Keeping your horse healthy and well no matter the season is the goal for every horse breeder or owner. You do not want to be dealing with winter blues and still have your horse falling ill on you or have him suffering from heat stroke in the middle of summer.
Winter comes with damp, chilly weather and mountains of snow, depending on where you live, while summer brings heat which can increase the prevalence of mosquitoes and the risk of dehydration. Knowing how each season affects your horse is important for preserving their health all year round. The most common seasonal health issues that horses encounter in the summer and winter will be discussed here, and we will offer helpful ways to prevent, recognize, and treat these health issues.
The Impact of Seasonal Changes on Horses
Although horses are highly adaptable animals, changes in season can affect their health, behavior and general well-being. Horses will naturally adjust to their environment when temperatures change and daylight disappears. Some of these adjustments may include shedding in the spring and developing a thicker coat in the winter. You may also need to modify their diet to match energy requirements.
Summertime is likely to come with high humidity, extreme heat, and an increase in the number of flies and other biting insects. If not adequately cared for, horses may experience heightened stress caused by the heat, excessive sweating, or dehydration. Long-term exposure to the sun can also cause sunburn, particularly in horses with pink or light-colored skin.
On the flip side, during the winter months, the air is cold and damp and the environment may become muddy. During this period, horses may lose weight as a result of burning more calories to stay warm. Also, because they have to spend more time in their stable, dust and other particles can cause respiratory problems. Hoof problems can also arise from frozen grounds and slips from icy paddocks.
Knowing the health problems that your horse is likely to face in each season helps you to plan ahead. There are changes that you can make to their daily routine to reduce the effects of seasonal changes. For example, you can switch their exercise schedule since they get less time outdoors, change their diet, and their stable arrangement. You can keep your horse healthy and happy throughout the year by avoiding disease, injury, and discomfort.
Health Issues for horses in Summer
Summer times can be fun for both you and your horse. However, you need to be aware of the health problems that come with the season so that you can take appropriate action. Some locations are hotter than others during the summer but these health issues are universal to most places in the summer.
Here are some of the health issues that can affect your horse this summer
Heat Stress and Dehydration
With longer days, brighter sky, and more time for riding, summer can be a great season for horse owners, but it also presents significant health risks for your horse. Dehydration and heat stress are two of the most common, as they can quickly degenerate into more fatal illness if ignored.
Why It Happens: Sweating helps horses control their body temperature. This sweat, however, evaporates more slowly in hot and humid weather, making it difficult for the horse to cool down faster. Their bodies can overheat, particularly when exercising or exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Additionally, excessive sweating causes the loss of electrolytes that are necessary for the proper functioning of the muscles and nerves.
Dehydration on the other hand causes a horse’s blood volume to drop, which strains the heart and other essential organs. In severe situations, this may result in heatstroke or exhaustion. You will notice your horse sweating profusely that it begins to drop off its body, or he may stop sweating altogether, he may experience weakness, confusion and may start panting or even struggle to breathe due to an increased heart rate.
How to Prevent it
Ensure that your horse has enough water to drink. During summer, a horse drinks up to 10-20 litres of water daily. You can add electrolytes to his water to replace minerals lost from sweat. Train or ride early in the morning before the sun comes up. Use trees, run-in shelters, or shade cloth to create cover and shade in the paddock. Use fans in stables to increase ventilation, clip long coats on horses that don’t shed effectively, especially elderly or cushings-affected animals; avoid strenuous activities during hot weather, and always allow your horse to cool down gradually after a workout.
Anhidrosis
This is a condition that happens when your horse is unable to sweat. Although the exact cause is unknown, it is believed to be connected to extended stimulation of the sweat glands, especially during the hot summer months which causes your horse’s temperature regulating mechanism to shut down. This is a major health problem in the summer because horses that are unable to sweat become overheated with even a small amount of exercise in warm weather.
How to Prevent It
There is no known treatment for Anhidrosis, although some vets recommend supplements to help manage the situation. A more permanent solution will be to move your horse to a colder environment. After a few years, many horses recover fully and even begin sweating again. If moving your horse is difficult, avoid riding him during the heat and keep him as cool as possible with water and stall fans or misting systems.
