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Small and practical tips on how to deal with the summer heat giving relief to our beloved horses.
Summer has come alive and together with our horses we have been struggling for weeks against the heat and insects. August is around the corner, are we ready to face it in the best way?
The “Solleone” or “intense sun” is the period from July 23 to August 22 when the sun is in the zodiac sign of Leo and, above all, in which the Mediterranean climate can record very high temperatures.
One of the most effective natural remedies that we have available to help our 4-legged friends to combat the heat (it seems almost obvious to write it) are showers, as well as a series of small anti-warming measures that can always be useful.
A nice cool shower is a panacea for our horse: it lowers body temperature and gives a pleasant feeling of well-being, especially after work when it is necessary to remove sweat. In addition, fresh water facilitates perspiration and plays a relaxing effect on tendons and ligaments. It is equally useful on very hot and muggy days to prevent dangerous heatstroke.
Showering the horse seems an elementary operation, but doing it without a logic is an action that we do not recommend, because throwing water on the horse without criteria does not help either to wash, or to refresh.
We advise you to proceed gradually and gently, starting from the bottom, direct the jet of water on the hoofs, then climbing up the limbs, following with elbows, chest, base of the neck and belly (not forgetting the area of the thighs and below the tail where sweat accumulates most). Once you get behind, climb up to the base of the withers and then slowly proceed on the saddle region up to the rump.
With even more delicacy you should dedicate yourself to the muzzle: a very sensitive area that is good to clean with the help of a wet sponge. We strongly advise against the direct use of the water pump because, in addition to being annoying, it could be dangerous for the ears.
At the end of the shower, we can remove the excess water on the rest of the body with a stick, but in this regard, it must be said that some schools of thought do not particularly like this practice thinking that splinting the horse reduces the phenomenon of cooling by evaporation.
That said, the most careful and “fussy” can finally delight in eliminating excess water on the legs with a towel and giving shine to the tail and mane using a polishing product. For horses who are afraid of sprays, there also exists products in gel formula, such as our G-Sheen Super.
Remember that the summer and the showers are also an excellent opportunity to do that deep grooming that in other seasons is almost impossible and to also avoid possible cause of bronchitis, this often forces us to use dry shampoo.
In the middle of summer, a refreshing shower can be done daily even with fresh water, while for a deeper cleaning of the hair and skin remember to always use specific products for horses, which have a specially designed PH. Unsuitable products used frequently weaken its natural barriers, first of all, for example, the hydrolipidic filter that makes its coat waterproof and protects it from problems of hypersensitivity of the skin.
Our advice is to use shampoo at a maximum once a week, choosing natural formulas, possibly enriched with essential oils that will help not only maintain proper hygiene and health of the coat, but also to keep away insects. Our Summer Shampoo for example is very delicate and rich in essential lemongrass oil.
Now we can reveal a little secret. Did you know that Unika has formulated a gel for external use specific for joints and muscles that, when applied after the shower, further increases its refreshing and relaxing effect? We are talking about Artic Gel, a natural product based on Arnica montana, menthol, hypericum and horse chestnut. You can apply it without risk every day (even several times a day), simply smearing it with circular massages to promote absorption. To enhance the refreshing effect of Artic Gel, try to apply it on your chest and back, even better after the shower with groomed hair . Your horse will be extremely grateful!
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oedemigenous and pain-relieving properties, it is perfect for protecting horses’ osteoarticular well-being.
The use of clay dates back to very ancient times and even today it has not lost its fame as a natural remedy with a thousand uses.
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Born in 1995, Mirko began to practice the discipline of “combined driving” at only 6 years old, spurred by his family’s passion for the equestrian world, he began to approach national and international competitions at 17 years old
Dear readers we are pleased to celebrate the new year, on our blog, with a wonderful interview together with Nicolò Tallone, Unika Ambassador and Endurance rider, Piedmontese DOC, class of 1991 who in life has chosen to dedicate himself to a trade as ancient as fascinating, that of the blacksmith.
