Protecting Your Horse or Other Large Animals from the Arizona Heat: A More Advanced Look
While providing your horse with fresh water and shelter may seem like obvious ways to keep it safe during the hot summer months in Arizona, there are a few other steps that you can take to further help prevent heat-related illnesses from developing. Here is a look at some more advanced options for helping your horse in the heat.
Providing Salt
It is especially important for your horses to consume salt during hot weather periods. If you provide free-choice salt, you should monitor the salt to ensure they are eating at least 2 ounces per day. If they are not consuming enough salt on their own, you should add salt to their feed. Or, if you are not feeding grain on a regular basis, feed a small daily meal of soaked beet pulp or wheat bran with two tablespoons of added salt.
Monitor the Herd
If you have more than one horse under your care, you should also be sure to monitor them to ensure the older, weaker or less-dominant horses are not being chased away from the water and shade that you have provided. If so, you may need to take steps to separate certain horses in order to keep them all safe.