By Sue Weakley in consultation with Kimberly D. Snyder, DVM, PA

It’s hot out there! Summer heat can be dangerous for horses and could lead to dehydration, muscle cramps, respiratory distress, diarrhea, or even colic. It’s important to monitor your horse to watch out for heat-related problems. Here are nine hot weather tips to help your horses chill out in the summertime sun.

1. Nighttime is the right time. If possible, turn you horse out at night or early in the morning to take advantage of naturally cooler temperatures.

2. It’s cool to be shady. If you do turn out during the day, provide relief from the sun’s direct rays. If you count on trees for shade, make sure that as the sun moves, there is still shade available.

3. I like to move it move it! Fans are a great way to provide a cooling breeze but make sure that cords are safely out of reach. Misting fans can decrease the air temperature by 10 degrees but they are less effective in high humidity.

4. Be your horse’s waterboy. Water in a bucket can get hot and stagnant fast and algae can grow quickly in the heat. A 1,000 pound horse can drink 20-25 gallons of water a day so check on buckets, stock tanks and troughs to make sure your horse has plenty of cool, clear water. And don’t forget to provide a salt block or free-choice salt.

5. Don’t sweat it. If your horse sweats a lot, electrolytes in feed or water can help keep a horse’s body in balance. But, as always, too much of a good thing can be harmful, so be sure and offer fresh water as well. If your horse doesn’t sweat much, it may be time to call your vet.

6. Work it! If your horse is ridden infrequently, now is not the time to get him into shape. Even a well-conditioned horse can become stressed if the heat index is high. Be sure and offer plenty of water after a workout. It’s a myth that it’s dangerous to let your horse drink when he is very hot. If your horse is breathing heavily after a workout, let him take a few sips of water, walk him for a minute and let him have another drink.

7. Cool it. Sponge your horse for a quick cool off, especially on the large blood vessels under the belly and neck and legs. Be sure and scrape off excess water.

Top-level endurance riders and eventers douse their horses down with ice-cold water after they finish a ride to bring the body temp down quickly. But, a cool shower is more comfortable than a cold shower, so unless you are headed to a vet check, cool water will feel better to your horse.

8. Hay, hay, hay. As the heat increases, pasture quality declines. Offer quality fodder to help your horse self-regulate his temperature. 9. Check it out. Watch your horse for signs of heat exhaustion: weakness, stumbling, increased respiration (40-50 breaths a minute and shallow breathing), increased heart rate (more than 80 beats a minute even after two minutes of rest), and an elevated temperature (102+ degrees F). With heat stroke, symptoms are more severe and body temps will remain above 106 degrees F with a cessation of sweating. If you suspect heat exhaustion or heat stoke, it’s time to call the vet.