Keeping Your Horse Cool in a Heatwave: What We Do at Parallax

The British summer has a habit of catching us off guard. One week it's drizzling and you're scraping mud off fetlocks; the next the mercury has climbed past 28°C and you're stood in the yard wondering why your horse looks so flat.

Heatwaves are genuinely stressful for horses. Unlike us, they can't open the freezer door, pour a cold drink or sit under a fan. They rely entirely on us to manage their environment — and the difference between a horse that copes well and one that struggles often comes down to the small things we put in place before the temperature peaks.

We've been thinking a lot about this recently and heres our suggestions .

keeping your horse cool in heatwave. Water First. Always Water First.

This sounds obvious, but it bears saying plainly: in hot weather, one trough is not enough.

Horses can drink anywhere between 25 and 55 litres of water a day in normal conditions. In a heatwave, that figure goes up — sometimes significantly. And horses won't always walk across a field to find water if they're hot and lethargic. They need it close, and they need plenty of it.

Our rule during a heatwave is simple: fill everything you've got. Buckets, troughs, drinkers — whatever you have access to, get it filled and spread it around. We use our Hay-Saver as an additional water station in the field on hot days. It's deep enough to hold a good volume, 250 litre capacity and easy to scrub out and refill quickly. It's not its day to day job but it is a perfect large trough when you need one!

Check your water sources at least twice a day in hot weather. Horses drink more and water evaporates faster than you'd expect in direct sun. A trough that was full in the morning can look very different by mid-afternoon.

A few practical points worth keeping in mind:

• Position water containers in shade where possible — horses are more likely to drink from cool water than water that's been baking in direct sunlight

• Scrub troughs regularly in hot weather; algae and bacteria build up faster in warm conditions

• If you're turning horses out overnight to avoid the heat of the day, make sure water is accessible in the field as well as the stable

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Don't Forget What They're Losing

Sweating isn't just water loss — it's electrolyte loss too. Sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium all leave the body through sweat, and in a heatwave a working horse can lose significant quantities.

The signs of electrolyte imbalance can be subtle at first: a horse that seems duller than usual, drinks less than you'd expect, is slow to recover after light work, or has a slightly tucked-up appearance. Left unaddressed, it can progress to muscle stiffness, poor gut motility and in serious cases, tying-up.

A recovery mash is one of the most straightforward ways to replace what's been lost. We make ours with a warm soaked feed base — we've been using Saracens Recovery Mash, which is well-suited to this kind of supplementary feeding. Mash encourages drinking alongside eating, which is an added bonus when you're trying to get more fluid into a horse that's gone a bit quiet on the water.

The mash doesn't need to be complicated. Soaked feed and a bit of enthusiasm from your horse — job done.

Cool the Horse, Then Get Them Clean

Cold hosing is one of the most effective tools you have for keeping your horse cool in a heatwave and it's something a lot of people are still slightly hesitant about. To be clear: cold water is fine. Contrary to older advice, there is no good evidence that applying cold water to large muscle groups causes tying-up or cramping in a hot horse. The concern was based on a misunderstanding of equine physiology that has since been well and truly unpicked.

Hose cold water over the large muscle groups — quarters, back, neck — and keep moving the water rather than letting it sit. The water itself carries heat away from the body, and you'll see the horse relax almost immediately.

Pay particular attention to the areas where heat accumulates: between the hind legs, under the belly, behind the elbows. These spots are easy to overlook and they make a real difference.

Once you've got the initial temperature down and the horse is standing quietly, this is the perfect moment to groom properly. A damp coat is far easier to work with than a dry one — sweat residue, dried mud and dust all come away much more readily when the skin and coat have been thoroughly wetted. We use the Nimbrush at this stage, working it through in sections. The silicone bristles are firm enough to lift debris effectively but gentle enough for the sensitive areas — around the face, behind the ears, along the girth and between the hind legs — where a stiff brush would make most horses fidget.

The result, once everything dries, is a genuinely clean coat rather than the slightly dusty, slightly sticky finish that can follow a rushed grooming session on a dry horse.

It also gives you a proper opportunity to look your horse over. When you're working methodically through a full groom in good light, you'll notice things — a new lump, a patch of heat, a bit of sensitivity somewhere unexpected — that you might miss on a faster day-to-day check.

A Note on Timing

All of the above is more effective if you're working with the day rather than against it.

In a serious heatwave, avoid riding or working horses during the hottest part of the day — typically between 11am and 4pm but can continue into the evening. Early mornings and late evenings are generally cooler, recovery is faster and the whole experience is more pleasant for horse and rider alike.

If your horse lives out, consider whether a turn-out pattern that uses the cooler hours makes sense. Some horses do better with overnight turnout and stable time through the heat of the day; others cope well in the field if they have shade, water and space to move.

There is no single right answer — you know your horse. But in a heatwave, it's worth being a bit more deliberate about it than usual.

The Short Version

Heatwave care doesn't need to be complicated. More water, more water points. Replace electrolytes in working horses. Cold hose without hesitation. Use the time to groom properly.

A horse that's well-hydrated, properly fed and physically comfortable will cope with summer heat far better than one that's been pushed too hard at the wrong time of day with too little to drink.

The basics, done consistently, are what count.

We'd love to hear how you keep your horses cool in summer — drop us a message on Instagram @parallax_equestrianor leave a comment below.