place. Horse welfare remains our top priority.

“Fortunately, current forecasts suggest temperatures will ease over the weekend, but we are monitoring the situation day by day and continue to encourage all riders and teams to take appropriate steps to keep horses safe in hot weather and prepare carefully for competition.”

Alnwick Ford is the sole BE fixture due to take place before the weekend and is not currently in a red warning or amber alert area.

Farley Hall, in Berkshire, had been set to run some classes on Friday (26 June), but has now moved these to Monday (29 June). Those who are unable to compete on Monday will receive a partial refund through BE’s abandonment support fund.

Farley Hall organiser Stuart Buntine, of BEDE Events, said: “This decision has been made in the best interests of everyone involved with the forecasted temperature for Monday considerably lower than Friday.

“We appreciate that moving the date won’t work for every rider, so all Friday entries will automatically be moved to Monday and those unable to attend on Monday, please contact Josie Brettell josiebrettell@gmail.com by 8pm Wednesday evening.”

Hot weather policies: more information

• More information on the British Dressage hot weather policy and on page 111 of the BD members’ handbook
• BHA hot weather policy
• British Showjumping rule on extreme weather on p96 of the BS handbook

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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How to keep horses cool in a heatwave with helpful tips for instant results

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Various UK regions currently face a Met Office red or amber weather warning this week (23–25 June 2026), so we’ve rounded up some suitable Amazon Prime Day portable fan deals to help you keep your horse cool in the stable along with some other great Prime Day deals for equestrians.

Portable camping fans are rechargeable (usually via USB) and can be mounted on a variety of surfaces. Some attach via a clip, which makes them perfect for stall bars or lorry partitions, although we recommend not transporting horses in hot weather as Defra’s guidance states horses should only be transported in temperatures over 30°C if they are in a temperature-controlled vehicle.

Not only are fans useful for cooling, but they are also effective in preventing midges as they struggle to fly in a strong breeze.

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These floor fans are wall-mountable or can be used outside the stable. Ensure you use a suitable power supply and that all leads and cables are out of the horse’s reach and do not pose a trip hazard.

With much of the UK experiencing intense heat right now, there’s no better time to invest in a fan to help keep your horse comfortable in his stable or when travelling.

• For unlimited access to the latest product news, buying guides and reviews, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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When temperatures rise, ensuring your horse stays cool, comfortable and hydrated on the move becomes a little more complicated. Here’s how to succeed

Travelling horses in hot weather isn’t impossible, but it requires thoughtful preparation to ensure equine welfare is maintained.

In the UK, professional transporters are not allowed to move horses in temperatures exceeding 30°C – and this is a good rule of thumb for private owners to follow.

Tips for travelling horses in hot weather

Here’s how to best ensure equine welfare when transporting horses in hot weather.

1. Do your homework

Try to plan your travel around the weather conditions and avoid travelling during high temperatures and high humidity. If it is unavoidable, pick the times of day when it’s likely to be coolest.

Setting off early in the morning, for example, will make the experience much more pleasant for both you and your horse.

2. Plan ahead

Before setting off, ensure horses are fully hydrated by providing them with unrestricted access to forage and water for at least six hours with plenty of space to rest and relax.

3. What to wear?

While you might usually reach for one of the best travel rugs for a journey, it’s unlikely to be needed in hot weather. Any equipment on the horse’s body may contribute to overheating, the risks are likely to outweigh the benefits on a hot day.

Also consider leg protection. Thick travel boots may cause sweating, when a lighter pair of breathable brushing boots or cross-country boots combined with over-reach boots on all four legs will offer a basic level protection for a horse who typically travels well.

4. Prepare for the worst

While it sounds pessimistic, when travelling by road you just never know when or for how long you might get held up. Therefore, make sure you have plenty of forage and water on board for top-ups to keep your horses happy and healthy, and be confident you know what to do if you find yourself stuck on the road with a horse.

5. Provide good-quality forage

Access to quality forage will help maintain a healthy digestive system and provide an ongoing source of energy, as well as creating a small reservoir of fluid in the horse’s gut to help keep them hydrated.

You could also give a small fibre feed ahead of travel for this reason.

6. Boost airflow

Opening the rear section of a trailer helps draw hot air out while fresh air is pulled in through the windows. But avoid travelling with the front door above the ramp open as there is a risk of flying debris being blow into your horse’s face.

If you have a roof vent, open this at the back, as it also draws warm air up and out of the transport while you are driving. You can also use clip-on portable fans to help keep air circulating.

7. Stick to frequent watering intervals

In normal conditions, horses should be offered water at least every four and a half hours while travelling. In hot weather, that interval should be shorter.

This is at your discretion, but use what you know. How hot and dry is it? Has your horse eaten and drunk well in the hours before setting off? Is he sweaty? Is he overweight? All these factors will help you decide how frequently to stop and offer water.

8. Make water tempting

Anyone who has offered their horse a drink in an unfamiliar place will know that horses can be choosy about the type of container they will drink from and the taste of the water. However, it’s important to stress that this doesn’t mean they’re not thirsty.

If possible, try and take water from home in a large capacity container (like this one) and provide it in a bucket they are used to drinking from.

Additionally, it’s always beneficial to familiarise them to different containers in case you can’t take your own. You can also try flavouring the water with apple juice.

9. Minimise stress

Horses can become dehydrated more quickly when they are stressed or unsettled so try to minimise this wherever possible.

Loading and unloading are two of the main stressors for horses when travelling so make sure you do as much as you can to keep the process calm and relaxed.

Practising often without the pressure of heading to a show or event will help it become second nature.

When you are on a schedule, leave plenty of time to load to avoid time pressure.

Ensure the vehicle is well ventilated and drive carefully to make the journey as comfortable as possible.

10. Prepare for the arrival

As with pre-planning before a journey, it’s just as important to give plentiful forage and water upon arrival at your destination. If you’re travelling to a show or event then make sure your horse has time to relax, graze, eat hay and drink before competing or beginning exercise. You could also feed a rehydration mash.

Risks of travelling horses in hot weather

Dehydration is the greatest risk and can affect any horse.

Signs of dehydration include:

• fatigue
• weakness
• dullness
• loss of performance
• decreased appetite
• abnormal drinking, such as taking longer than usual draughts or gulping
• infrequent urination
• dark urine
• red or congested mucus membranes

Recommended ways to prevent or correct dehydration include:

• making clean, fresh water available at all times
• offering additional water sources with an electrolyte supplement
• administering electrolytes around two hours before travel
• feeding haylage, which has a higher moisture content than hay, or using soaked hay if appropriate
• standing your horse in the shade as much as possible
• offering water after exercise and packing a rehydration mash to administer if necessary

For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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We’re expecting “How to keep horses cool in summer” will be a popular Google search this week. Here in the UK we experienced record temperatures of more than 30ºC in May and some areas are predicted to reach 40ºC this week. How many of you had that on your 2026 bingo card?

A heatwave that early in the year was unusual, and this week will be even more uncomfortable – and dangerous. Therefore, owners need to think about how to keep a horse cool right now, and we’ve got you covered. Here are Horse & Hound’s top tips on for keeping horses cool when things get really hot.

How to keep horses cool when temperatures soar

The number one piece of advice for working horses in hot weather is to exercise them as early in the morning as possible. While the evening could be an option, check your weather app in advance. It can still be well above 25ºC at 9pm in a heatwave, which might not be suitable for you or your horse.

Safe stabling

1. If your horse is normally stabled at night and out during the day, consider reversing his turnout times to avoid the hottest temperatures and the worst of the flies – especially if he has limited shade or shelter in the field.

Before deciding, check his stable isn’t actually more uncomfortable in the heat than his paddock. If there’s poor ventilation and no through breeze, his stable could be very stuffy. Setting up a portable fan out of reach of your horse may help to increase airflow and have a cooling effect.

2. If there is no permanent shelter or tree cover in your horse’s paddock, but you’d like him to stay out, you could use some sheeting to rig up a safe, temporary area of shade so he has the option.

Turnout tips

3. A light coloured fly rug or summer sheet works better than a dark coloured one for keeping the horse cool, because white is best for reflecting the sun’s heat.

A rug that has a loose weave material lets the horse’s body heat and sweat out more than a tight weave, but as a compromise provides less effective protection from the smallest flies and midges.

A wet rug has hugely increased cooling properties, so hosing the rug down while it is on your horse multiple times a day is worthwhile in the hottest temperatures.

4. Bringing your horse in for a cool hose off and turning him back out without scraping off the water will give him respite from the heat. If you can do it more than once, so much the better.

5. Pink skin and white areas on the face and heels are most commonly affected by sunburn because they have less skin pigment and hair coverage, so remember to apply one of the best suncreams for horses to these areas.

A fly mask with UV protective properties may also be helpful. Plus, those with a built-in nose net offer extra protection for pink noses.

How to keep horses cool while travelling

6. If you have to transport your horse in the hot weather, leave as early as possible. This avoids travelling in the worst heat and reduces the risk of getting stuck in traffic. Professional transporters in the UK are not allowed to move horses in temperatures exceeding 30°C – and this is a good rule of thumb for private owners to follow.

7. If you transport your horse, ensure all suitable windows are open to keep fresh air flowing through the horsebox. You can also use portable fans to help keep your horse cool.

If you have a roof vent, opening only the rear section while you are moving helps to draw the hot air out of the vehicle while cool air can enter through the windows. On arrival, the roof vent should be opened fully.

However, your horse might not be cooler standing on the lorry or trailer, even if he is out of the direct sun – think of dogs in hot cars. Consider whether he would be better off outside in the shade.

How to cool down a horse quickly

8. If you suspect that your horse may be suffering from heat stroke, put him in the shade and cool him continuously with free-flowing cool water.

The best way to do this is with a hosepipe, but if the hose has been sitting in the sun, make sure you run it first to remove any water that was left in the pipe. This water can be extremely hot and cause scalding so take care when you check it so you don’t get burnt either.

