23/06/2026
How not to be a moron in a red heat weather warning.
1. Donât ride your horse when itâs hotter than the surface of the sun. If you need telling the exact temperature of âtoo hotâ then youâre already an idiot and unfortunately I canât help you. Use common sense. Key point, if youâre already sweating - donât. A week off wonât kill you or your horse but justifying riding to the Facebook police might well do.
2. Bring your horse in or leave them out. Pick one. Commit to something for once in your life. Donât outsource basic decision-making to Facebook strangers who think wind direction causes laminitis. Go stand in your horseâs stable, then stand in the field, and use your brain to decide which feels less like living inside a kettle. And if theyâre not used to being in and theyâre going to stress, donât.
3. If you can get a fly mask on your horse, put one on. If you canât, donât. Unless you particularly enjoy chasing a horse around a field trying to Velcro a hat to his face in 35 degrees.
4. If theyâre sweating, wash them off. Scrape it off or leave it on, stop over complicating things Sharon and wash the damn horse.
5. Water is not optional. Make it plain, make it fresh, make an additional bucket fancy with electrolytes if youâre feeling like a wellness influencerâbut donât f*ck around with their basic water.
6. Electrolytes and salt in feed are greatâturning dinner into a sodium-themed buffet is not. Weâre aiming for ârecovered horse,â not âwalking sea pickle.â
7. And obviously⌠donât travel your horse for fun in a heatwave. This is not the week for a spontaneous outing to an unaffiliated pony patting clinic. However, if your horse is actually unwell and you need an emergency vet, yesâtravel them appropriately and sensibly to a vet. Just donât be a total spanner.
Didnât really think this needed to be said but apparently Facebook is now used over common sense. So hereâs the official guide, youâre welcome. Iâm off to marinate in a puddle of my own sweat. âď¸