Bruised Hooves/Soles
Just like human feet, horses can injure their hoof. This happens when the soft tissue in the hoof is damaged causing bleeding and bruising. This injury can be as a result of trauma caused by stepping on rocks on hard surfaces. It can also be caused by repeated stomping when trying to keep flies away.
How to Prevent and Treat it
These bruises if left untreated can lead to abscesses which can be potentially dangerous and can lead to lameness. Proper hoof care is important as well as regular trimming and shoeing. When riding in the summer, avoid hard or rocky terrain.
Treatment usually involves allowing your horse to rest and giving medication to manage the pain and inflammation. Proper shoeing and trimming will help to address the underlying cause. You can also provide protective pads or boots to protect the hoof while it heals.
Common Summer Skin Problems in Horses
Insect Bite Hypersensitivity (Sweet Itch)
Sweet itch is one of the most annoying summertime conditions. It occurs when horses have an allergic reaction to the saliva of biting midges (Culicoides). It causes extreme itching, especially around the mane, tail, and belly, and horses can rub themselves raw and even damage their skin, which can lead to secondary infections, hair loss, and broken skin. Some breeds are more susceptible to these insects such as Shires, Welsh ponies and Icelandic horses.
If you notice your horse rubbing vigorously on tree trunks, fences, and anything else that he can scratch on, he probably has been bitten by these insects. You will also notice flaky, swollen, hairless patches on parts of the skin
Rain Rot (Dermatophilosis)
Rain rot, although usually associated with damp conditions, can also come up in summer due to sweating and poor grooming. It is caused by bacteria and manifests as crusty, painful lesions especially on the back and rump. It can cause the hairs on the back and ramp to be matted and when you try to remove them, it sticks out like a paint brush.
You can treat it by using a medicated shampoo or wash to kill the bacteria and loosen the matted hair, you can cut the hairs on the affected areas and also administer antibiotics.
Sunburn
Horses with pink skin or white markings, especially on the nose and around the eyes, are highly susceptible to sunburn just like fair-skinned people. Prolonged exposure can cause redness, blistering, and pain. Horse hairs serve as protection from the harmful UV rays, however you should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.
Horses with sunburn have red, sensitive, and swollen skin. In severe cases, the skin may even bleed. Photosensitization on the other hand can be caused by painful, tight scabbing on the skin. It requires a different course of treatment.
Fly Irritations and Habronemiasis
Fly irritation and habronemiasis, also known as summer sores, is caused by parasites carried by habronema worms, they deposit their larva in open sores or wounds, and in moist areas like the eyes and genitalia. Fly irritation can also be caused by bites from different fly species. Habronemiasis leads to chronic sores that are difficult to heal, it causes a lot of discomfort for horses and is often greasy and reddish-brown, with yellow calcified material.
How to Prevent and Manage Summer Skin Issues
- Wear insect-repelling clothing, such as leg wraps, fly sheets, and fly masks. These offer protection against bug and insect bites.
- Regularly apply fly repellents, paying special attention to high-risk locations.
- Select spot-on treatments or safe sprays that have are approved for such use by a vet
- Maintain clean stables and turnout areas, get rid of excrement as soon as possible because it draws flies. Use fly traps and think about using citronella or other natural repellents.
- Keep horses in the stable when midges are most active, which is usually in the early morning and late evening.
- Use sunscreen on places that are susceptible, such pink noses. To prevent irritation, use products designed specifically for horses.
- Maintain proper hygiene by routinely washing away perspiration and looking for any early indications of irritation or sores.
- During the hottest hours of the day, provide cover for horses to help them avoid the sun and flies.
If your horse has an itch that wouldn’t go away, open wounds or sore, or shows signs of discomfort that don’t improve with basic care, consult your vet. Some conditions, like sweet itch, require prescription medications such as corticosteroids or antihistamines.
Horse Health Issues in Winter
Horses are large, strong animals that appear like nothing can defeat them. The truth is that they are susceptible to a number of illnesses and each season comes with its own peculiar health challenge. As temperatures drop in the winter, most horse owners extend stable time in order to shield their animals from the wind and cold. However, spending too much time indoors has its disadvantages. Dust, moisture and inadequate ventilation in the stable can lead to respiratory problems and other health problems.