If you don’t have a hose, use a watering can or pour buckets over your horse instead. You will likely have to refill the vessels and repeat several times.

Another key is to allow the water to run off or evaporate without scraping off the excess liquid. The belief that leaving water on a horse will “cook” him is an equestrian urban myth – it simply isn’t true. The best way to cool a horse down quickly is to allow the water to draw heat away from the horse’s skin by evaporation.

You should also offer the horse water to drink every few minutes. If the horse appears wobbly (ataxic) then try to keep them walking in the shade, while continuing to apply cold water. If signs persist, contact your vet as a matter of urgency.

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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As those living in the UK face another week of high temperatures reaching over 30°C, and some water companies have announced hosepipe bans (Yorkshire Water from 11 July, South East Water for those living in Kent and Sussex from 18 July), where does this leave horse owners?

The good news is that while the rules outlaw the use of hosepipes for washing cars and watering gardens, the use of a hosepipe for the cleaning, maintenance and general well-being of any kind of animal is exempt from hosepipe ban rules.

The Government requires that the welfare of animals must be protected at all times, including during a hosepipe ban – or as it is more correctly called a Temporary Use Ban (TUB).

Yorkshire Water will impose a hosepipe ban from Friday 11 July 2025 following recorded its driest spring in 132 years, where just 15cm of rain has fallen since February.

Examples of what is allowed under the TUB restrictions include:

• Washing horses down with a hosepipe
• Filling up water troughs and buckets with a hosepipe
• Cleaning out lorries, trailers and stables with a hosepipe

As long as you are genuinely using a hosepipe for the welfare of your horse and not abusing the interpretation of these rules, you should have no concerns. Responsible use of water is encouraged at the stables, as it is in your homes, to avoid putting added pressure on the supply during this period of high temperatures with little no rain forecast.

If you’d like further reassurance or information, you can contact your local water company for clarification.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Getting stuck in traffic on the motorway is a pain at the best of times, but when you’re travelling horses, it can quickly turn into every owner’s worst nightmare — especially if you add high temperatures into the mix.

Preparation is key

Before travelling anywhere, make sure you have enough supplies on board (here’s a travel kit checklist) to keep your horses safe if you end up waiting in traffic. During spells of hot weather, take more water than you need — you may need it to help cool your horses down, as well as giving them something to drink.

The British Grooms Association gives the following recommendations: “Pre-travelling, it is wise to check traffic and take plenty of water and hay. It’s best to travel during the coolest hours of early morning and when the sun has gone down, and ensure that your equine breakdown recovery is up to date.”

Do your research before leaving, and check for any diversions or pre-planned road closures on your route. Likewise, keep an eye on when you’re travelling. If you clash with notable dates like schools breaking up for holidays and sports or music events, you may end up sitting in congestion that isn’t normally there.

It’s possible to install fans in lorries and trailers too, so if you plan to do lots of travelling over the summer months, consider looking into the best set-up for your vehicle.

Worst case scenarios

If you get caught up in traffic on the motorway and you’re worried about the welfare of your horse, your first port of call is to ring 101. Get your concerns logged as soon as you can, so you have plenty of time to create a plan.

“If it’s over 25°C, and you have horses on board, you need to call 101 to alert them prior making any decisions,” says the British Grooms Association. “It is not OK to use the hard shoulder, and the police would be required to be alerted if you were in a situation where the horses were distressed.”

While it’s tempting to drive straight on to the hard shoulder and leave at the next exit, you’d be opening yourself up to prosecution and getting a fine and points. As the British Grooms Association states, “the hard shoulder is there for use in emergencies only.”

Using the hard shoulder without informing the police could also result in compromising an investigation. If you don’t know where or what the police are dealing with, you could end up driving straight into the scene. When you call 101, you can find out whether the nearest exit is clear.

If your horse is getting distressed, it becomes a personal decision as to whether you risk using the hard shoulder. No one is permitted to drive on it, so you may still leave yourself open to prosecution, even if 101 is aware of your situation and the exit is clear. So, if you do decide to take the risk, ensure you have evidence to prove the mitigating circumstances, such as a video of your distressed horse and a record of the temperature.

According to the RAC, motorists who drive on the hard shoulder could receive a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence.

The force’s decision

Each police force will have its own protocol when it comes to assisting and helping vehicles travelling horses. Every situation is looked at on a case-by-case basis, and varying factors will influence the action taken. These may include the temperature, the length of time waiting, the state of the horses, the reason for traffic, and the incident that the police are dealing with.

Clare Blatchley was travelling her horses when she ended up waiting in traffic for over 40 minutes, on a hot day.

“We were in a jam and a police car approached us and asked if the horses were restless due to the heat and the length of time we had already been waiting. We said we were getting worried about them overheating and we didn’t have much water left on board, so they escorted us off the motorway on the hard shoulder. They were amazing!”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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With the UK enjoying some warmer weather this week, H&H asks the experts how best to help horses and their riders cope in hot temperatures with their advice on riding in hot weather.

When is it too hot to ride?

Emmeline Hannelly, welfare education manager at The British Horse Society (BHS), says: “If you are going to ride, it is best to do so either in the morning or evening when it is coolest. If you are riding in warmer weather, take more breaks in-between different exercises – horses can’t be expected to do as much in hot weather as they would at other times if they are not acclimatised to working for longer periods in the heat.

“Be mindful of your horse’s fitness as overweight horses may struggle more in hot weather. After riding, make sure you cool the horse down properly. This can be achieved by continuously pouring water all over the horse’s body surface.”

What are the signs of dehydration and what should you do if you are concerned?

Emmeline says: “The single most important thing is to keep your horse hydrated. Horses can easily consume more than double their normal water intake in hot weather, so be prepared for this.

“Knowing what is normal for your horse is important so you know when your horse isn’t right. Signs of dehydration in horses include lethargy, depression, poor performance, thick and sticky saliva, mucous membranes that become redder in colour, increased pulse and breathing rate, nostril flaring, decreased appetite, producing dark urine or not passing urine for long periods of time.

“Feeding electrolytes can help replace those lost through sweating. But if you are adding them to water, make sure the horse doesn’t mind the taste, because if it puts him off he may not drink anything at all, so always offer an electrolyte-free option.

“If dehydration isn’t acted on, this could lead to heat exhaustion and potentially heat stroke which is extremely serious. If you are concerned for your horse, move him somewhere cool to rest and offer him water. Allow your horse to graze if possible and monitor their pulse and breathing rate. If your horse does not show signs of improvement, contact your vet immediately.

“If you are travelling your horse anywhere, take more water with you than you think you will need. Remember some horses are fussy about drinking water away from home, so it could be essential to have a familiar supply.”

Is water alone enough to rehydrate a horse?

Dr Francesca Compostella DVM, MRCVS, MSc, the RSPCA’s equine senior clinician, explains: “Water makes up approximately 70% of a horse’s body, so plenty needs to be available to maintain such levels. Horses absorb water through food and from drinking. On average, a horse should intake between 25-50 litres of water per day. So, during the hot weather, ensure they always have access to plenty of clean water.

“Water alone however may not be enough, as the fluid component of our bodies also contain important electrolytes that are responsible for keeping our blood pressure and cell and nerve functions active.

“Your horse could lose vast amounts of electrolytes by sweating, but normally these are replenished in the feed. If, however, he or she is sweating more than they can replenish, supplementary electrolytes can be administered.

“There are a number of commercially available powders, which are diluted in the water for your horse to drink. These have additives which are appealing to horses, such as apple flavours.

“Rehydrating solutions can also be made at home using 1.5tbsp of salt and 2tbsp of sugar in 4L of water. Amino acids such as glutamine can be added. It is, however, easier and most reliable to invest in a tub of commercially available electrolytes, which are easy to store and have a very long shelf date.”

Help – I’m competing. How can I help keep my horse cool?

Dr Francesca Compostella says: “The body’s mechanism to release heat and thereby cool down, is by sweating. During water loss, the heat is lost to the environment in a mechanism called convection.

“To help your horse cool down, hose them with cool water, let them stand in a shaded, well ventilated area and ensure there is drinking water available. Don’t use wet towels or fabric covers over your horse, as these prevent the convection of heat.

“Don’t leave your horses standing in a trailer or other enclosed transport, as despite being shaded it may not be well ventilated. Likewise, avoid leaving them standing in the sun.

“A makeshift shaded cover using tarpaulin sheets or old bed sheets can help create some artificial shade while you wait for your class. Be creative if there are no trees or shade and you have to wait for long periods. And remember that you are as likely to suffer from the heat as your horse, so take care of yourself too!”

Riding in hot weather: advice for riders

As part of the Melanoma Fund’s current Sunguarding Sport Campaign, which is being supported by the British Equestrian, The Pony Club and the British Horse Society (BHS), the following specific tips have been developed with the help of the BHS to help keep riders safe while riding in hot weather.

• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen product with an SPF of 30 or higher, paying special attention to your ears, nose and other areas that are prone to burning
• Get into the habit of applying sunscreen before being active outdoors
• Once applied to the skin, reapply sunscreen every two hours, or more often if you are prone to excessive sweating, or getting in and out or water
• The sun is strongest between 11am and 3pm so on particularly hot days, if possible, ride outside of these hours
• A helmet is not only an essential way to protect your head while riding, it also provides a degree of sun protection
• Wearing summer riding gloves will not only protect hands from wear and tear, but also protect them from the sun
• Ensure a bottle of sunscreen is available wherever you are
• Wear clothing that covers your arms (as legs are usually covered). Compression sleeves are a good alternative for those that might find long-sleeves too hot. There are also long sleeved summer riding tops available with partly mesh arms to help with ventilation
• Using a sunscreen applicator or cleaning palms with a small towel and alcohol gel, is a good way to avoid a greasy grip on the reins
• Hydration is essential in reducing the risk of overheating, so keep a bottle of water on hand and sip regularly
• Wearing wraparound sunglasses when riding will help protect eyes from insects and branches, as well as the sun
• When not actively riding and during breaks, make sure to rest in shaded areas to reduce your exposure to the sun
• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Dehydration in horses will not only affect a horse’s performance — it can also be life-threatening. Long hot dry spells are being seen increasingly often in the UK, so when they do occur, owners need to take extra precautions to keep their horses fit and well.

