As the summer temperatures creep toward the triple digits, it is important to protect your horses from getting dehydrated. Dehydration can lead to significant health consequences that can be disastrous. When you provide your horses with the tools to stay hydrated, you can substantially reduce the possibility of significant issues. At Bar Bar A, our automatic waterers are able to help keep your horse healthy despite the summer heat. Here are a few of the best tips for preventing horses from getting dehydrated in summer.

Ensure a Constant Supply of Water

It is incredibly important to ensure that your horse has access to a constant supply of water. This means that it is crucial to ensure that the water supply is fresh and clean. It should always be available to ensure that your horse is getting sufficient amounts of water. Never restrict your horse’s access to water, especially during the summer. It is also important to ensure that the water is at a good, comfortable temperature. For example, when the water heats up too much, the horse may not be inclined to drink it.

Our automatic watering systems ensure that the water is stored beneath the surface of the ground. This helps to keep it at a comfortable temperature throughout the year. The water will be pleasantly cool in the summer, while still being warm enough for consumption in the winter. An automatic watering system also helps to reduce the amount of time that you have to spend on the watering processes for your horses. Implementing an automatic horse waterer will go a long way toward ensuring that your horses has a constant supply of fresh, clean water.

Importance of Preventing Dehydration

It is critical to prevent dehydration in your horses, especially in the summer months. Summer temperatures can easily lead to excessive dehydration. When you allow your horse to become dehydrated, it is highly likely that issues will occur. For example, colic is an incredibly common impact of dehydration, which can be deadly for horses. Preventing dehydration in summer can go a long way toward protecting the health of your horses.

Their Food Supply

You may be able to introduce additional hydration through your horse’s food supply. This can be done by soaking or steaming the hay that they eat. However, if you decide to do this, it is important to do so gradually. This can help to reduce the risk of colic. Keep in mind that uneaten soaked hay should be disposed of appropriately. Otherwise, mold may be able to accumulate on the surface of the hay, which can cause additional health issues.

Avoid Traveling

When the temperatures outside are extremely warm, you should avoid traveling with your horses. However, in some situations, you may be required to travel. If you have to travel, you should ensure that you do it as early in the morning or late at night as possible. This will help you to avoid traveling during the hottest part of the day. When you have to travel with your horse during the summer, you should always bring more water than you think you need. This can help to reduce the possibility of dehydration.

Provide Shelter

When a horse is forced to be out in the sunlight, their body temperature is likely to rise. It is important to ensure that you provide shelter or shade to your horse during the summer temperatures. This will help them to stay cooler and protect themselves from excessive amounts of heat.

Be Careful with Exercise

Be careful whenever you exercise your horse during the summer months. If you have to exercise during the hotter parts of the day, you should ensure that you take breaks on a regular basis. Whenever possible, you should ensure that you exercise them only in the morning or the evening to avoid the hottest temperatures. It is also critical to ensure that you cool the horse down properly after exercise. Failing to do so can lead to excessive issues.

Signs of Dehydration

Understanding the signs of dehydration will go a long way toward protecting your horse. Ensure that you contact your veterinarian if you think that your horse is dehydrated. The horse’s urine is likely to indicate the presence of dehydration. When urine is particularly dark or scarce, it is possible that your horse is dehydrated. A horse that is dehydrated may have a reduced amount of droppings. Other common signs of dehydration include dry skin, a dry mouth, thick or sticky saliva, lethargy, symptoms of depression, dark gums, and dull eyes.

Signs of Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion often sets in alongside dehydration. This makes it similarly important to understand the signs of heat exhaustion. As with dehydration, it is critical to consult with a veterinarian if you are concerned that your horse is experiencing heat exhaustion. Many of the signs of dehydration are also present with heat exhaustion. An increased pulse and breathing rate may also indicate that your horse is experiencing heat exhaustion. A horse that is experiencing heat exhaustion may flare their nostrils, pant excessively, or exhibit a decreased appetite. Other common symptoms tend to include increased rectal temperatures, irregular heartbeat, muscle spasms, raised body temperature, and reduced performance. Pay careful attention to these signs to ensure that you obtain the appropriate treatment for your horse.

At Bar Bar A, we are passionate about ensuring that you can keep your horses hydrated throughout the summer. It is incredibly important for horses to drink adequate amounts of water throughout the year. Our automatic watering systems can significantly reduce the difficulty associated with keeping your horse healthy over the hot summer temperatures. They can help to ensure that your horse always has access to a fresh, clean supply of water that is kept at a comfortable temperature. These watering systems significantly help to reduce the likelihood of dehydration throughout the summer months. To learn more about preventing dehydration during the summer and the benefits of our automatic watering systems, contact our experts at Bar Bar A today!

