Summer is here and so are the unique equine health considerations that go with it. Dr. Kristina Hiney, PhD, Omega Fields® Equine Nutrition Advisor offers the following tips for having the best summer possible with your horse.
- Go for a trail ride or try a new discipline. Horses get bored if they are asked to perform the same tasks over and over. Try your hand at cattle sorting or learn to jump. It will keep your horse interested in his job and give his mind a break.
- Increase your horse’s access to water
as the temperature heats up.
He needs it. Expect his water intake
to double.
- Allow either free access to salt or add salt as needed to your horse’s grain.
As the horse increases his sweating rate, he will need to replace the electrolytes he has lost. For more information see Supplying Electrolytes on the Omega Fields website Avoid riding in the extreme heat of the day, especially if your horse is not acclimated to the climate.
- Provide some sort of shade or shelter. Horses will seek relief from biting insects by standing in the shade. The bugs are less likely to follow them there.
- Check the airflow in the barn if your horse is housed inside.
If there is limited air movement add a fan to increase circulation and aid in evaporative cooling. However, make sure the cord is completely inaccessible to your horse!
- If traveling to hotter climates, allow your horse a week to acclimate before you expect him to compete at his top level.
- Avoid overgrazing pastures
during droughts.
This may kill the grass and ruin your investment in providing pasture as a nutrient source and not just an area for exercise. Also, weeds tend to be hardier, and your horse may begin to ingest potentially hazardous plants as the grass becomes limited.
- Time to lay in your hay supply!
Make sure you plan ahead for your needs for the year. See Figuring Your Forage Needs on the Omega Fields website for more details.
To read the other seasonal tips from Dr. Kris Hiney, as well as her monthly articles concerning equine health and training, sign up to receive Omega Fields’ monthly Health-E-Letter. It’s free, delivered to your e-mail address, and contains exciting product discounts, up-to-date research, health-related news, interesting resources and new product development, along with thought provoking feature stories.
Omega Fields provides premium, nutritional products, made from human-grade, stabilized ground flaxseed, rich with antioxidants and optimum ratios of the full spectrum of natural Omega Fatty Acids for equine, canine, poultry, and human nutrition via online and traditional distribution models.
Article provided by Omega Fields. For more information call 1-800-962-9536 or 920-550-4061, ext. 118, e-mail pat.young@enreco.com, or visit www.OmegaFields.com, www.OmegaFieldsHealth.com or www.FLAX.com. |