How to prevent dehydration in horses

Have fresh, clean water available at all times. Do not restrict your horse’s access to water at competitions. If your horse does not like the taste of water when you travel, take some from home or flavour it with something like mint, apple juice or one of the special products designed to help horses drink that are now on the market.

For a horse who doesn’t drink well, a switch to haylage can be advisable because of its higher moisture content. This provides the horse with water and may reduce the risk of colic. Soaked hay is a cheaper alternative.

After exercise on a hot day, reduce sweat losses by cooling your horse off thoroughly as soon as possible after exercise. Once the horse stops sweating, it will become less dehydrated.

At summer competitions, try to keep your horse in the shade wherever possible. Your horse will be losing water without you necessarily being able to see it.

Electrolytes should be used to help replace the essential salts in the body that are lost through sweat.

Measuring dehydration in horses

The gold standard test is to take a blood sample as this will reveal the level of proteins in the plasma and the proportion of red blood cells in the blood compared with the plasma.

However, there are other, more practical, indicators of dehydration that you can keep an eye out for:

• A horse that produces dark urine or who has not passed urine for some time
• The appearance of the mucous membranes — if they are congested and are red in appearance, the horse is dehydrated

For a long time the skin pinch test was used to test hydration levels. The skin, typically over the neck, is pinched up and the time it takes to return to normal is counted in seconds. However, several recent studies have shown that this is not a particularly good indicator of dehydration, so it should not be relied upon.

Why do horses become dehydrated?

The horse is highly adapted to lose heat through sweat, and does so more efficiently than any other animal. In the performance horse, heat is dissipated through not only sweat, but also by increased respiration rate. Both cause the horse to lose water.

Equine sweat is hypertonic — it contains more salts than body fluid — which means that a sweating horse loses more electrolytes than water. Typically, a working horse will lose 7-8 litres in an exercise bout, although the maximum sweat rate measured for horses is 15 litres per hour. The rate does vary depending on temperature, sunshine, level of fitness and work.

Offering water alone to a dehydrated horse does not rehydrate it. Instead, the water dilutes the body fluids surrounding the tissues, which in turn “turns off” the thirst mechanism. The best rehydration therapies include the use of electrolyte preparations, either in feed or water, to stimulate drinking.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The changeable British weather can cause headaches for us horse owners. There’s always a time when it’s neither hot nor cold, or it can go from being one to the other in a matter of minutes. We like to use the technical term ‘inbetweeny weather’ — and here are just a few of the issues it causes horsey folk throughout the country...

1. Rugs

It might be chilly in the morning and at night, but by lunchtime, in between showers, it’s much warmer. You tend to your horse first thing but then have to go to work and this brings the nightmare of choosing which rug you should or shouldn’t put on your horse. Why hasn’t anyone invented convertible rugs for horses yet?

2. In or out?

The weather in the morning is gorgeous and you would feel guilty if you didn’t put your horse out into the field to enjoy it, but then it’s due to pour later. You don’t want your horse to stand in his stable all day, but at the same time know he will be walking up and down the fence if he’s stuck out in grotty weather.

3. Timing to perfection

You’re about to ride. You can see the angriest storm cloud approaching and calculate you have approximately 20 minutes before you end up getting drenched. Your trainer is always telling you schooling is about quality over quantity, so ready, steady, go!

4. Walking weatherman/woman

If any of your friends want to know what the weather is going to be like for the next 10 days, they know you’re the person to ask. You are a walking weatherman/woman and know exactly hour by hour what the weather Gods are going to throw at you and your horse.

5. What to wear?

Of course, your number one priority is your horse, but after they’re sorted, what on earth are you going to wear to ride in? You’re very chilly tacking them up, but as soon as you get into trot, you’ve broken a sweat and are wishing you’d put on a T-shirt underneath your jumper.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

British Dressage (BD) has released new protocols designed to give competitors and venues clearer guidance on what to do when weather warnings are issued.

The 2023 rules set out specific guidance for venues to follow when yellow, amber and red weather warnings are issued. These include when venues need to prepare a mitigation strategy, at what point the situation should be reviewed with BD, when competitions must be cancelled, and how much notice is ideally given to competitors.

Last year was the warmest on record for the UK, according to provisional Met Office figures, with an average temperature of over 10°C. Temperatures in excess of 40°C were also recorded for the first time. The UK had four named storms in 2022, three of which came within the space of a week in February.

British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) veterinary projects officer Lucy Grieve told H&H the guidance “should provide everyone with a protocol to follow and more predictability with regards to how those situations will be handled”.

“This is also a change that is welcomed by BEVA in order to protect the welfare of our equine competitors,” she added.

BD sport operations manager Lou Jones told H&H members “still need to take personal responsibility”.

“Extreme weather conditions are becoming more frequent, both in winter and summer, so we wanted to produce more robust guidance for organisers and venues as to what actions need to be taken in the event of official weather warnings being issued by the Met Office,” she said.

“In 2022 we experienced the full range of weather warnings over the course of the year, so this gave us a good benchmark as to what advice was available to the public in each set of circumstances, whether due to ice and snow, heavy rain and flooding, strong winds and storms, or extreme heat.

“We want to be able to provide further clarity and manage member expectations when a warning is issued, as the speculation on social media can sometimes be alarmist and inaccurate.”

She added that as forecasts can change quickly, the sport needs to be able to conditions on a day-to-day basis.

“By having a more formal framework, based on the red, amber, and yellow warnings provided by the Met Office, this allows us sufficient time to consult with the venue, and either reschedule if necessary or put mitigations in place to ensure it is safe to go ahead,” she said.

“With timescales often tight, particularly during the latter stages of qualification in the build-up to championships, this will provide us with the flexibility required to maximise the opportunity for BD competitions to run safely.”

She added: “It is important to stress that members still need to take personal responsibility for their own choices, especially when considering travel conditions to and from a venue, and the length of time for their journey.

“Equine and rider welfare must always be paramount, but we share collective responsibility for this with our venues and members – and ultimately, they still need to make decisions based on their own individual set of circumstances.”

BD weather warning guidance: what are the new rule?

The 2023 BD rule is as follows:

• Yellow: In the event that the Met Office issues a yellow weather warning, the competition may still go ahead as planned, but the venue will be required to prepare a mitigation strategy for the weather event and communicate this to those members affected.
• Amber: If the Met Office issues an amber weather warning, the venue will review the situation with BD to determine whether the competition can continue to be run as scheduled. The venue will prepare a mitigation strategy for the weather event, agreed with the BD sport operations manager, and communicated in advance to those members affected. If these mitigations do not allow for the safe running of the competition for members or horses, the fixture must be cancelled.
• Red: In the event that the Met Office issues a red weather warning, the competition must be cancelled, unless there are extenuating circumstances and agreed in advance with BD. Weather warnings apply to the location of the competition venue itself, and decisions will not be based on where members reside, or if they are required to travel through an affected area. It is the responsibility of the venue to communicate with those competitors affected.
• A decision on cancellation or postponement of the fixture will be taken no later than 48 hours prior to the start of the competition (unless there are exceptional circumstances), to allow for any additional planning or rescheduling required, based on the most recent weather report.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The way eventing is coping with the hot dry weather – and what may lie ahead – have been brought into focus with this summer’s challenging weather.

The topic came up at the Horseracing Industry Conference (news, 28 July) and many issues cross directly into the wider sport horse world.

British Eventing (BE) chief executive Helen West praised the extra measures fixtures have gone to this summer, and acknowledged challenges on the horizon.

She added that organisers are already good at contingency planning, for example shade, water and earlier start times where possible, to look after all involved at events. BE also liaises with teams on contingencies, such as shortening courses or reducing speeds, and has ground preparation machines available for organisers.

She points out it is a combined responsibility – shared by competitors, as well as BE and organisers. This comes under individuals knowing their own horses’ fitness and preparation levels, looking at their travel logistics, and planning accordingly.

But looking ahead, a changing climate could spell more challenges in future.

“There’s no two ways about it, it is going to become more of an issue with the weather patterns. It isn’t something we are used to,” she told H&H.

She added that eventing needs to be “ahead of the curve” as far as possible to understand what challenges are on the road ahead and how it can prepare. It’s on their radar, as is a desire for further understanding of going conditions at all events.

And work has already started. British Equestrian announced on Monday (22 August) that it is tendering for a research partner to focus on environmental sustainability, with the contract running from October 2022 to January 2023.

Recent examples of venues “going the extra mile” include Aston-le-Walls, where organiser Nigel Taylor installed permanent horse showers in the cross-country finish area and has received much praise for the ground conditions. That praise is mirrored in entry numbers.

Nigel told H&H the team has dug boreholes and ponds to ensure it has its own groundwater supply at both ends of the site.

“I have started to notice we are getting more [weather] extremes,” said Nigel, adding that this is the driest he has known in the 20 years he has been running horse trials at Washbrook Farm.

The ground care is a year-round job, coming to a head with the nightly watering by three tractors ahead of, and during, events.

Nigel said it is “hard work and costs a lot of money”, but it is the “right thing to do” for horses and riders – his customers. It also means they return, so over time, that investment pays off.

“We invested quite heavily in the wash bays, which are on the mains, and I can’t believe how lucky we were to have them in time for the last two horse trials,” he said.

Around 1,000 horses ran across country at the most recent fixture (11–13 August), with no stressed finishers, and Nigel gave credit to riders for running their horses with the individual animals’ condition and fitness in mind.

H&H vet Karen Coumbe was one of the team on duty at the NAF Five-Star Hartpury International Horse Trials the same weekend, where the venue made significant adjustments in preparation for the hot weather.