Respiratory Problems
The respiratory system of horses is very sensitive. During winter months, dust, mold spores, and ammonia fumes from urine are trapped in the air by closed barns and decreased ventilation. Coughing, nasal discharge, and laboured breathing can result from these irritants as they have the ability to aggravate the airways. The most prevalent respiratory conditions brought on by winter include:
Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO)
RAO also known as heaves is similar to asthma in humans. It occurs when horses inhale allergens like dust, mold, and pollen. It results in the inflammation of the respiratory organs and causes periods of airway obstruction, it also causes flared nostrils, nasal discharge, persistent coughing and inability to exercise due to breathing difficulties. It is very common in older horses who spend more time in the stable and may be exposed to accumulated hay dust and mold.
Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD)
IAD is a milder form of recurrent airway obstruction and can affect horses of all ages though it is more prevalent in younger horses. Its symptoms include mild coughing, nasal discharge, and decreased stamina, especially during physical activity. It is characterized by increased mucus production in the airway. Unlike heaves which cause a lot of difficulty in breathing, IAD does not cause labored breathing for horses.
Increased Risk of Viral Infection
Equine influenza and other respiratory virus epidemics can be caused by cold weather and close contact with other horses. These can spread swiftly in yards or barns and are very contagious.
How to Improve Stable Conditions and Prevent Winter Respiratory Issues
- Even on chilly days, make sure stables have adequate ventilation. Create space to let fresh air in through windows, vents, or open-top stable doors.
- Choose low-dust bedding such as paper, cardboard, or dust-extracted shavings. If your horse is sensitive, stay away from straw.
- Before feeding, especially if the hay is kept indoors, soak or steam it to minimise dust and mold spores.
- To prevent ammonia buildup, keep stables dry and clean by cleaning out frequently and removing soiled bedding as soon as possible.
- Do not clean the stable when your horse is inside to avoid dust inhalation.
- To guarantee that horses receive exercise and fresh air, even during cold weather, provide a regular turnout.
- Vaccinate against respiratory diseases such as equine flu and keep an eye out for early infection symptoms.
Winter Weight Loss and Cold Weather Nutrition
During winter, your horse burns more calories to stay warm and if you do not pay attention to their feeding they may begin to lose weight. You must provide adequate nutrition and plenty of clean fresh drinking water for them daily
How to Prevent Winter Weight Loss
Prioritize Forage
The main component of horse diet is forage, increase their daily intake as they can stay warm as a result of the internal heat produced from digesting the fibre from hay.
Monitor body Conditions Regularly
Physically examine your horse every few weeks, feel around their spine, ribs, hips and check out their mane. Feeling them with your hands is much better than using your eyes alone as weight loss can be hidden under heavy winter coats.
Introduce supplements If needed
In addition to providing calorie-dense feeds, to ensure the optimal health of your horse, you can add supplements that contain essential vitamins and minerals. Consult your vet if you’re not sure what your horse really needs.
Address Dental health
Regular dental check-ups are very important as any issue with their teeth can prevent them from chewing hay or not having an appetite.
Routine Care to Stay Ahead of Seasonal Risks
The cornerstone of equine health is proactive and continuous care, regardless of the season. With adequate preparation, regular examinations, and early intervention, many seasonal health problems can be reduced or completely prevented. In addition to shielding your horse from seasonal dangers, establishing and maintaining a year-round care regimen also increases longevity and general health. The key elements of a year-round care routine include:
- Regular health monitoring
- Regular Farrier visits
- Periodic vaccinations and deworming
- Dental checks
- Proper grooming and skin care
- Providing the right nutrition and diet
- Maintaining a clean stable
Conclusion
You can maintain your horse’s health throughout the year by being aware of and ready for the health problems that occur in the summer and winter. Every season comes with its own peculiarities and you should be prepared to prevent the health issues that come with each season, whether it is managing skin problems and dehydration in the summer or promoting healthy weight and respiratory health in the winter. You and your horse can fully enjoy each season if you have the appropriate information and equipment.
