Horse, Environment and Climate Change

WE SHARE THE EARTH VIDEO

Horses are affected by climate change and the environment.
We aim to help you and the horse/s you are responsible for by
being better prepared during these times of change.

Horses are bred to be outside animals.
Stabling, rugging and the like are imposed by us upon them.
With all the talk about climate change and dramatic weather
conditions, we're asked, "What does this mean for our horses and
the horse industry?"

Changed weather conditions to either extreme, hot or cold,
have been known to affect horse's behavior - their temperament and even as
basic down to if they go off their feed or not, if they sleep ok or not and if they
have periods of loose bowels or not. This highlights the need for horse owners
and everyone in the horse industry to know their horse, or the horses they're
working with and balance that horse's management with the weather changes.

We invite you to read Horse and the Weather
for some suggestions on dealing with horses in unpredicted, different or extreme weather conditions.

Modifying your training times and stabling routines to accommodate the changes
those situations such as increased heat during summer mean better results
are obtained if you ride/train earlier or later in the cooler parts of the day are just a small step
in the right direction for the horse's health and accommodation to climate change.

Climate change can affect the way that we train, compete, show, stable, paddock and exercise our horses.

Ideas such as paddock turnout at night when its cooler, stable out of the heat during the day, or competing only in indoor
arenas should not seem so foreign.

A decrease in the temperature during the winter months would have a very similar effect, with coats, clipping, rugs and warm ups
adding to the list of management routines in the quest for an optimum healthy, athletic and happy horse.

A happy horse makes for a happy human.