Karen told H&H she “cannot sing Hartpury’s praises enough” with how hard everyone worked.

Conditions were monitored throughout, including regular readings of the wet-bulb globe temperature index, to ensure it was safe for horses and humans. The courses were shortened to minimum distances, taking out more than 400m and several jumping efforts, with the finish moved to a shaded wooded area with misting fans. Start times were shifted earlier and there was lots of ice – bolstered by five insulated ice storage units at the finish – and plentiful fresh water in places it was needed most.

“It was very wet in the cross-country finish by the end of day, but we ran 200 horses in the two-, three- and four-star cross-country on Saturday without any significant incidents – they finished the best they have done in the years I have worked there,” she said.

She added that Hartpury’s permanent infrastructure, plus the fact it hosted the CDI, youth eventing and dressage European Championships and the horse trials in quick succession in July and August, meant procedures were slick and the courses had been well maintained for weeks.

Looking ahead, there are question marks about what the coming years have in store for Britain’s climate, water and fuel usage.

Karen noted that “a lot of water is needed for horse welfare”, and preparation is key for events, even though it is “costly in time and money”.

“Events need to ensure good going, a plentiful water supply and provision of shade,” she said, adding that technology is important, such as for properly monitoring conditions and competitors, as well as the public.

“The challenge with these freak weather conditions means that next year we could be facing heavy rain, so planning ahead is a challenge.”

But despite the unknowns, there are steps owners and riders can take to prepare with horse welfare in mind, starting with education. Getting the right, science-backed advice is crucial and Karen encouraged riders to seek this out from vets.

“We need to work out how we manage with the weather,” she said, adding that this covers the welfare of all involved – from horses and riders to volunteers.

“Another advantage with Hartpury is it came during a prolonged hot spell. Horses competing there were fit and used to the hot weather. A worry is when you get those unseasonable spikes – a hot day at an early-season event that takes everyone by surprise, and horses and people are not prepared.”

She urged competitors to think through transport as a priority – to travel in cooler parts of the day, plan routes to avoid traffic, consider staying overnight, and give horses time to recover from journeys properly.

All owners and riders must educate themselves on proper cooling techniques and take horses’ fitness, weight and condition seriously, she added.

“Horses are such big animals, so everyone needs to be aware that a large, hairy dark-coloured, unfit horse working hard on a hot day can almost cook himself if inadequately managed,” she said.

She also encouraged owners to be aware of dust and fly-related problems, such as eye and breathing issues, and not to underestimate these, and appreciate the hard-working volunteers who help make equine events function.

An FEI spokesman told H&H that the federation and wider community have been actively discussing and researching the effects of challenging weather conditions for more than two decades, particularly since the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.

“[This is] in a bid to guarantee equine health and wellbeing at events, using scientific data and awareness campaigns to mitigate effects of heat and humidity in particular,” she said.

She added this was a key topic on the FEI’s agenda, featuring at the 2018 FEI Sports Forum and in the build up to the Tokyo Games, and was “proactively promoted and presented to the global equestrian community”. For example, through its FEI’s “beat the heat” campaign, on its e-learning platform, FEI Campus.

“Working closely with world renowned specialists and basing our recommendations on scientific research and data, the FEI has a number of guidelines and rules which currently address horse welfare from the standpoint of challenging weather conditions,” she said.

“[These] provide athletes and horses with recommendations to prepare for events and to apply during competition, including references to acclimatisation, continued training and guidelines for cooling, as well as how to most efficiently monitor the weather conditions.

“Our objective is always to keep our horses and athletes safe, and in that regard and in light of current climate trends, we are reviewing all our protocols to ensure they are relevant and future proof in relation to ongoing trends in the climate.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Of all the things that could be included in a risk assessment for a safe and enjoyable horse trials, exploding trade stands, escaping breeches and mini tornadoes would probably not be top of the list.

And when reports of such happenings filtered through the radio system at Childeric Saddles Little Downham (2) on Sunday (7 August) there was confusion at first.

“It was lunchtime,” Sarah Skillin of the organising team told H&H. “We had a cross-country course change coming up and lots of us were in the barn. We were sitting listening to the [officials’] radio, and all of a sudden, showjumping said ‘One of the trade stands has exploded’.

“Everyone paused but must have thought they were hearing things, then John our car-parking volunteer said ‘A whirlwind has just gone through the lorry park and everyone’s stuff is all over the place.

“Then someone said ‘Tigga’s [Saddlery] has just collapsed’. I thought ‘I’d better go and have a look!’”

Sarah went to investigate, and found the Tigga’s tradestand in “various states of disarray”.

“Various people were holding it up, poor Sally who owns it was in all sorts of states,” she said. “The showjumping team were rebuilding fences and Andrew [James] was about to restart his dressage test.”

Sarah said the mini tornado, or whirlwind, had appeared in one corner of a stubble field.

“It came across one corner of the cross-country — sending my fence-judges’ picnic flying — into the showjumping, where a friend of mine was in the arena, and fences six and seven were demolished in front of her, straight through Tigga’s and then through Andrew’s test, with various bits of Tigga’s stock,” she said. “Then it went through the lorry park; we found items all over the place, like breeches a long way from where they should have been.”

It is not known whether said breeches had been on people’s persons when the tornado hit but they were joined by other items such as saddlecloths, a long way from home.

The showjumping was held for 15 minutes while everything was secured and made safe, then the show went on, but Sarah said the origin of the tornado is a mystery.

“We’re used to wind; we’re in the fens,” she said. “But it wasn’t windy at all, just a bit of a breeze; the flags weren’t even flying properly.”

Sarah added that the tornado only lasted a matter of seconds, and although Tigga’s was battered, the Childeric stand next door was untouched. Similarly, no one on the other side of the cross-country course realised what had happened.

“It was just bizarre,” she said. “Someone said ‘I bet that wasn’t in your risk assessment’ and I said ‘No, definitely not’, but it will be next time! How do you mitigate against a tornado? You don’t.”

Sarah added that apart from the tornado — and a photographer’s car ending up in a ditch — it was a good event all round.

“It was a very laid-back, peaceful weekend, other than the tornado!” she said. “And my friend who was in the ring when it hit came fifth, and Andrew seventh, so both horses who were affected were placed.

“We definitely win the most entertaining event of the weekend!”

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

As temperatures soar and parts of England prepare for highs of up to 40C tomorrow, a number of competitions have been cancelled or postponed.

Last week, for the first time ever, the Met Office issued a red “exceptional heat” warning for today (18 July) and tomorrow (19 July) for parts of central, northern, eastern and southeastern England. An amber warning is in place for Cornwall, west Wales and parts of southern Scotland.

Yesterday British Eventing (BE) announced that competition at Dauntsey Park in Wiltshire tomorrow has been abandoned owing to the weather warning and Government advice. The second day of competition on Wednesday (20 July) – when temperatures are forecast to be cooler – remains unaffected.

Classes that had been due to run on Tuesday – including the BE90 and BE100 – will now take place on Thursday after organisers “moved heaven and earth” to reschedule.

“To ensure the best possible going, watering has begun on the cross-country and showjumping and the aggravator will be used on the dressage and other areas that require it,” said a BE spokesman yesterday.

A number of British Showjumping competitions scheduled for tomorrow have also been cancelled. Venues that have so far announced they will not run are Chard Equestrian in Somerset, Speetley Equestrian in Derbyshire, Onley Grounds Equestrian in Warwickshire, and Codham Park Equestrian Centre in Essex.

British Dressage scheduled to take place today at Witham Villa, Leicester, and tomorrow at Manor Grange, West Yorkshire, and Arena UK in Lincolnshire, is cancelled. The show at Felbridge Showground on Tuesday has been rescheduled to Thursday (21 July). Last week it was announced that the BD Petplan equine Area Festival at Wellington Riding tomorrow would be rescheduled to Friday (22 July).

In racing, meetings at Beverley and Windsor today, and tomorrow’s fixtures at Chelmsford City, Southwell, and Wolverhampton have been abandoned.

The Festival of Hunting

The Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show and the Festival of Hunting at the East of England Showground is going ahead on Wednesday and organisers have said a “comprehensive” animal welfare policy is in place, with vets on site.

“There will be ample water available with access to shade in and around the hound rings and the collecting ring for the inter-hunt relay,” the organisers said.

“In consultation with the chief veterinary officer and chief medical officer, the organisers of the event will be prepared to modify any classes they see fit if the weather conditions on the day dictate that there would otherwise be an unacceptable level of risk to the welfare of the animals exhibiting, or their handlers.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The heat is on

As the temperature rises, and with Met Office weather warnings in place for much of England this weekend, keeping horses cool and happy is the top priority. H&H busts the misinformation often shared on social media about the effects of cold water on hot horses, answers the question “when is it too hot to ride?” and provides tips for travelling horses as the temperature rises, as well as advice on what to do in the event of a breakdown. We also speak to event organisers on measures being taken to keep horses and riders cool this weekend.

Keeping cool this week

Whip rule amendments

The British Horseracing Authority has announced new sanctions for breaking whip rules, which are expected to apply from this autumn. The increased penalties include disqualification when the whip is used four times or more above the permitted level, and double suspension periods when it is used above the permitted level in major races. “It is inevitable that there will be those who think we have gone too far, and those who think we have not gone far enough,” said David Jones, chairman of the whip consultation steering group.

Read more about the changes

‘Putting my money where my mouth is’

In her H&H column, leading dressage rider and trainer Anna Ross covers the importance of qualifications in our sport. Having thought there was no professional dressage riding exam in the UK, she has found out there is, offered by the British Horse Society, and she is to take it. “I reached BHSI stable manager level 25 years ago, but I didn’t complete the riding section as it was a multi-discipline exam, and I am the most spectacularly untalented jump jockey,” Anna said. “I’m super-interested to see what being a qualified dressage rider in the UK entails, so I’m putting my money where my mouth is and taking the exam.”

