Travelling horses in hot weather

May 27
Horses can overheat when travelling in hot weather. The following tips will help you to consider whether you should travel your horse at all and, if you do, how you can minimise the risk of them overheating.

Considerations prior to travel
  • Most horses will remain comfortable when the temperature in the vehicle is between 5°C and 25°C.

  • Consider whether your vehicle is capable of keeping your horse comfortable during your planned journey (see below).

    • If it isn’t, adjust your plans – or don’t travel.
    • Remember that a horse that has experienced a long, hot journey on the way to an event may be compromised before they even start the competition.
  • Note that the temperature inside the horse compartment will probably quickly increase once horses are on board.
    • The more horses you are travelling, the faster and higher the temperature is likely to rise.
  • Some horse boxes (“Type 2 authorised vehicles”) are fitted with temperature-monitoring and ventilation systems that can maintain the internal temperature of the vehicle between 5°C and 30°C, regardless of the external temperature.
    • These vehicles are ideal for use in hot weather; as British summers seem to be getting hotter, it is worth considering buying a Type 2 vehicle or hiring one during very warm weather.
  • If your vehicle has a temperature-monitoring and/or ventilation system, check that they are working; if it doesn’t, consider buying a temperature and humidity monitor for the horse compartment of your vehicle.

  • Consider buying an evaporative cooling rug – but do some research before you decide which one to buy, and learn how best to use it

    • Used wrongly, these rugs can actually heat horses up.

  • Check the weather, including the ‘feels like’ temperature (available from the Met Office): If it is forecast to be hot on the day of your journey:

    • Consider not going to the event.
    • Adjust your plans so that you travel at the coolest time of day (usually early morning or late evening).
    • Plan to travel at a time and via a route that avoids heavy traffic.
    • Pack plenty of drinking and washing off water for the horses – but be careful that you don’t exceed your vehicle’s payload.
    • Pack portable fans, an extension cable, and an inverter/generator, as necessary.
    • Do not rug the horses.
    • Consider whether you would feel safe travelling the horses without leg protection – they will be cooler without.
    • On long journeys, plan in extra time for rest stops.
    • Do not travel if the temperature will be over 30°C (unless you have a Type 2 authorised vehicle).

  • If you do decide to travel when it is very warm, wet the horse all over with cold water just prior to loading.

    • Do not scrape this water off.
  • Make sure that the horse has free access to water and forage prior to travelling
    • The water associated with forage in the gut is a useful ‘fluid reservoir’ for horses; without this they are more likely to become dehydrated and suffer from heat stress.
Considerations during the journey

  • Provide the horse with as much space allowance in their compartment as possible; not only will this allow them to balance better and travel more comfortably than if the partitions are close to them, but it will also allow more airflow around them.

  • Maximise airflow by opening as many windows and vents as possible.

  • If you have a trailer, travel with the rear top doors open if you can.

  • If you have a long journey, take frequent breaks, parking the vehicle in the shade if possible; open as many doors and ramps as possible, offer the horse water, and allow them to rest.

    • Remember that horses are generating extra heat all the time the vehicle is moving, as they need to ‘work’ to balance.
  • Be particularly vigilant/check the horse more frequently if the temperature in the horse compartment of the vehicle rises above 25°C or if you get stuck in traffic.
    • Repeated wetting of the horse will help them to stay cool.

  • Evaporative cooling rugs may be helpful to keep horses cool but the extent to which they do this depends on the individual rug and the conditions within your vehicle – in particular the temperature, humidity, and airflow.

    • If you decide to use one of these rugs, do some research before you buy and use it; be aware that once these rugs have dried out, they will actually make the horse hotter.
    • These rugs may be useful to keep horses more comfortable when travelling or standing in the heat, but note that they are completely inappropriate for cooling down a hot horse and should never be used in this situation.
  • If the horse starts showing signs of overheating (heavy sweating, laboured breathing, and potentially unsteady on their feet), stop the vehicle, open as many doors and ramps as possible, wet the horse thoroughly and – if you have them – direct fans at them.
    • It is obviously better to start this before the horse gets to the point of being heat stressed.

Considerations when you get to the event

  • If possible, park in the shade.
  • Keep wetting the horse down.
  • Note that horses will often be cooler out of the vehicle, especially if there is a breeze. 
  • Offer plain water at frequent intervals, including immediately before, during, and after the horse is ridden.