After the mud, cold, wind and rain of winter, it’s easy to look forward to summer as a horse owner. Warmer days and light evenings make life so much easier, and not having to wrestle with wet turnout rugs every day is a bonus! But summer can present its own set of challenges for riders, even if those challenges can be faced in short sleeves and sunglasses instead of soggy wellies… In this blog we’re looking at some of the reasons why horses and ponies might struggle in the summer months and how sessions in the salt therapy chamber can help.
What are some of the common summer-related health issues?
Sweet itch/fly irritation
After a damp spring, when the sun comes out and the temperatures rise, you’ll soon see flies, mozzies and clouds of midges in the air. While some areas of the country seem to suffer more than others when it comes to flying pests, if your horse suffers from sweet itch then you’ll know how much of an issue it can be. Horses and ponies, British native breeds in particular, can be thoroughly miserable and spend hours scratching their neck, mane and tail until the hair is gone and the skin open and sore.
Seasonal skin allergies
There are other reasons why your horse might suffer from sore and itchy skin in summer. Some animals are very sensitive to sweat, fly rugs and hot skin under tack. Others may be allergic to weeds or herbs in their field and present with hives and itchy skin. Some horses seem to just suffer in the heat and cause damage to their skin by scratching and itching.
Pollen allergies such as oilseed rape
When oilseed rape is in full flower it can look spectacular, with vivid sunshine yellow stretching into the distance and contrasting beautifully against the blue sky (hopefully) and green countryside. But rape seed pollen can be an irritant, and racehorse trainers and other professionals in the equine sector have noted some horses seem under par when the yellow flowers are out in huge numbers. Their horses might be snotty and obviously suffering, or just not running to their expected potential. Other riders report that their horses cough when the tree pollen is out in early summer, or when a particular crop or flower is releasing pollen.
How does the salt therapy chamber help support horses in summer?
If your horse suffers from allergies, sweet itch or sore skin during the warmer months of the year, sessions in the salt therapy can help manage their symptoms, support healing and could prevent flare ups. That’s because the salt has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and it’s both breathed in and settles on the coat, so you get the dual benefit. The anti-inflammatory properties help soothe irritation and there’s also a mucolytic effect. That simply means the salt particles can help loosen excessive mucus and speed up the transport of the mucus out of the airways, making breathing easier for horses who are suffering.
The salt also settles on the coat, and that helps reduce irritation caused by sweet itch, sweat and other allergies. The salt’s antibacterial properties can also help any damaged skin to heal over time while keeping the itching at bay. The best part is that the salt therapy is 100% natural and drug-free. That makes it suitable for all horses and ponies, including sports horses, racehorses, veterans and youngsters alike.
If your horse is struggling with summer skin or respiratory issues and you’d like to learn more about the salt therapy chamber, why not get in touch? We can help devise a programme of treatments to support their optimum health and performance throughout the summer and beyond.