Should coaches have qualifications?

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Event organisers are taking extra steps to support horses and riders, as the Met Office issues an amber “extreme heat” warning for the weekend.

The Met Office has issued the warning in England and Wales for Sunday (17 July) and Monday, as temperatures are expected to reach over 35C in the southwest, and more widely around 32C in other areas. Further north, and in Scotland, temperatures are expected to be in the mid- to high 20s.

With equestrian sport scheduled across the disciplines this week organisers and venues have been taking steps to help riders and horses stay cool.

Lauren Fogg of Arena UK, which is running a four-day British Showjumping competition from tomorrow (13 July) incorporating second-round classes, told H&H they have sold 500 stables but some competitors based further afield have withdrawn. The centre has announced measures including early starts, revised timetables, and extra staff on hand to make course changes quicker.

“We are starting at 7am every day and making sure there is plenty of water everywhere for horses as they need it. We’re trying to make things quicker for everyone, and we’re also allowing people to arrive earlier than usual and we won’t close until 11pm, to allow people to travel at slightly cooler times,” she said, adding riders can compete without jackets but must have their shoulders covered for all classes – except for Horse of the Year Show qualifiers, which will be decided by the judges on the day.

“We are a bit concerned about the heat but we want to do everything we possibly can to make sure it runs smoothly.”

Extra watering has been taking place at Oxfordshire’s Upton House ahead of its British Eventing fixture tomorrow and Thursday.

Joint organiser Jessica Thomas told H&H the ground is “amazingly good” despite the hot weather, and that it is not forecast to be as hot on either day as it is at the weekend.

“Dave Thornton, who runs the farm at Upton Estate, has made a huge effort getting the ground how we wanted it, and it wasn’t as hard as it has been in the past when we started work on it [earlier in the year] so that was really good,” she said.

“There will be extra water provision at the end of the cross-country, but it’s important that we still need people to bring their own.”

There will be donation buckets around Upton for anyone who wishes to contribute to the additional course-watering costs.

A spokesman for the Cotswold Cup, taking place at Barbury Castle (16-17 July), said they are working closely with Barbury organisers Musketeer Events to monitor the weather and put additional provisions in place “as and when the need for them arises”.

Jenny Meiklejohn of Musketeer told H&H they have “slightly adjusted” the cross-country course to make more use of flatter ground.

“We’re not sending them up the hills as much and we have upped the amount of water provision, in the lorry park, and at the start and finish, so there will be huge amounts of cold water for people to cool their horses. We are also going to have ‘mobile water’, with people like cross-country stewards and the fence repair team so if anyone gets stuck on course, there will be water available for both horse and rider.”

Jenny added they are also advising competitors to bring their own water and to make sure they “manage their own horses’ welfare”.

“It’s conditions that are unusual in this country, but horse sport is carried on around the world in much hotter temperatures, so it’s probably something we all find a bit shocking but if you’re an event rider in Australia it’s very common practice to be riding in temperatures like this. It’s not that humid so we don’t have to deal with that. People just have to be sensible and look after their horses,” she said.

Show cancellations and postponements

The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) national championships at Hartpury will now only run two days, from 15-16 July, instead of three.

An RDA spokesman said in light of the Met Office weather warning for Sunday, the difficult decision had been taken to suspend competition that day.

“For those RDA groups and competitors due to compete on Sunday, this will obviously be a huge disappointment, but we feel it would be reckless to ignore the specific amber weather warning of extreme heat across Gloucestershire and expose both horses and people to unnecessary risk,” he said.

“The event will continue exactly as planned on Friday, with extra provision made to help ensure both horses and people can take part safely. On Saturday, changes have been made to some specific classes to help avoid the forecasted highest temperatures of the day.”

The spokesman added that the site will remain open on Saturday evening and into Sunday morning to enable groups to stayover on Saturday if they had planned to do so, and leave a time that “best suits the welfare of the horses and teams”.

Sunday entry fees will be refunded, and all accommodation fees for Saturday night will be refunded even if they decide to stay, to “allow everyone to make the best possible decision” about their leaving times.

Gloucestershire-based Rectory Farm has cancelled its BS category one show on Sunday.

“As disappointed as we are to have made this decision, as always horse welfare and safety is paramount and with the expected extreme heat we believe that the correct decision was to cancel the day’s competition,” read a statement.

“We are very sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment this may have caused and we have refunded all competitors previously entered.”

The Rectory Farm BS show scheduled on Thursday (14 July) is still going ahead.

The Malvern Highland Pony show, which was to take place on 16-17 July at Three Counties Showground, has been postponed until 3-4 September.

The British Dressage classes that were going to take place on Tuesday 19 July at the Wellington Riding Petplan Equine Area Festival have been rescheduled for Friday 22 July.

Tips for horse owners

The British Horse Society has issued a number of tips for horse owners including ensuring a constant supply of clean and fresh water is available – and reminded that horses can drink up to 50 litres per day in hot weather.

“Be aware that buckets of water in the stable can become warm and possibly unpalatable if left to stand for too long, so you may need to change them more regularly than usual to keep them fresh,” said the spokesman.

“It is ideal to have more than one water source available in the field so that certain herd members aren’t prevented from drinking, or chased away by others. Keeping the water source away from a corner will help prevent a horse being cornered into a small area by another horse.”

The spokesman said when travelling, to go as early or as late as possible to avoid the hottest part of the day and to take more water than you think you will need.

“Some horses are fussy about drinking water away from home, so it could be essential to have a familiar supply. Carrying plenty of water is also a vital part of being prepared if your vehicle were to break down with your horses on board. You could be stuck at the side of the road waiting for a recovery crew so water will be vital to help keep your horse cool and hydrated,” he said.

The spokesman added that riders should ensure horses are cooled effectively after exercise.

“This can be achieved by continuously pouring cold water all over the horse’s body. Not scraping the water off the horse does not cause the skin temperature to rise,” he said.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Yesterday was another day of 30°+ temperatures and I’m already missing complaining that it’s too cold! As someone who doesn’t cope well in this heat, I had to limit my time at the show ring and spend most of my day drinking water in my lorry with a fan on me.

The weather was reasonably bearable first thing in the morning and I headed down to the Hickstead shopping village. I can’t tell you how hard it was filming a time lapse video and not being able to stop and buy things! I’m sure it saved me some money though.

There is a great selection of shops this year and the shopping village is crammed full of trade stands. If you’re planning on coming here for the shopping then you won’t be disappointed. There is something for everyone, including those non horsey partners that are being dragged along on the promise of burgers and beer.

When I started out showing, I wanted to specialise in working hunters so I headed down to watch the 153cm working hunter pony class. It always amazes me how I can’t jump a cross pole, yet these kids are jumping bullfinches that are taller than me! The track was technical and not easy, but so many of the kids made light work of it.

I managed almost an hour at ring side before heading back to my lorry to drink my way through a case of water. I had to venture out later to put more bedding into my stable as one of my horses was on the way down. I almost passed out walking to the stable with a bale of bedding in the wheelbarrow so I was horrified to see so many ponies in their stables wearing rugs! I have had a bit of a rant in my video about how shocked I was so I won’t go on about it here too much. I’d love to know if people agree with me on this?

Today is hunter day and I am riding my heavyweight, Blue Print, who qualified in his first ever RIHS qualifier this year.

Check back tomorrow to see how I get on and I promise I’ll get some more footage of the classes here too!

Dan

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An expert in equine thermoregulation is attempting to bust some of the myths spread about the best way to cool horses.

Although most people seem to agree that water is key in reducing temperature, many still say, incorrectly, that the water must be scraped off – and many often insist that leaving a horse wet can make it hotter.

David Marlin, who conducted groundbreaking research into the subject with the FEI before the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and has since worked extensively in the area, has been trying to get the correct message out.

“Wild horses sweat, and go in lakes and rivers, and get soaked in thunderstorms in hot countries and there’s no one going round with a scraper – and they survive,” he told H&H.

“This shows it’s perfectly fine for a wet horse to be out in direct sunlight and it’s not going to ‘boil’ or even get hotter – just like we don’t if we get out of a swimming pool on a hot day. But there are people who don’t get it. It seems they’re invested for some reason in scraping being a really important thing to do.”

Dr Marlin explained that there are two principles at work when cooling horses with water.

One is the conductive transfer of heat. When there are two “bodies” in direct contact, in this case the horse and the water, heat will pass from the hotter body to the cooler until they are the same temperature.

So cold water put on a horse will get warmer – which may explain why people think it is heating the horse up – but it is because the horse is losing heat to the water.

“The heat moves from the horse into the water because there’s a temperature difference, and the bigger the difference, the faster the heat moves,” Dr Marlin said.

“So if the horse’s temperature is 40°C, you will cool it by putting on water at 35°C but not as fast as if you used water at 10 or 20°C.”

Dr Marlin said another “strange idea” put forward by some is that cold water can constrict blood vessels in the skin, causing it to heat up more, but that studies have shown this is not the case, and for the reasons explained above, colder water will remove heat faster.

“But what people seem obsessed with is this small amount of water in the coat,” he said. “Even with a thin layer, heat will still move from the horse to the water. I think because the water gets warm, people think it’s an insulator but it isn’t.

“Water is a better conductor of heat than air. That’s why, in winter, we scrape or dry sweaty horses; the last thing you want is to leave them wet as then they’ll get cold.”

Dr Marlin said the other method by which water cools horses is evaporation. The evaporation of water uses up energy and cools the surface on which the water sits. This is efficient (there is a lot of cooling for a little water), and means a wet horse will stay cooler than a dry one, but evaporative cooling is much slower than conductive transfer.

And while scraping water off will do no harm to a warm horse, if the horse is dangerously hot, it can slow the cooling process.

“For a very hot horse, continuous application of cold water is what could stop it collapsing and potentially suffering an injury or multiple organ failure and death,” Dr Marlin said.

