With the summer event season in full swing and plenty of sunshine in the forecast it’s more important than ever to stay on top of hydration. After a bit of a washout spring and cool summer last year (and the year before, we think!) 2025 is shaping up to be quite different. We’ve already had a couple of heatwaves, including one back in spring, so the risks of dehydration can sneak up sooner than you might expect.
Keeping both yourself and your horse properly hydrated can make the difference between a strong performance and a tough day. Dehydration affects stamina, recovery, and focus — and it’s often surprisingly easy to slip behind on fluids, especially with long travel days, packed show schedules, and the sheer physical effort of eventing.
To help, we’ve put together our top tips for helping you and your horse stay hydrated this summer — whether you’re out schooling, enjoying a fun ride, or heading for a competition.
Figure out what’s normal for your horse
In warm weather, the average horse can drink between 20 and 50 litres of water a day and this rises dramatically with hard work, heat or travel. Every horse is different, so it’s helpful to keep an eye on your horse’s usual intake at home. If you know what’s normal, you can spot any significant changes when you’re away at an event.
Offer water often
Don’t wait until after cross-country or after hard training exercise. The key is to offer water at regular opportunities throughout the day — when tacking up, during breaks, before and after work, and at travel stops.
Encourage drinking away from home
It’s common for some horses to go off their water at events, especially if it smells or tastes different from home. You can encourage them to drink by:
- Bringing water from home where possible
- Using familiar buckets and containers
- Adding a splash of apple juice or a few fresh mint leaves to tempt them
- Offering soaked feeds to sneak in extra fluids – see below.
Add water to feeds
This is one of the simplest ways to help maintain fluid intake. You can:
- Add water to hard feeds and chaff to make a mash – some horses will love their feed even if it’s like soup so experiment to see how much you can get in!
- Soak your hay if your horse is happy to eat it this way – just be aware of some of the risks of soaking. Depending how wet you make it, this can add around five litres of fluid to their daily intake
How electrolytes help
When horses sweat, they lose vital minerals called electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) as well as water. Electrolytes are crucial for proper muscle contraction and nerve function so when a horse loses electrolytes, it can disrupt these processes. That leads to muscle cramps, weakness and reduced stamina. Replacing these helps encourage drinking and supports fluid balance. Here’s more information about using electrolytes
- During periods of hard work or hot weather, you can feed electrolytes daily
- Powders can be added to feed or to water (though it’s worth testing at home first, as some horses dislike electrolyte-flavoured water and won’t drink it)
- Electrolyte pastes are useful for sticking in the lorry or car for competition days
Know the signs of dehydration
As with anything pain or illness related in our animals, they can’t speak to tell us when they feel off colour so it’s on us to be on the lookout for symptoms. Here are some of the signs that your horse is suffering from dehydration:
- Dull eyes
- Dry gums
- Slow skin pinch test (more than two seconds)
- Thick or reduced saliva
- Darker or reduced urine
Support recovery with cooling
Hydration also helps the body regulate temperature, so make sure you pair this with good post-exercise cooling. Washing down a horse after work and walking them in the shade (but outside in the open where the water can evaporate easily) is key!
Don’t forget the jockey!
It’s easy to focus so much on your horse that you forget all about yourself, but staying hydrated is just as important for riders. Dehydration affects your concentration, decision-making and stamina in the saddle — not something you want on a long, hot day in the saddle or out competing.
Start your day hydrated
It’s much easier to maintain good hydration than to catch up when you’re already thirsty and that starts the day before. Drink well the day and evening before and from first thing in the morning on event or training days.
Drink little and often
Sip regularly through the day rather than leaving it until after you’ve ridden. Keep a water bottle or flask handy in your grooming kit at home and in the lorry, tack locker or with your support crew ringside.
Water isn’t always enough
There’s good research suggesting that, in situations of heavy sweat loss, water alone may not rehydrate the body as effectively as drinks that also replace lost electrolytes and carbohydrates. A little sodium and sugar help the body absorb and retain fluid better, which is why sports drinks or electrolyte tablets can be useful on competition days. Good options include:
- Diluted electrolyte drinks
- Coconut water
- Diluted juice with a small pinch of salt
Dress smart
Choose lightweight, moisture-wicking clothing to help reduce heat stress and slow fluid loss. A vented riding hat and thin gloves can also help manage overall temperature, and on hotter days away from home bring some shorts and a loose, cool top to change into after you’ve ridden. Finally, make sure you pack and apply sunscreen!
Know the signs
A bit like knowing the signs of dehydration in your horse, make sure you know them for you! Here’s what to keep an eye out for early symptoms of dehydration:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Dry mouth
- Less frequent or darker urine
We hope these tips have been helpful and shown that planning ahead with hydration is one of the simplest but most effective ways to look after both yourself and your horse this summer. It supports performance, recovery and overall wellbeing, so pack that extra water, keep sipping through the day and enjoy the sunshine safely!