As the heat of summer picks up steam, we talked with our feature pro, Charlie Cole of Highpoint Performance Horses about how his team handles the intense Texas heat, and traveling to horse shows in the summer.

About Highpoint

Highpoint Performance Horses specializes in training all-around horses, and keeps approximately 40-50 horses in training at any given time. The team at Highpoint trains and competes in a variety of events, from western pleasure and trail, to jumping and barrel racing. They also feature an outstanding roster of stallions including the notable Slick by Design and VS Code Red. The Highpoint team, with owners Charlie Cole and Jason Martin at the helm are well-known for their lengthy win record and lineup of incredible horses.

Our featured pro, Charlie Cole, has been involved with horses for over 35 years. He has trained more than 50 AQHA world champions. We talked with Cole about how he helps horses handle the Texas heat while training at home, and how he keeps them comfortable on the road.

[Listen: Hear From Charlie Cole on The Ride Podcast]

Question 1: How Do You Handle Heat When Traveling?

Show season is in full swing, and parts of the country are ablaze with summer heat. Cole and the Highpoint team are on the road to shows across the nation. And traveling during the summer heat can take a toll on horses. We asked Cole how his horses handle traveling in the heat. And what he does to combat heat hazards while hauling.

As we talked, a load of Highpoint horses were headed from Texas to Las Vegas. Cole knew that the heat would be a factor for these horses while making the haul, and prepared accordingly. ” I knew it’d be hot during the trip, so we make a plan to travel through the night instead of through the day. My horses left at 1:00 AM and drove 10 hours that day, and then laid over through the heat of the day.”

Cole stresses the importance of offering water to horses while traveling, as dehydration can be a serious concern. One way to combat dehydration is to offer SmartLytes® Pellets from SmartPak, a good way to replace key minerals that are lost in sweat. Supplementing your horse to replace minerals can keep him healthy while traveling during the summer heat, and SmartLytes Pellets are carefully formulated to mimic the mineral losses in equine sweat. He also keeps his horses on their individual SmartPak supplements while traveling, to avoid mixing up their routine and diet.

Question 2: What Special Considerations Do You Make During Hot Weather Trailering?

Traveling from Texas to Las Vegas requires careful preparation and planning. If you’re trailering during the summer, Cole recommends that you carefully consider the weather and your destination. He says, “If you are in Colorado and headed to Calgary, then traveling through the day isn’t a problem.”

The health and age of your horse should also be taken into consideration during summer travels. We asked our featured pro how he handles hard keepers or older horses while traveling in the heat. “On some of the older and harder keepers, we ran fluids before they left,” says Charlie Cole. He also notes that the team considers the horse’s usual habits as well before traveling. “Barrel horses are used to moving around a bit more than our show horses. So we might stop more often to let them off the trailer, every 4-5 hours or so.”

Take your horse’s needs, age, and event discipline into consideration when traveling, and know that lengthy trips can be tough on a horse’s digestive system. The Highpoint team travels to a variety of events and as a performance horse barn, they know the importance of gut health. To aid in joint support and gut health, check out SmartPak’s SmartPerform® Advanced Gastric & Joint™ Liquid. This novel formula delivers powerful gastric, joint, and soft tissue support, all in a bioavailable liquid. 

Question 3: How Do You Keep Horses Healthy and Happy at a Hot Show?

After the trailer ride is over, and horses are unloaded, Cole likes to assess each horse to see if they need help cooling off. “If they seem hot when we arrive, then I’ll rinse them off with cool water. I start with their legs and slowly work up, I avoid shocking them with cold water without letting them adjust.”

Cole likes to hose off his horses when arriving at a show, if they need help cooling off. He starts with their legs and slowly works his way up, to prevent shocking them with cold water. Terri Cage/adobe.stock.com

One of the simplest ways Cole says you can keep your horse drinking when away from home is by changing out his water everyday. “On the road, if a horse isn’t drinking well, start by changing the water frequently. Horses typically drink better when the water is fresh.” Cole also supports the use of electrolytes to keep horses drinking and hydrated. A supplement like SmartLytes® Paste is designed to replace mineral losses in equine sweat and encourage your horse to drink. Monitor your horse’s water intake carefully, and use electrolytes to encourage hydration.

Question 4: What Ways Do You Beat the Heat at Home?

Even when Cole isn’t traveling to a show, he’s battling the Texas heat. Cole notes a few strategies that his team does to keep horses cool and comfortable during the hot, summer months. “All our horses have fans in their stalls. We put the more sensitive horses in the cooler parts of the barn, and run the biggest fans we can.” Along with fans, the Highpoint team arranges their schedule around the temperature to keep horses comfortable. “We start riding earlier in the summer, and try and be done riding by 1:00-2:00 PM during the day. We will change our schedule depending on the temperature and whether it’s really cold or really hot.”

After a strenuous workout, Cole ensures that his horses have plenty of cool-down time by walking them thoroughly, letting them cool down slowly, and then following that with a bath.

With a lineup of impressive performance horses in a variety of events, each horse’s needs vary depending on their age, discipline, and riding schedule. Cole keeps a close eye on what each individual horse needs, and provides supplements and routines that are tailored to the horse. This means evaluating the feed program often, and supplementing areas that might be lacking. In addition to a diet of high-quality feed and hay, consider where your horse might need help getting his essential minerals. SmartOmega 3 & E™ Ultra helps bring your horse’s diet into balance by providing two fundamental wellness ingredients: omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E.

Question 5: What Simple Tips Do You Have for Summertime Riding?

When it comes to summertime riding, we asked Cole what simple tips he had for horse owners to help their four-legged friends stay comfortable. He stressed again the importance of keeping fresh, cool water in front of your horse at all times. And don’t forget to change it out daily! Utilizing fans and riding in the cooler parts of the day are important to keeping horses comfortable. When traveling, Cole says to keep your horses on their regular supplements. And try not to change too much in their routine. His horses stay on their SmartPak supplements while on the road, and he offers extra electrolytes to encourage hydration.

Offering a supplement like SmartLytes® Pellets, can supply essential things your horse needs. This includes sodium chloride and other electrolyte minerals that are lost in sweat. Photo courtesy of SmartPak.

Along with these basic measures, Cole reminds horse owners to pay attention to their horse’s specific needs. You might have a horse that handles the heat better than another, or you might deal with a non-sweater which will also requires special considerations. Treat your performance horses like the athletes they are, and provide proper warm-up and cool down, watching for signs of heat stress. Along with providing electrolytes and gut support supplements, consider a supplement proven to support joint health, like SmartPak’s SmartStride™ Ultra Pellets, shown to significantly increase the range of motion of the hock at the walk, with a tendency to increase range of motion in the hock at the trot.

Ride Smart. Be Prepared.

Ultimately, combating the summertime heat comes down to being educated and ready, says Cole. “Just prepare for it. Don’t wait till until it’s too late to make changes or support your horse. Pay attention to the weather, know when you’re traveling, and do what you can. Our priority is whatever is the very best for the horses and their comfort, to avoid dehydration, colic, and tie-up.”