“In cases of severe hyperthermia, it’s about how fast you can bring the temperature down, whether its people, horses or dogs.

“If you stop the application of water to scrape, you’re wasting time.”

Dr Marlin has also seen people recommending only applying the water or ice in certain areas, such as on large blood vessels to cool the blood, but he stressed that the important thing is applying the water all over the body for maximum cooling effect.

“Continuous application of cold water, all over, is what’s likely to save a life in that situation,” he said. “Heat stroke is one of the nastiest things that can happen to you.”

Dr Marlin also said allowing horses to drink before exercise and “as much as they want, immediately afterwards” is good practice.

Giving ice-cold water to horses to drink does no harm, contrary to popular belief, although it has been shown that horses will drink more if the water is at 20-25°C rather than 10, or 30°C.

You may also be interested in…

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As temperatures have risen over the past few days, riders around the country have been left scratching their heads as they gaze at sweaty horses and dig out their T-shirts.

Here are nine thoughts we’ve all had in this February heatwave…

1. It’s so mean turning horses out first thing in the morning with no rugs! But it’s baking in the sun by 11am and I can’t get back from work to take their rugs off then.

2. My horse is sweating his guts out every time I ride him and his coat is soaking. It takes ages for him to dry off and it must be unpleasant for him. I really wish I’d made his last clip a full one rather than a blanket or trace. Is it too late to clip him out now? Will it ruin his summer coat?

3. My horse is grey. He’s not going out without a rug and full neck cover until it’s warm enough to bath him.

4. Is it warm enough to bath him?

5. I’m worried the ground’s going to start getting hard! We’ll all be running on concrete by the end of March. I should pack some competitions in now while the conditions are still good. What can I enter?

6. When can I start leaving my horse out at night? What if it gets chilly again? Will it be confusing for him to go out at night for a week and then come in again if we get a nasty cold spell?

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

5 horsey headaches that ‘inbetweeny weather’ brings

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7 reasons (most) horse people hate windy weather

7. I really hope the flies aren’t going to come out of hibernation early… where did I put that fly mask at the end of last summer?

8. I’m riding in a T-shirt. In February! I’m so confused…

9. Is my horse’s pink nose going to get sunburnt soon?

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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We’re all familiar with images of hot and steamy horses being doused in water at the end of a gruelling cross-country phase. But why exactly is cooling a horse after competition so important?

Heat is a major by-product of energy production and muscle function during exercise, with the amount of heat generated increasing in proportion to the intensity of a horse’s work.

Only 20-30% of the energy from the body’s stored supplies is used for muscle contraction and mechanical work — the remaining 70-80% is lost as heat during metabolism of these reserves. The resulting heat accumulation means that controlling body temperature during and after exercise is essential to avoid ill effects from excessive increases.

A horse’s normal core body temperature at rest should be between 37.5°C and 38.5°C. When this rises above 41°C to 42°C, side effects and signs of heat exhaustion can be seen. These can range from an excessively high heart rate and respiratory rate to dehydration, fatigue and poor recovery from exercise.

If left untreated, heat exhaustion can develop into heat stroke — a condition in which the body is unable to regulate its own temperature. This can ultimately lead to multi-organ dysfunction, including kidney and liver failure, abnormal heart rhythm, loss of coordination and, in severe cases, death.

Sweating it out

Evaporative cooling — losing heat through the skin by sweating — is the most important mechanism by which a horse controls his body temperature during and after exercise. Water from sweat evaporates into the air, taking heat energy with it.

In addition, about 30% of heat loss occurs through the lungs and respiratory tract during normal breathing.

These methods of heat loss are at their most efficient when the difference between the skin temperature and surrounding air temperature is greatest, such as in cool, dry weather.

Much of the research into the most effective ways to cool horses after competition has come from preparation for equestrian disciplines at the Olympics — notably those that took place in hot, humid conditions, such as Atlanta in 1996 and Hong Kong in 2008.

Difficulties experienced by horses during the cross-country phase at the Barcelona Games in 1992 highlighted the risks of heat stress in hot weather in high-level competition, despite the relatively low humidity at this event. Two horses collapsed, and a team of experts, led by Dr David Marlin, initiated research into thermoregulation (features, 7 July).

Evaporation of water from the skin surface during sweating is less effective in hot and humid conditions, because the surrounding air is already saturated with water and therefore the difference between air and skin temperature is minimal. Sweat starts to drip from the body but removes just 5-10% of the heat that would have been lost through evaporation.

In these extremes of climate, even the fittest horses struggle to lose enough body heat by sweating.

Core body temperature can rapidly climb to dangerously high levels towards the end of exercise and immediately afterwards.

Research has shown that applying cold water (9°C) to a horse after exercise in hot, humid conditions helps bring core body temperature back down to normal faster than using tepid (31°C) water. Cold water has no negative effect, such as increasing the risk of tying-up.

Shade and misting fans provided in rest areas were also found to help cool horses.

Fitness and acclimatisation to local weather are additional key factors in avoiding heat stress.

A fitter horse will experience the same core temperature rise as a less fit animal, but he will recover more efficiently and lose less water overall through sweating.

Dehydration and its deleterious effects on blood flow, particularly to the skin, will also make regulation of body heat less efficient. In warm weather, a horse can lose 3kg of bodyweight for each hour that he travels in a horsebox. Most (around 90%) of this is due to fluid losses and dehydration, so adequate preparation and correction of any pre-existing dehydration before a competition is vital to maximise his ability to cope with hot weather conditions.

Slosh and scrape

In normal warm weather, the ideal way to cool a horse at the end of a competition is to apply copious amounts of cold water over his whole body.

He should be offered water and electrolyte solutions to drink, and walked in-hand to promote good circulation through the muscles.

This should allow recovery with minimal side effects.

If a horse is slow to recover and his temperature continues to rise after exercise has finished, help get rid of excess body heat by repeating the application of cold water before scraping it off with a sweat-scraper and applying more.

Offering electrolyte solutions as well as plain water to drink has the additional benefit of replacing salts lost in sweat during exercise, which helps to restore normal circulation and promote recovery.

Rugs and sheets should not be put on until after the horse has fully recovered, as these insulate the horse and prevent heat loss from the skin.

Feeling the heat

While ambient temperature and humidity levels in the UK rarely reach those experienced in more tropical climates, signs of heat exhaustion are not uncommon in horses competing here in the summer — particularly if the weather suddenly becomes hotter.

Look for prolonged and delayed recovery (beyond 10 to 20 minutes after the end of the competition), sometimes accompanied by shaking, weakness, loss of awareness of surroundings and persistently elevated heart and breathing rates. Along with continued, excessive sweating, these signs suggest that the horse is exhausted and at risk of heat stress.

Ongoing increases in rectal temperature after the end of exercise are a strong indicator of heat stress and the potential to develop heat stroke. In its most severe form, this can leave a horse unable to sweat, reluctant to drink water or to walk, and can cause staggering, depression and collapse.

Urgent veterinary treatment, including intravenous fluids, is vital in these cases to prevent dire complications.

The case for ice boots, wraps and gels

Cold therapy — the application of ice packs, boots or massage, or cold spray and ice- and cold-water immersion — has been recommended to reduce inflammation and prevent tissue oedema (filling or “stocking up” of the legs).

The principle behind these treatments is to reduce blood flow to the area. There is some evidence of a positive effect on tissue metabolism and enzyme activity, including a reduction in those that initiate and promote arthritis, after 15 minutes, when skin temperature is reduced to 10°C or when joints are reduced to 30°C.

Cold therapy must be used carefully; significant skin damage — including burns — can occur if tissue is cooled below 10°C. Do not apply cold treatment to open wounds or directly over superficial nerves. Always use a damp barrier material, such as a clean cloth, between a solid cold pack source and skin to protect against damage.

The evidence for cold therapy in preventing injuries is sparse, but positive effects of cold water spa therapy (salt water at 5°C to 9°C) on tendon and ligament injuries have been shown. The general recommendation is to apply cold therapy for up to 20 minutes every two hours during the initial, potential injury period (24 to 72 hours).

Immersion of the lower legs in iced water has been suggested as a more efficient way of cooling tissues than the application of cold packs or crushed ice, but much of the research in this area is extrapolated from studies on humans and other species.

Further research into the benefits and methods of cold therapy in horses after exercise is still needed.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 14 July 2016

After the winter and spring we have had, you will not hear me complaining about this gorgeous summer weather. Goodness knows, we all appreciate that it could stop at any time and all my fellow equestrians seem to be spending as much time in the sun as possible.

This little summer heatwave does raise a few issues for us eventers though. Firstly, the ground is getting firmer by the hour in this baking heat and I haven’t seen a rain drop in quite a while now — again, I’m not complaining! This means that as riders, we all have to make decisions on when and where to run our horses. This sometimes means not going cross-country, but also could mean not getting the horses off the lorry if the warm-up areas at events are not forgiving on horses’ legs.

I know all events try their utmost to keep conditions perfect, but with this weather we are having there is only so much any event can do. I respect that totally and understand that sometimes you just have to take it as you find it. I’ve found the best thing for me and my team to do is to quieten down a little in this hot weather and let the ground soften up before carrying on. Therefore, my horses won’t be running again until Aston le Walls in August.

Obviously, if this weather carries on, I will have to think again, and possibly sometimes run on hard ground, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it! In the meantime, it’s lots of dressage, showjumping and arena eventing to look forward to.

I will take the younger horses out once more this weekend to Stafford Horse Trials, to have a steady run round the BE100 track. Jumping at this height is less hard on horse’s legs than my older horses running round intermediate, and we can go a bit slower too. I’m sure it will be a lovely day out in the sunshine for them (and us too — we’ve starting picnicking at these summery events).

There’s definitely someone enjoying the sun more than the rest of us, and that is Alta, Delphi’s now three-week-old foal. She spends all day flat out in the field soaking up the rays, just having the occasional hoon round to let off some steam! It’s still amazing to watch her and I don’t know how I’m going to fill my time when she and Delphi head back to Oakham Vet Stud this Friday for Delphi to go back in-foal.

