Horse Advice - Summer Welfare Tips

The summer months can be the most enjoyable for you and your horse - but with the extra daylight, warm weather and sunshine come a few less pleasant aspects that are important to prepare for. Every summer we have to make sure that our horses have enough access to water and shelter and are protected from biting insects and poisonous plants, but it is now also essential that we take action to minimise the risk of infectious diseases, such as EIA, strangles or flu.

 

If we all do our bit, we can minimise the risk of the spread of disease. Here are some basic steps you can take to protect your horse this summer:

 

Keep it clean

Wash your hands, outer clothes, boots and other equipment regularly to avoid the spread of disease. Clean and disinfect equipment and stables between horses. Ensure that grazing areas are kept free of muck, and that water troughs are regularly cleaned out. If a horse is diagnosed with a disease, fences and field shelters will need to be disinfected.

 

Be vigilant

Be vigilant of other horses, especially if your horse is at a yard where new horses come and go frequently. Make sure your yard has found out the background of any new horse before it arrives. This includes where the horse has been stabled in the previous few months, how often it came into contact with new horses, whether it has been regularly vaccinated and has an up-to-date passport.

 

Isolation

Any new arrivals to your yard should be kept apart from the other horses for at least 21 days. Separate equipment should also be used. Stop the spread If your horse shows signs of disease, don’t let him come into contact with other horses or animals. Do not move your horse if it shows signs of disease, unless this is under veterinary advice. Movement includes transport, riding out and changing premises or paddocks.

 

Stay safe on the move

If moving your horse between countries you should ensure that your horse is checked by a vet before leaving, and that it has an up-to-date passport and is fully vaccinated. Always use a reputable transporter which maintains good operational and hygiene standards.

 

Stay up to date

Ensure your horse is regularly vaccinated and worm control measures are taken. Speak to your vet for advice on routine health care, or if you suspect that your horse has a disease.

 

When buying...

Only purchase horses from known and reliable sources and with an up-to-date passport. It is strongly advisable to have a horse vetted before purchase. Extra care should be taken when buying horses from abroad to ensure that they are healthy and free from disease.

 

 

It is also important to consider the following issues:

 

• Horses require access to clean fresh water throughout the year, but in summer it is even more important to check this supply regularly. Your horse will need to drink 20-70 litres a day, depending on their size, workload and the ambient temperature. If your horse drinks from an automatic water trough this is a good time to check that the stopcock is working correctly.
• It's not just you who needs sun protection when you ride out this summer. Repeated exposure to the sun's rays can lead to similar serious health problems in horses as those found in humans, especially if your horse has light skin or a pink nose. Many horses are more likely to use shelter to escape the sun than the rain - potential solutions include natural shelter, such as trees, as well as manmade shelters. Apply sun block to your horse's nose for protection – equine or human will do, as will a light rug specifically designed for this purpose.
• It's always important to look out for ragwort plants in any areas that your horse can access, and remove them right away. The weed is poisonous to horses when eaten and the effect is cumulative; by the time symptoms appear from toxic build-up in the liver it is too late to treat. Always wear gloves when removing ragwort. Try to remove the roots as well as the plants, and make sure you follow government guidelines for disposing of it.