Horses generally don't mind getting a little wet in the rain. However, bad weather can frighten some horses, causing them to not drink enough water. This can lead to colic. Make sure your horse is getting plenty of water during rainy season.
The shivering muscles generate heat as aby-product of their contractions. The response of horses to rain seems to be highly individual. Some will immediately seek cover under trees or in afield shelter while others seem unmoved and continue grazing.
The answer depends upon the horse and the length of time that they will be in the rain. Some horses are more susceptible to the health problems that rain can cause, while others might be comfortable in it and prefer staying out as opposed to being placed in a stall.
It's going to rain today – how do I know? The horses are lying down. They do this whenever there is a change in the weather and rain is on the way.
Coleman said horses' hair coats can effectively protecting them from cold temperatures, but they stand up less to wind and wet conditions. “If a horse's coat gets wet in rain or snow, it can dramatically chill them,” he said. “You may need to bring them inside a barn to dry and warm up.
A good rule of thumb for blanketing unclipped horses involves the owner considering three factors: wind, wet, and cold. If any two of those conditions exist, it's as well to toss on some sort of blanket, although unclipped horses who are healthy and fairly young will not normally need heavy blanketing.
The sun can heat the water on your horse's body and cause him to overheat: as above, a thin layer of water left on your hot post-exercise horse, especially in a humid climate where he may not dry quickly, acts as an insulator and the horse's body heat can be trapped.
While rain rot and scratches affect the horse's skin, heavy rain can also impact your horse's hooves. Thrush, hoof cracks, white line disease and hoof abscesses are a few hoof conditions that become prominent in times of wet weather. To reduce occurrence, ensure that your horse can stand in a clean, dry environment.
Horses don't sleep all night like we do.
Instead of falling into a deep sleep every night, horses typically spend their nights alternating between rest and activity. They might take a short snooze standing up, graze for a while, and then stretch out on their side to get a few minutes of deep sleep.
Horses can only live about three days without water, but problems like colic can show up much sooner. Monitor your horse for signs of dehydration, such as pale gums and increased pulse. Be sure your horse has access to fresh, clean water twenty-four hours a day.
HORSES HATE HEAT, HUMIDITY.
Not all horses need a rug in the rain, and it's important to remember that over rugging can cause your horse to sweat. However, if your horse is elderly or sensitive to the cold, they may appreciate a rug. If you do rug your horse in the rain, it's also a good idea to have two rugs to allow them time to dry off.
If horses have access to a shelter, they can tolerate temperatures as low as -40° F. But horses are most comfortable at temperatures between 18° and 59° F, depending on their hair coat.
Most horses and ponies thrive on being kept out on grass for as much time as possible. However, keeping a horse permanently on grass can be as time consuming for the owner as it is to keep a horse partly housed.
But for the most part, the average horse really doesn't mind a little wind and rain. They'd just as soon be left out to enjoy their pasture time during a storm as during a bright sunny day.
It's good practice to get a wet horse as dry as you can before blanketing. Use a sweat scraper or squeegee to remove the worst of the moisture.
An unwillingness to work or sluggish, listless behavior is the first sign of boredom, and horses that are habitually bored may repeated circle their stall, paw the ground or bang their heads on wall or beams.
How long do horses sleep for? Horses are notorious for surviving with minimal amounts of sleep. They only sleep for around three hours within a 24-hour period but never rest for large periods of time, but younger foals may sleep more than adult horses.
Why do some horses prefer standing out in the rain rather than being under a shelter? In general, horses do not like enclosed spaces. Even when forced to remain in a shelter, horses would rather see what is all around them and be able to make a fast getaway unhindered by walls.
Over the summer leaving your horse out in their pasture overnight isn't much of a worry. However, with winter drawing in you might be feeling bad about leaving your horse outdoors overnight. Horses can thrive with a combination of being stabled and having free rein of the pasture.
Never approach a horse until he is standing with his head toward you. As you approach a stall, speak to the horse, so the horse knows that a person is near and is not startled. A startled horse will want to flee and run away as this is their natural instinct.
Cooling an overheated horse
Hose down the horse. To cool an overheated horse (rectal temperatures above 103° F): Spray the horse's head, back, neck, rump and legs with a steady stream of cool water. Repeat this continuously until the horse is cool.