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ES Insulin dysregulation in horses: a new epidemic or a new perspective?
June 25, 2025
A green meadow under a blue sky: it sounds like the ideal summer dream for any horse. But a closer look reveals that the summer pasture brings risks just as well. Heat stress, scorched grass, aggressive insects, mineral deficiencies, and toxins in withered plants — it is a cocktail that you are better off viewing with awareness.
Horses cool down less efficiently than humans. In direct sunlight, without any shelter, their body temperature rises rapidly. Dark horses in particular are at extra risk.
Watch for signs of overheating:
What can you do?
Provide natural or artificial shade.
Limit grazing to cooler hours (early in the morning or later in the evening).
Provide plenty of fresh and clean water in the pasture. A horse needs water to regulate its body temperature.
Insects such as horseflies, mosquitoes and midges are more than just a source of irritation. They can cause hypersensitivity reactions and sweet itch or even transmit diseases.
It stresses horses out, causes chafing, or leads to behavioral problems.
What helps?
Wind is a natural buffer against insects. Horseflies, mosquitoes, and midges fly poorly at wind force 3 or higher. That is why they seek out sheltered areas—such as forests, stables, or wind-sheltered meadows—and avoid open, windy spaces.
Use physical protection (fly mask, eczema rug).
Support the immune system through nutrition, for example with omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.
In the summer, grass dries out quickly. It still looks green, but its nutritional value drops significantly. Some horses then eat (poisonous) plants such as ragwort or develop deficiencies in protein, sugar, or certain minerals.
Prevention is better than cure:
Let the grass rest regularly: use alternate pastures or rotational grazing.
Provide supplementary roughage when the grass turns brown, dry, or short.
Check for toxic plants such as ragwort, groundsel, buttercup, or thornapple.
A summer meadow is not safe by default. It requires insight, timing, and flexibility.
With the right management, you protect your horse against heat stress, insects, and nutritional deficiencies – ensuring that the summer pasture truly becomes summer well-being.