Lauren

All Lauren’s blogs 

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A new range of UV-resistant clothing has been launched by Little Terra — and the company says it is ideal for children “horsing around” this summer.

After researching the market, Little Terra has chosen to stock the Radicool 100+ UPF Skins range, from Australia to protect youngsters from UVA and UVB rays.

It offers a range of tops, shorts, hats and all-in-one suits that combine an exciting, colourful style.

Little Terra’s managing director, and mother of two, Carolyn Budding said: “Children from horsey families benefit from many hours outdoors and while many parents apply suncream regularly to their children, they might think that their clothes offer a similar protection.

“However, lightweight clothing generally offers a relatively low SPF.

“Aside from the best protection available, we’ve found the Radicool fabric is extremely dense and robust and able to cope with a lot of use.

“The clothing is ideal for accompanying the family to shows, helping out on the yard and all other activities outdoors — with optimum protection from UV rays.”

For more information visit: www.littleterra.co.uk

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A new sunscreen specifically for horses has been launched by Solarsport.

Solarsport Equine 30 Superior is designed to protect the sensitive muzzle area that is susceptible to burning, particularly on horses with white facemarkings.

The cream is non-greasy and absorbs instantly into the horses’ skin. It offers up to seven hours of full block protection and is water-resistant. The sunscreen is hypoallergenic and comes in an easy to apply tube with a soft applicator pad.

“While most sunblock products are reflective based screens — containing metal oxides — they must be plastered onto the skin and left thick like ‘icing’ to be totally effective,” said a spokesman for the company, which also produces human sunscreen.

“But Solarsport Equine 30 Superior instantly absorbs yet still offers the full block protection allowing the horse to forage and graze and not wipe the protection off.”

For more information visit: www.kmeliteproducts.co.uk

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The Pony Club has posted valuable advice about cold-water cooling for hot horses on its website. The document written by Dr David Marlin, was originally compiled before the Olympic Games in Atlanta but as the British heat wave continues, riders across the UK are encouraged to refer to it.

By clearly explaining how a horse loses heat, Dr Marlin’s advice catalogues why horses benefit from cold-water cooling before explaining the technique.

“A cool pony is a happy pony,” said a spokesperson for the Pony Club. “Children will be given the same advice by their Pony Club instructors – it is general advice for children and adults.”

The document – Cold-Water Cooling for Hot Horses – can be found on the Pony Club website at www.pcuk.org.

• For more advice on riding and competing in hot weather check out the new HHO horse care archive.

While we all long for a nice day when we’re heading to a show, the reality can sometimes be a challenge. The horsebox becomes furnace-like, flies are everywhere, warming-up becomes a complete misnomer, the ground is brick-hard and you’re both hot, tired and sweaty — and that’s before you’ve done your class. Then there are the added worries of dehydration and looking after your horse’s limbs on firm going.

Top tips to keep cool

Marcus Tregoning, trainer of Epsom Derby winner Sir Percy: pour cool water over the horse’s back and flanks immediate after the race and then walk around for about 40min to cool down. Keep an eye on water intake and droppings for signs of dehydration.

Newmarket-based trainer John Berry: Plan your journey. Leave early in the morning to avoid travelling while it’s too hot. It might be fine while the lorry’s moving and there’s a flow of air, but if you get stuck in a traffic jam it can get very hot.

Warren Greatrex, assistant trainer to Oliver Sherwood: Keep water “on tap” whether you think the horse will drink or not. If water can’t be constantly available then keep offering it regularly.

Cheshire-based event rider Neil Fox: In hot weather reduce your warm up time accordingly. Make the most of any available shade. And don’t forget to keep drinking lots of fluids yourself to avoid dehydration. Take isotonic drinks for yourself, as well as electrolytes for your horse.

Event rider Bryony Whittington: After the cross-country, loosen your horse’s girth and sponge them down, scraping the excess water off and walking them round until they are comfortable and their breathing rate is down. Bryony feeds Liquidlytes electrolytes in their water for five days before and after an event, in addition to daily salt.

Event rider Mary King: The hotter the weather, the quicker you have to cool the horse down. Have water ready at the finish, quickly whip off the tack and, if possible, have two people washing the horse down. Offer the horse water constantly to avoid dehydration.

Show jumper Sophie Tobin: Work horses early in the morning and put them away. Take 5min out during your warm-up and stand in some shade. If the ground is hard don’t jump!

Show rider Jo Bates: Take water into the ring to sponge off sweat after the individual show. Cover the horse with a lightweight cotton sheet to keep coat flat. Arrive at the show early, work in first thing then put the horse away until the class. Add chopped apple or sugar beet water to the bucket to encourage horses to drink, or sponge out their mouths.

Endurance GB team member Christina Yeoman: Put carrot puree and some sugar in your horse’s drinking water to encourage them to drink. Make sure there is plenty of water on hand to pour over the horses at the vet checks.

Scottish endurance rider Alison Wilson: Repeatedly pour cold water over the horses while walking around to cool them without them stiffening up.

Hot tips for cool horses

• Don’t restrict water intake, but don’t let your horse drink gallons before fast work
• Travel early in the morning
• Try warming up first thing, putting your horse away and then bringing him out again near your start time
• Use electrolytes on the run-up to a competition, and for several days afterwards
• Encourage fussy drinkers by adding some chopped apple, carrot puree or a little bit of sugar beet to their drinking water
• Be aware of the signs of heat stress in your horse — high temperature, poor performance, rapid shallow breathing — as early treatment can prevent the development of heatstroke
• Don’t forget to drink lots of fluids yourself

This feature was first published in Horse & Hound 15 June ’06

For more advice on competing in hot weather check out HHO’s new horse care archive

Dehydration can be detrimental to human and equine performance alike. A sound knowledge of feeding in hot and challenging conditions can give ordinary riders a competitive edge during the British summer’s hot spells.

In general, all horses competing in hot weather require a greater level of fat in their concentrate rations to provide energy. Some horses may also have specific nutritional requirements to help manage existing or potential problems such as azoturia, where a low-starch, high-fibre and oil diet is advised.

Replacing some of the starch in the horse’s diet with oil (fat) also helps to diminish heat production during work by reducing microbial fermentation in the hindgut, which is extremely beneficial in hot climates. “Fat also provides slow-release energy, so helps sustain stamina and reduce excitability,” explains nutritionist Lizzie Drury.

It is also important to maintain a suitable amount of forage in the diet.

“Forage will help to maintain the health of the digestive tract and acts as a reservoir in the hindgut, trapping vital water and body salts,” says Lizzie. “Too much concentrate can provide excess starch in the diet, which may make the horse too fizzy and disturb the delicate microfloral balance.”

The harder the horse works, the more vitamins and minerals it will need. The stress of intense exercise on bones may also slightly increase the requirements for minerals involved in bone integrity, such as calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorous and copper.

“Commercially available feeds, which are formulated specifically for performance, would take these factors into account, so that the only extra ingredient needing to be added would be correct electrolyte supplementation to combat the effects of sweating,” Lizzie adds.

Sweating is the body’s natural cooling system and allows a horse to cool itself during and after exercise. It is a sure sign that the horse is losing fluids and therefore electrolytes.

“Within those fluids electrolytes are escaping from the body at alarming rates,” explains Lizzie. “These body salts control the fluid balance of the body by regulating movement of water in and out of the cells and changing the concentration of the contents. They are responsible for an extraordinary array of critical body processes: muscle contraction, the pumping of the heart and the moving of food through the digestive tract, to name a few.”

The amount of sweat and electrolytes lost, and the measure of electrolyte supplementation required, depends on several factors. Dr Joe Pagan, president of Kentucky Equine Research in America, looked at sweat loss in horses at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. By measuring the horses’ body weight before and after the speed and endurance phase of the three-day event, he found that, on average, horses lost 18.4kg of body weight – about 15 litres of sweat.

The thirst response is nature’s way of preventing horses from becoming dehydrated, and it is thought that the urge to drink depends on having sufficient sodium concentrations in the blood.

When the horse sweats lightly, he loses water but the amount of electrolytes lost is minimal. The body recognises this water loss and seeks to make up the deficit by making the horse thirsty.

However, if the horse is sweating heavily and for a prolonged period of time he will lose significant amounts of water and electrolytes, so the level of sodium in the blood does not rise a great deal. This means the horse is not stimulated to drink, even though he is dehydrated.

Furthermore, when horses sweat profusely they are unable to drink quickly and frequently enough to replace the lost fluids. This can lead to fatigue and muscle weakness.

Top tips for hot weather

• Don’t take unnecessary risks or push your horse too hard in very hot weather – and take it easy if you are competing. Heat exhaustion is no fun for horse or rider
• Reduce your speed if undertaking fast work and concentrate on other areas, such as accuracy and obedience
• Monitor your horse’s temperature, pulse and heart rate in order to avoid heat stress
• Allow sufficient ‘cool down’ periods in walk when competing to allow the body’s internal cooling mechanism to function
• Warm up in the shade or indoors where possible and try to wait in shade rather than in direct sunlight
• Avoid the hottest part of the day when training
• Allow the horse free access to water before and after exercise
• Cool the horse off after competition with cold water, leaving it on the skin for a few seconds, before scraping off the excess and repeating
• Once the horse has cooled down, hydrate yourself, too. Aim to drink one to two litres of water a day and keep a full water bottle to hand.
• Add 20-40g of salt daily to the feed of horses in light work, increasing this amount with the horse’s workload
• If the horse is sweating for prolonged periods on a daily basis provide an electrolyte supplement, following the manufacturers’ instructions

Read the full feature on the role nutrition can play in helping horses cope with competing in hot weather in the August issue of HORSE magazine, on sale now

As British riders across the Olympic disciplines prepare for Athens, the scorching summer heat of Greece will be an additional challenge for horse and rider alike. Nutritionist Lizzie Drury believes it is vital we understand the effects of the dry heat expected at the Games for the welfare of all concerned.