There is a certain level of risk that is associated with horseback riding. It is important to keep in mind that if you ride on horseback consistently, it is likely that you will eventually have a fall, which could easily result in an injury. Due to this, it is extremely important to take precautions to ride safely and always wear a helmet. It can certainly be difficult to get back in the saddle after experiencing an injury. It is likely that you will experience a certain level of anxiety after being injured while horseback riding, which can make it hard to return to horseback riding. You also need to ensure that you recover physically from your riding accident. Taking the appropriate steps can help you to ease your way back into the things that you love doing after you have experienced an injury.

Implement a Support System

It is important to have a strong support system after experiencing an event like an injury from horseback riding. This support system can help to provide both physical and mental support. For example, having someone to help you when you need to get up can allow you to rest and focus on your recovery. These same people can also help to provide emotional reassurance and support during your recovery phase. Ensuring that you have someone to lean on can go a long way toward allowing you to heal after you have experienced an injury.  

Practice Positivity

Dwelling on the negative aspects of your injury will likely make it far more difficult to convince yourself to get back in the saddle. Take some time to consider why you love horseback riding or remember the many positive experiences that you have had while riding. It can also be helpful to read about more advanced riders that have experienced similar injuries. It is important to keep in mind that these injuries could happen to anyone. Trying to remain positive can help to accelerate your healing and prevent substantial issues from arising.

Acknowledge and Accept the Past

It will be ineffective to simply pretend that the incident didn’t happen. Simply ignoring it will only cause you to suppress your emotions rather than dealing with them in a healthy manner. Accept that the injury happened and consider what you could have done to prevent issues. Make your accident a learning experience and take steps to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.

Ease Back Into It

It is important to take it in steps when you are recovering from experiencing an injury. Don’t do too much too quickly. Pushing yourself too hard can simply backfire. For example, when you exercise too much following an injury, it is likely that you will cause another injury or exacerbate the existing one. Additionally, it is important to ensure that you don’t try to do too much when you aren’t mentally capable of it. Try doing short rides until your anxiety lessens. Taking it in small steps will allow you to more gradually improve your physical and mental strength.  

Improve your Fitness

Exercising on a regular basis and taking the steps to improve your fitness can go a long way toward preventing additional issues from occurring. When you are in great condition, it is far less likely that you will become injured while horseback riding.

Manage Old Injuries

It is important to take the appropriate amount of time in order to ensure that you have recovered from any old injuries, as well as take steps to prevent injuries from getting worse. Stretching, icing, and other steps can help to prevent the resurfacing of injuries. Take the time you need to recover from past injuries and prevent the injuries from becoming much worse.

Invest in New Equipment

Investing in new equipment can help to provide you with a mental reset regarding horseback riding. Though this won’t erase the memory of the injury, it is possible that it will provide enough of a difference to help you get back to riding. This step may also allow you to choose upgraded equipment to protect your safety and prevent reoccurring injuries from horseback riding.

Take your Time

It is important to take your time after experiencing an injury. Don’t force anything before you are ready to do so. Though it is important to take the process in steps to recover and not to procrastinate too long, it is equally important to ensure that you take the time you need to recover. Be patient with yourself, your body, and your mental recovery.

Learn Injury Prevention Techniques

There are many techniques that you can add to your horseback riding in order to prevent injuries from occurring. Learning more of these techniques can help you to feel much more confident when you return to riding. It is important to wear a helmet whenever you get on a horse. Learn the signs that your horse is distressed or in pain. You also need to identify common trail hazards and keep an eye out for them while riding. Practice safety techniques to prevent additional injuries from occurring. Adding these strategies will both improve your confidence and keep you much more safe while riding.

These steps can go a long way toward helping you to get back in the saddle after experiencing an injury. It can certainly be a difficult experience to overcome and allow you to return back to your life. There are many benefits to regularly horseback riding and it is important to not let this experience prevent you from doing so. Though it is important to protect yourself while horseback riding, it is similarly important to protect your horse. One of the greatest issues that horses face is dehydration. Through the implementation of our Automatic Horse Waterer, you can ensure that your horse has access to clean, comfortable-temperature water at any time of the year. To learn more about how the Bar-Bar-A automatic waterer can improve your horse’s health, contact our expert team at the Horse Drinker today!

