Keep Your Horse Cool: 10 Proven Tips this Summer To Beat the Heat

Summer Horse Care in Australia: 10 Proven Tips to Keep Your Horse Cool

Updated September 2025

A quick guide for Australian riders on keeping horses cool, hydrated, and comfortable during the hottest months of the year.

Australian summers can be brutal depending on your location. Horses sweat through rugs, stand stamping at flies, and drain troughs before lunchtime. As riders, we juggle early starts, shifting routines, and the constant battle to keep them hydrated, comfortable, and safe. The good news? With the right summer care plan, you can stop problems before they start. These are 10 proven tips Aussie riders use every year to keep horses cool and healthy through the toughest heat.

1. Hydration Is Non-Negotiable

Water is the number one nutrient for horses, and they must have access to clean, fresh water 24 hours a day. A healthy 14 - 16hh horse typically drinks 20 - 55 litres daily. That amount increases in hot weather, during heavy work, or for lactating mares. Horses grazing lush pasture may drink less, while those on dry hay will need more.

Clean water matters: Horses are sensitive to taste and smell, and some will refuse to drink if water is stagnant, unfamiliar, or even slightly dirty. Contaminated water risks digestive upsets, and because horses can’t vomit, once they drink it, it must pass through their entire system. To prevent dehydration, scrub troughs regularly, check auto-waterers, and always offer more water than a horse could possibly need.

Hydration strategies for summer: Place troughs in shaded areas, and keep a spare tub handy in case of system failure. Salt blocks encourage natural drinking, while performance horses or heavy sweaters need more than plain water. Sweating drains sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium, minerals that are essential for muscle function, recovery, and gut health. Adding a balanced electrolyte supplement to water or feed during heatwaves or after hard work helps replace what’s lost in sweat and prevents fatigue or colic.

Rider tip: When travelling, take a container of water from home or flavour new water with a little molasses, as some horses refuse unfamiliar sources. On long rides, allow small, frequent drinks; withholding water after work is outdated and dangerous.

2. Rugs That Work With, Not Against, the Heat

Many riders stop rugging in summer out of fear of overheating, but the right rug can actually keep a horse cooler. Mesh and flag rugs block UV rays and biting flies while allowing airflow. Delzani’s summer range is designed for Aussie conditions where humidity, storms, and blazing sun all collide:

• Hybrid Crossover Rugs – mesh airflow panels with UV-blocking polyester.
• Cool Fly Mesh Rugs – insect-proof, lightweight, quick-drying for stormy afternoons.
• Flag Rugs – ultra-light for horses that sweat easily in dry heat.

3. Shade Is More Than Shelter

Trees are gold, but not every paddock has them. Built shelters or shade sails work well, but airflow matters too. In stables, keep doors and windows open to funnel breezes, and use fans on still days. On hot show weekends, always park floats in shade metal floats heat up fast, and a horse locked inside is at serious risk within minutes.

4. Protect Sensitive Skin

Pink-skinned horses blister under the summer sun. Smear horse-safe sunscreen on noses, around eyes, and under white stockings before turnout. Reapply after sweat sessions or hosing. Many Aussie riders keep a tube in the tack box next to fly spray it becomes part of the daily routine.

5. Stay Ahead of Flies

Flies aren’t just a nuisance; they stress horses, spread disease, and cause endless stomping that can crack hooves and damage joints. In summer, a layered approach works best:

• Protect the face and ears: fly masks and bonnets are the frontline defence, shielding sensitive eyes, ears, and pink skin from irritation and sunburn.
• Cover the body: Lightweight fly mesh rugs stop midges and biting flies without trapping heat, keeping horses calmer in the paddock.
• Use insect repellent sprays: horse-safe fly sprays add protection for exposed areas like legs and bellies.
• Stable and paddock management: Daily manure removal, paddock rotation, and stable fans reduce fly breeding grounds. In peak season, fly traps around feed areas make a noticeable difference.

For horses prone to Queensland Itch or insect-related allergies, combining a full fly rug, mask, and repellent spray provides the best defence. Learn more in our Horse Fly Management Guide, written specifically for Australian conditions.

6. Ride Early, Cool Down Smarter

Every Aussie rider knows the drill: set the alarm for 5am rides or wait until the sun drops in the evening. After work, a cool-down is critical. Strip tack quickly, hose with cool water starting at the legs, scrape excess immediately, and repeat. Offer small sips of water before, during, and after cooling, not a single bucket all at once. This helps prevent colic while rehydrating safely.

7. Know the Signs of Heat Stress

There’s no magic number on the thermometer that causes heat stress. A clipped show horse in cool Tasmania might struggle at 28–30°C with humidity, while a fit stockhorse in Blackall may cope at 40°C. What matters is your horse’s condition, coat, fitness, and acclimatisation. Warning signs include rapid breathing, nostril flare, heavy or absent sweating, dullness, or stumbling. If you see them, act fast: move into shade, sponge with cool water, and call your vet if things don’t improve within minutes.

8. Use Cool-Down Science

Don’t just hose and hope. Focus on big blood vessels: neck, chest, and inside the thighs. Always scrape water off before reapplying; otherwise, it insulates instead of cooling. Alternate short walking breaks with hosing circulation is key to dropping body temperature quickly.

9. Feed for the Season

In hot weather, big grain feeds generate extra metabolic heat. Many Aussie riders switch to smaller, more frequent meals, adding soaked beet pulp for hydration and electrolytes to support recovery. Always store feed in sealed bins out of the sun, heat and humidity, which spoil grain fast and attract pests.

10. Plan ahead for Extreme Weather

“Extreme” means different things depending on where you live and the type of horse you ride. Always plan ahead of forecast heatwaves, spikes in humidity, or sudden weather changes. Set up extra water, electrolytes, and shade options early. Cancel or postpone travel and clinics if conditions look risky. It’s safer to miss one session than to push a horse into heat stress.

The Bottom Line

Summer horse care isn’t just theory, it’s lived reality for Aussie riders. We’re up early, juggling flies, heat, and water checks every day. With the right preparation, rugs, and gear, your horse can stay comfortable even in Australia’s harshest conditions.

Delzani’s summer range is designed for riders who live this reality: breathable fly mesh rugs, ultra-light flag rugs, and protective fly masks. Shop now and keep your horse cooler, calmer, and healthier this summer.

Written by Jane Griffiths - An experienced Australian horse owner and product developer with over three decades immersed in equestrian life. Jane has spent years refining horse rugs, tack, and riding apparel to better suit Australian climates. She has enjoyed countless weekends at gymkhanas, show jumping events, and pony club competitions with her daughter, and still loves hitting the trails with friends whenever she can. Her lifelong passion for horses and hands-on understanding of equine comfort continue to shape her practical, rider-first approach to horse care and product design.