“Athens is generally hot and dry with temperatures reaching 40 degrees celcius in July and August. The Olympic horses will face various physical challenges caused by the heat,” she says.

Extensive research has been carried out on exercising horses in extreme heat since the Stockholm World Equestrian Games in 1990, and it has been concluded that horses working in these conditions will experience increased thermal stress.

“This occurs when the horse’s body temperature increases, usually exceeding 105ºF (40.5ºC), and the horse starts to loose fluids, including electrolytes, through sweating,” explains Lizzie.

“If the rider does not act on these indicators of thermal stress and compensate for them, the horse is likely to suffer from fatigue or ER (exertional rhabdomyolysis or azoturia) – or may even collapse.”

Usually, thermal stress develops from over-exertion leading to overheating, or if weather conditions have taxed a horse’s ability to dissipate heat or interfered with fluid and electrolyte balance.

“You can reduce thermal stress by ensuring that your horse is properly conditioned, building muscle in place of fat,” says Lizzie. “This also develops capillary beds, improving oxygen circulation in the tissues and flushing heat to the skin surface.

“During competition, the simplest approach to combat thermally stressful conditions is to adjust the time of exercise and/or competition to avoid such conditions, such as competing in the early morning. This is preferable to early evening when the air temperatures often remain high due to heat stored in the ground.”

The extent to which horses suffer from thermal stress also depends on factors other than the temperature, including the type and speed of work the horse is being asked to do and the terrain he may have to cover. Some of these less-obvious factors include:

• Breed – for example, some Thoroughbreds and Arabs have a metabolic defect of calcium regulation and muscle contraction
• Body composition
• Length of coat
• Management and acclimatisation
• Body fat – Horses carrying greater amounts of fat are more likely to suffer the effects of extreme heat than lean horses as fat acts as an insulator, preventing excess heat from escaping through the skin

Although some of the show jumping at the Olympics is scheduled in the morning, most will take place in the afternoon and evening, which is not ideal, given the problems of thermal stress.

Various factors, such as TV broadcast limitations, influence the Olympic organisers’ schedule – but riders can only hope that the temperatures will have cooled down by the time the horses compete.

Read the full feature on the role nutrition can play in helping horses cope with competing in hot weather in the August issue of HORSE magazine, on sale now

Heatstroke in horses occurs when the animal’s body temperature increases to a point above which its natural cooling system fails to work effectively, so it starts to cook rather than cool the horse.

Any horse undergoing fast, strenuous work is at risk of heatstroke, particularly in hot and humid conditions. It is important to consider fluid and electrolyte intake in addition to fitness, as even relatively small degrees of dehydration can affect a horse’s performance. Heatstroke can also occur when a horse is left in a trailer that is standing in full sun.

The causes of heatstroke in horses include:

• hot and humid conditions, because high humidity prevents efficient evaporation of sweat and body cooling
• a lack of opportunity to acclimatised to the heat
• a horse that is unfit, overweight or has a thick coat
• a lack of fluid and body salts, which can lead to “exhausted horse complex”. In such a case, the horse overheats and becomes severely dehydrated, impairing its circulation and causing muscle fatigue, which can result in shock and collapse

Signs to watch out for include a raised temperature of 41-42°C or above. An affected horse will appear obviously distressed and will be unable to continue exercise.

If you suspect a horse is suffering from heatstroke, then he needs to be cooled as quickly as possible. Apply cold (4-10°C) water to as much of its body as is practical, including the hindquarters, either while gently walking the horse or allow the horse to stand the horse in a shady area, ideally where there is a breeze, while soaking. Do not spend time scraping the water off the horse as this will not increase the cooling effect – just keep applying more cold water over the whole of the horse’s body.

The horse should frequently be offered around half a bucket of electrolyte solution to drink, but if he will not take that, try plain water. Paradoxically, some dehydrated horses will not drink, as the thirst response is triggered by an increase in sodium, which is lost in sweat. If your horse refuses liquid, your vet may have to administer fluids using a stomach tube. This is passed up the horse’s nose, before being directed down towards its stomach.

However, it can be difficult to pass a tube into the stomach of an exhausted horse and this may produce a nosebleed. Additionally, in a very sick animal the fluid may simply pool in the gut and not be absorbed. As a result, an obviously sick or severely dehydrated horse requires fluids to be given directly into the blood circulation by a sterile catheter, which is usually placed in the main jugular vein in the neck. Large volumes of fluid and electrolytes can be given in this way.

Top tips to prevent heatstroke in horses

• Stick to the shade and avoid strenuous exercise between noon and 3pm
• Remember that weather forecasts quote the temperature in the shade, so a horse out in a field with no shade or shelter and limited water supply can suffer bad heatstroke
• Avoid leaving horses standing in horseboxes or trailers in direct sun
• Do not leave your horse shut in a hot stuffy stable when there is no breeze
• Allow small drinks at intervals during exercise – including directly before competing
• Give soaked hay and sloppy, wet feeds to help get water on board
• Rapid rehydration will not be possible with water alone as electrolytes, particularly sodium, are needed. There are a variety of commercially available equine oral replacement electrolyte solutions on the market, but it is important they are made up at the correct concentration and that your horse will take them. Adding apple squash or apple juice helps to mask the taste

Signs of dehydration

Traditionally, dehydration in horses is determined by the skin ‘pinch test’. A couple of centimetres of skin over the shoulder is pinched gently between finger and thumb, then released. In a hydrated horse, it will ‘ping’ rapidly back into place. In a seriously dehydrated horse, a small residual fold of skin will remain. However, this test is not 100 per cent reliable as the elasticity of skin varies from horse to horse.

Performance may be affected below the level that a skin pinch test would detect, so other signs must be assessed. These include:

• Dry or tacky gums
• A weak, fast pulse
• Sunken eyes
• Cool extremities

You may also be interested in…

How to keep horses cool in a heatwave with helpful tips for instant results

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How to survive a heatwave — whether you have a hairy cob or a competition horse

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Any horse at any competition or show at any level in any country can suffer from heat stress – this includes event horses, dressage horses, show jumpers, racehorses, polo ponies, endurance horses, driving horses, and horses or ponies in gymkhanas.

Cold water cooling is a method which, if applied correctly, can cool down hot horses rapidly after competing, speeding recovery and reducing the chances of dehydration and heat stress.

This is particularly important if horses reach a temperature of more than 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) or compete in hot weather (above 26 degree C or 80 degree F). There is no evidence that this technique causes any muscle problems such as ‘tying up’.

Cooling your horse

The cold water cooling technique cools horses using two of the three ways they normally lose heat – convection and evaporation.

You will need the following equipment:

• Large buckets to hold 40-50 litres of water and large blocks of ice.
• Supply of more water close by – hose or tanks
• Small buckets (5-10 litre) – supplement tubs are ideal
• Assistants – three is ideal – one to hold the horse and one person to cool each side
• A shady spot to carry out the cooling

Start to cool the horse immediately after it finishes exercising, while taking the rectal temperature. Liberally apply cold water to all parts of the body including the quarters. This is where most of the large muscles used for movement are located and so is an area that gets particularly hot.

Don’t scrape off the excess water after each application: it is more important to continue to apply cold water. Alternate 20-30sec cooling periods with 20-30sec walks in a circle. The walking and cooling sequence is important. The walking promotes blood flow to the skin and cooling by convection; the movement of air aids cooling by evaporation.

Check the horse’s rectal temperature at intervals. The temperature should fall by around 1 degree C in 10 minutes.

Allow your horse to drink small amounts of water (around half a bucket) during competition (e.g. during the 10 minute box in three day eventing), between rounds (e.g. showjumping), during long warm-up periods (e.g. dressage) and immediately after exercise. This will help to cool the horse down and reduce the effects of dehydration.

Stop cooling if the rectal temperature is less than 38-39 degrees C, if the skin over the quarters is cool to touch after a walking period, if the respiratory rate is less than 30 breaths per minute or if the horse shivers continuously.

Things to avoid

• Don’t put ice in the horse’s rectum as it can hide a high temperature.
• Don’t hold small bags of ice against the horse’s skin – this reduces cooling by stopping skin blood flow to the area under the pack. Instead, concentrate on cooling as much of the body surface as possible with cold water.
• Don’t place wet towels on the horse. Although the towel may be wet and cool at first, it soon warms and acts as insulation, preventing the loss of heat.
• Don’t apply excessive amounts of grease prior to cross country. The grease acts as insulation, prevents sweating and limits sweat evaporation.
• Don’t let horses stand still for prolonged periods.
• Don’t prevent the horse from drinking small amounts of water (eg half a bucket) during competition. Water should be left in the stable until 15 – 30 minutes before exercise. Water is emptied very rapidly from the stomach.
• Don’t give the horse ice cold water to drink.

Hot days at Hartpury

Last weekend’s Hartpury International Three Day Event at Hartpury College in Glos took place while Britain was experiencing record temperatures, but, thanks to the Animal Health Trust’s recommendations for cooling horses and the considerable efforts of the organisers, no horses suffered adverse reactions as a result of the heat.

The event had tonnes of ice and plenty of cold water on hand, and cool mist fans were available both in the D Box and the stable area, with vets ready to check the horses’ temperature and recovery rates.

Lauren Griffith, who attended the event as a groom, told HHO: “We received a leaflet with the AHT’s advice on coping with the heat when we arrived, and the helpers in the D-box worked all day to make sure the horses were OK. Having the vets on hand at both the end of the cross-country and back at the stables was a real bonus and the mist fans really helped cool the horses down quickly.”

To read more about the AHT’s work visit: www.aht.org.uk

For more information about Hartpury College visit: www.hartpury.ac.uk

• Check out Horse & Hound’s report from Hartpury International Horse Trials in today’s issue of the magazine.