Life would certainly be much easier if your horse could talk to you and explain exactly how they are feeling. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. However, horses communicate through body language cues, so it is still possible to understand what’s going on in your horse’s brain. Understanding their body language is key in locating issues early on, as well as preventing substantial issues from occurring.

Signs of Stress

Understanding the signs of stress can help you to avoid major problems and prevent them from arising. There are multiple signs that your horse is worried, anxious, or otherwise experiencing stress. The ears can either be forward-point or pinned back. However, it is important to note that the ears will be pinned sharply, rather than simply sitting in a relaxed position. They may also be swiveling quickly. This is generally when they are trying to locate a perceived threat. Their eyes can also indicate that they are stressed. Horses that are stressed or anxious often widen their eyes, which will expose the whites around them. Widened nostrils, a high head, stiff stance, and raised tail are additional indications that your horse is experiencing high levels of stress. Stressed horses may also lick and chew. This is because their saliva production tends to go into overdrive when they are stressed. A frightened horse often holds their tails tightly against their hindquarters.

Ill or In Pain

It is incredibly important to be able to identify when your horse is ill or in pain. This will help you to obtain the help they need before their health can substantially decline. A horse that is ill or in pain will often stand away from the group and seem reluctant to interact with others. If they are experiencing pain in their abdomen, which is a possible indication of colic, they may kick or bite at their abdomen. A horse that is in pain or is ill may paw the ground. They may also lie down regularly and then stand back up frequently. Alternatively, they may be reluctant to move. Flattening their ears, staring intensely, or tossing their head may also indicate that the horse is experiencing pain or an illness.

Depressed

Horses may become depressed after experiencing stress for extended periods of time or for another reason. Identifying the signs of depression can help you to take the action to rectify the horse’s situation and improve their mood. A horse that is depressed may stand still for several minutes. They often shift the weight to the front, while holding their necks horizontal and low, but still stretched out. The ears tend not to move very much when the horse is depressed, even in reaction to external stimulus. A horse that is depressed may appear rather indifferent to the environment, including interactions with other horses.

Discontent or Irritation

Discontent or irritation are incredibly important emotions to identify. Continuing to expose your horse to things that irritate them can lead to accidents. It is important to identify what is causing the discontent in your horse. In some cases, it may be as minor as insects flying around your horse. A horse that is discontent or irritated may swish their tail or shake their heads. They also tend to purse their lips and raise their necks. Stomping is another indication that the horse is irritated. When they stomp, they will simply lift their leg up and stomp it back down on the ground. While this may indicate mild irritation, it is important to notice other signs of irritation. If their ears are pinned back or their facial muscles are tensed, it is possible that the irritation is extreme and they are warning you to stay away.  

Happy or Relaxed

Though many people tend to focus primarily on the signs that a horse is unhappy, it can also be helpful to understand the signs that your horse is happy or relaxed. This will help you to provide them with an environment that allows them to feel safe and happy. Horses that are relaxed often half-close their eyes. They may also stretch out their upper lips. The facial expressions horses make when happy often look like smiling, which can make it easy to identify. A horse that is relaxed may allow their ears to gently drift backward. It is important to note that this is not a pinning of the ears, which is a very different sign. A happy horse often lifts or tilts their necks slightly.

Avoid Accidents by Reading Horse’s Body Language

Many accidents could have been avoided if the individual had been familiar with reading the horse’s body language. They often provide warnings prior to striking, so it is important to understand these warning signs. A horse that is preparing to strike may shift their weight to free up legs for kicking. Stay out of range of a horse’s legs when you notice this sign. They will also pin back their ears and tense their facial muscles. This may be a sign that they are about to lunge or bite. Stomping in combination with these other signs is often a warning to stay away. It is important to pay attention to these signs. If a horse is displaying these symptoms, it is likely that they are in pain or are experiencing some other negative factor. You may want to consult a veterinarian if your pet is displaying these symptoms.

Understanding body language of your horse can help you to detect substantial issues in the early stages. It is incredibly important to ensure that your horse remains hydrated. Understanding the warning signs of dehydration, which is often present in body language, will help you to ensure that your horse is getting enough water to drink. Here at the Horse Drinker, we provide excellent products to ensure that your horse has constant access to appealing, clean water. The Bar-Bar-A can help to ensure that your horse’s drink enough water. To learn more about the services we offer, as well as how to read the body language of your horse, contact our experts today!