Refreshing Summer Care for Your Horse: Tips for Cooling and Wellness

In summer, horses require special care. A cool shower after training is not only refreshing but also essential to avoid overheating. We will show you what to consider and what other options are available to cool your horse.

During the summer months, a cool shower helps to rid your horse of sweat. This supports the proper functioning of its body and protects against overheating. If you wish to wash and cool down your horse after riding, there are some important aspects to consider. Whether you are cooling just the horse's legs or giving the entire animal a shower, cold water can achieve much more than mere refreshment.

Horses overheat much faster than humans—up to ten times faster, to be exact. This is because horses have a larger proportion of active muscle mass and a smaller surface area relative to their body size, which limits their ability to dissipate heat. Only a quarter to a third of horse sweat can cool the body effectively through evaporation. Thus, horses sweat profusely after exertion as heat accumulates in their bodies. Washing and cooling them is especially beneficial on hot days.

Additionally, horses breathe more heavily in the heat, making it especially important in the summer to check each horse for signs of dehydration and health issues. Possible consequences of overheating include low blood pressure, colic, or even circulatory collapse leading to kidney failure. Therefore, it is advisable to reduce training sensibly on hot days and to schedule it during cooler times such as early morning or late evening.

For those who do not want to skip competitions, it is important to gradually acclimate the horse to the heat. This is not only optimal preparation for the horse but also for the rider.

Always begin cooling at the rear right leg of the horse, as this is the farthest from the heart. Cooling the lower limbs helps reduce the overall body temperature through circulating blood. A water temperature between four and ten degrees Celsius is ideal for cooling the horse's legs, but only for a maximum of five minutes. This slower cooling process prevents sudden circulatory problems. The remaining muscle groups should be showered afterward with less cold water, again starting from the bottom up and from back to front.

As beneficial as cooling may be for the horse, you should be cautious when applying cold to certain body areas. If you cool down a horse too quickly with ice-cold water after training, it can induce shock-like conditions. This can lead to circulatory problems and muscle cramps.

Particular difficulties can also arise in the kidney area. The kidneys are heavily vascularized, and if the blood vessels constrict due to the low water temperature, the organ may not receive sufficient blood supply. This can lead to pain and potential kidney problems. Therefore, this area should initially be avoided when hosing down the horse immediately after exertion. Sponging down can be an alternative method in this case.

Veterinarians warn against excessive cooling. If the horse is hosed down for too long or with water that is too cold, the tissue can be thermally damaged. A recommended water temperature is between four and ten degrees Celsius and should not be applied for longer than five minutes.

When cold is applied to the horse's leg, the blood vessels constrict. As a result, blood is pumped through more quickly, preventing the deposition of toxins. After the horse has been cooled down, its body tries to compensate for the temperature loss by dilating the blood vessels. This dilation improves blood circulation and accelerates the removal of inflammatory substances.

You can wash any horse's entire body, including the mane and tail, with horse shampoo. However, avoid the head area. Many horses find it uncomfortable, and water and shampoo could get into their eyes.

We recommend our gentle MagicBrush Horse Shampoo with wheat proteins for a silky coat shine and healthy horse skin.

Enhance your horse's well-being with the MagicBrush Horse Salt Shower. This innovative solution uses natural sea salt sticks to bind moisture and excess fat on the skin, helping irritated skin regenerate naturally.

The application is very simple: just attach the shower attachment to the garden hose. The sea salt sticks contain valuable minerals that can positively affect the skin's natural function and barrier. Sea salt supports the regeneration of irritated, red, and itchy skin in horses, while the minerals bind moisture and excess fat, visibly improving the skin's appearance.

With regular use over an extended period, the Horse Salt Shower can help prevent the secondary effects of skin irritations, such as rubbing. The shower attachment is suitable for a maximum water pressure of 4 bar. Ensure your horse's well-being with the MagicBrush Horse Salt Shower and experience the positive effects of the natural sea salt sticks.

Find out more about the salt shower here:

After the cooling shower, use a sweat scraper on the horse. Start at the top of the neck and work with the grain towards the hindquarters. This removes excess water, sweat, and dust from the coat. The remaining moisture provides evaporative cooling, further lowering the horse's body temperature. Important: Do not leave the horse in the wind or drafty areas after rinsing to avoid colds!

Suitable grooming accessories, such as a sweat scraper, can be found at our equestrian equipment partner Covalliero.

Conveniently, you can also use our MagicBrush grooming brushes as a sweat scraper. Just turn them over.

Horses love to wade through streams. It's also beneficial for their legs, as water training improves mobility and muscle strength. Water treading is increasingly used as a therapeutic measure for injuries. Horses with injured locomotor systems particularly benefit from hydrotherapy. It strengthens the cardiovascular system and promotes muscle fiber formation—a highly effective health precaution for your horse.

There are many ways to cool a horse's legs and prevent inflammation, such as cooling boots that stimulate blood circulation and muscle fiber regeneration. Wrapping can be useful when products need to stay on the leg longer to be effective. Some products cool first and then provide a warming effect.

Using cooling bandages after cooling gels is not always recommended, as evaporation cooling is prevented by the bandage. Important: Do not apply cooling methods for too long to avoid frostbite.

Suitable cooling gaiters for horses can be found at our equestrian equipment partner Covalliero.

Cooling gels and pastes are effective and more sustainable than water. Before a competition, check ADMR guidelines and waiting periods to ensure doping-free products and avoid issues during participation.

Many cooling gels contain alcohol to enhance the cooling effect and should not be applied to wounds. Overdose is generally unlikely.

Our Equifresh Cooling Balsam by MagicBrush refreshes tired legs for both horse and rider.

Protect your horse from summer temperatures and ensure its health and well-being.