Hot Hot Hot
Summers in Florida do I need to say more? There are approximately 3 months, sometimes 4 in the year that training horses outdoors is just plain miserable. Aldo and I are currently in the home stretch (I hope). Every summer I feel is hotter than the last.
Florida is tough on horses. We have heat, bugs, fungus and bacteria problems in the summer. Many horses also contract anhidrosis which is a condition that stops the sweat glands from sweating. Horse that have this condition can’t regulate their heat through sweating to cool themselves off. Lots of cold hosing and fans are needed along with various supplements and procedures such as acupuncture. This year I’ve had Aldo on the supplement Platinum Refresh. Platinum Refresh® was designed for those horses that are not able to sweat enough during hot weather, competition or athletic training to maintain a healthy body temperature. It doesn’t cause them to produce sweat it helps them to tolerate the hot weather by keeping their body temps down. Seems to be working this summer! To see more info on this product and to purchase click here.
Oh and don’t let me leave out the bugs!! Biting flies, along with gnats and mosquitos. The best fly spray I have found is Absorbine Ultra Shield EX, the black bottle not the blue. The blue bottle is waterproof but doesn’t have the same percentage of bug killers as the black. Look for one that has both the P’s, Permethrin and Pyrethrins as ingredients with the highest percentages you can find. Link to purchase Absorbine Ultra Shield EX.
Let’s talk flysheets…holy cow are they’re not a ton of flysheets available! With a horse that doesn’t sweat the last thing I’ve ever wanted to do was put a sheet on Aldo and have him literally bake out in the Florida Sun. But hallelujah I have found a sheet that I absolutely love and Aldo does too!! It’s made by Schneiders Saddlery and is actually called a mosquito sheet. The fabric is smoother with a tighter weave but has extreme air flow. A friend at Aldo’s barn recommended it and I can’t thank her enough. I always feel more confident buying a product when I know someone who actually uses it and loves it. Link to purchase Schneider Saddlery Mosquito Sheet. I also purchased the mosquito mask and neck wrap for full coverage. I then fly spray all the parts showing like legs. Keep in mind that I still turn Aldo out at night and not too early. I wait for the sun to start going down before suiting him up and taking him out.
Summer time skin conditions are bad too. I use Equiderma Lotion with no sulfates. Sulfates can be harsh and burn. Equiderma works on just about every summer skin condition you can think of. It soothes and helps with itching. Aldo tends to have a facial fungus of some kind every summer. He looses the hair on his cheek bones then itches the skin raw. Equiderma Lotion is a lifesaver. Click here to buy Equiderma Lotion. Oh and I can’t forget to tell you about Coat Defense too! They have a powder and a paste and I’ve used both but I prefer the powder. If you have a large area of rain rot like a horses rump area it really comes in handy with it’s coverage. I’ve sprinkled on Aldo then brushed it around and I’ve also sprinkled it on a brush and used it on areas that are hard to sprinkle like cannon bones. This stuff is like magic in removing the scabs and healing the wounds. Check out Coat Defense products here. I haven’t tried this on Aldo’s face yet. I’m not sure I’d be good at avoiding his eyes with the powder. The paste I did try on his face however it didn’t stop him from itching so I went back to the Equiderma Lotion.
I hope your summer is going well and that your still able to get out and have fun with your horse. My next post will be about training in the hot months with some tips and products I use to keep cool. Thanks for supporting my posts through Amazon. I do make a small commission when you purchase the products I also use.
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