Summer's official start is just a few short weeks away, and with it will come longer days of more intense sunlight. The increased sunlight will mean extra riding hours – a good thing – but too much sun can also be a problem for horses, bringing about bleached coats and even burns. Want to keep your horse safe in the sun this summer? Here’s how.

Maximize Shade

Whenever you turn your horse out, be sure that he has access to shade. A dense clump of trees can provide shade, as can a run-in shed or other shelter. If you have multiple pastures to choose from, then opt to turn your horse out in the pastures which offer the most shade during the summer months. If you're following a pasture rotation program, you’ll want to plan ahead so that those pastures are ready for use during the summer.

Add UV Protection

Too much ultraviolet light can harm your horse, putting him at risk for sunburn, blistering, and even squamous cell carcinomas on light-skinned horses. To help protect your horse from UV rays, minimize the hours that he spends in the sunlight. Consider purchasing a fly sheet and a fly mask that offer UV protection – ideally look for a fly mask that extends down over your horse’s nose. You can also apply sunscreen to the noses of fair-skinned horses for added protection.

Consider Your Horse's Turnout Hours

With the intense sun also comes intense heat, and often bugs. If possible, consider rotating your horse's turnout so that he is turned out during the night, and can wait out the worst of the heat in his stall during the day. Horses can see quite well at night, as long as their eyes are given a chance to adjust to the change in light. If you do opt for night turnout, be sure to remove your horse's fly mask so that he has maximum visibility.

Minimize Coat Bleaching

Horses with dark coats may experience coat fading or bleaching when they are exposed to summer sunlight. While minimizing their exposure to the sun is the first step in preventing a faded coat, you can also add paprika or other coat supplements to your horse’s feed to help protect and restore his coat. Be careful in doing this, though – paprika tests positive in drug tests, so if you plan to show your horse, this is not a good option. For more information on getting your horse’s coat show ring-ready, check out our blog post.

With a little planning and extra work, you can help protect your horse from the intense summer sun. And, of course, don’t forget to use plenty of sunscreen on yourself!

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/pmarkham/825205217/sizes/z

Original Source: http://blog.classic-equine.com/2014/06/protecting-your-horse-from-the-sun/