Summer survival

While we all love spending time in the sun with our fave pony, there are some challenges the good weather brings. Whether he’s bothered by flies or suffers with sunburn, we’ve got some handy tips for keeping him happy and healthy through the hot summer months.

Fussy about flies

Insects can be a major source of annoyance for your pony, whether it’s irritating flies or nasty biting midges affecting him. Luckily, there are some things you can do to keep him fly-free…

• rugs and masks – keep him protected by stopping flies getting close to his skin with a fly rug and mask. Some rugs even have zebra print, which has been shown to deter flies even more!
• fly spray – for those areas you can’t cover with a rug, use a fly spray to keep the bugs at bay
• gels and creams – for the more sensitive areas, such as his face, try a fly repellent gel that you can apply precisely – if you’re worried about him moving or he’s headshy, ask an adult to help
• garlic – products such as licks and supplements that contain garlic can help to deter flies from your pony

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You can get fly masks that attach to his bridle to keep the flies off him while you ride and make sure he’s fully focused on you!

The weigh in

The summer grass might look tasty to your pony, but it actually contains loads of sugars that can cause him to gain weight, or even lead to serioud conditions such as laminitis.

Keep him looking and feeling great by monitoring his weight using a weightape every two weeks and limiting his access to grass if he’s tubby, or prone to laminitis. 

You can help keep him trim by fencing off areas of his paddock to reduce the amount of grass he has access to, and using a well-fitting grazing muzzle.

Cool cats

Just like us, ponies can get hot when they’re in the sun. It’s important that he has access to shade at all times, whether that’s his stable, a field shelter, or trees in his paddock.

On really hot days, avoid riding in the middle of the day. The coolest time is early morning, before the sun gets too hot. If he’s hot after your ride, give him plenty of time to cool down and then wash him off using cool water to help get his temperature back to normal.  

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If your pony has any pink skin, you’ll need to put suncream on to stop him burning. High risk areas are his nose and along the parting in his mane – make sure the cream you use is specially designed for ponies!

Pesky pollen

Did you know that ponies can have allergies, like hayfever, too? If you notice that your pony’s headshaking or coughing lots, he may need to be checked over by a vet. It’s also worth considering a nose net for when you’re riding as this can help relieve his headshaking while you’re in the saddle and help keep him focused. 

Safe and sound

Your summer hoof care routine will depend on lots of different factors, such as how hard the ground is in his paddock and the amount of time he’s spending in his stable. Be sure to pick out your pony’s feet every day to look for any changes and feel for heat in the hoof, which could be an early sign of laminitis. 

Next time your farrier visits, ask them if there’s anything else you could be doing to support your pony’s hoof health. He might benefit from a hoof moisturiser over the dry summer months, or a good-quality supplement to help keep his hooves strong and healthy.