why cool down?

[Shelly_D]

I need someone to explain to me exactly why you must cool down a horse before putting him away after exercise.
Today I rode Ash in 100 degree weather (I'll never do that again) for about 20 minutes of mostly trot and a little bit of canter. When we were done we were both sweating. I took her tack off and brushed her. She was very warm and sweaty but not breathing heavily at all. I brushed her for about 5 minutes and then walked her around for a few more. Still warm and sweaty but then again so was I, after all it was 100 degrees out. SO I took her outside and hosed her legs down with cool water. Then I hosed down the rest of her body. I took her back in and took the sweat scraper to her, then brushed her again. Still warm and of course now wet. I took her to her stall to see if she wanted a drink and she didn't. Finally I put her in her stall and left. This was probably 20 minutes after I quit riding her. So someone please explain to me -- should I have stayed and walked her around until she was totally dry? That could have taken forever. Is it ok if they are left wet and warm as long as they have a normal respiration rate? I never would have left her warm and wet like that in the winter, I know that isn't smart. Is the danger in that they will drink a bunch of water or something? Someone please set me straight on this. Her body is warm in the summer anyway so how do I know if she is too warm after riding? PLEASE give me some info. Thanks!

[Katie_85]

Well, I live in Florida so can certainly relate to that whole heat thing. Usually down here, if we have been working in heat for a while and the horses are lathered, but not breathing hard or anything, we wait a bit and then hose them down and put them away wet. With the humidity, sometimes the horses are sweaty coming in from grazing. So unless she is hot, you should be able to put her away wet and warm quite safely. :)

[Piaffe]

I think the main thing is to 'cool down' the muscles after hard exercise - i.e. after a fast ride, walk your horse home to allow the muscles to stretch down etc, because if you have just finnished fast work and literally just put your horse in the stable, the muscles could go into spasm. If your horse lives out, then this isn't a problem because the horse is moving around rather than just standing in a small space, unable to stretch.

In the UK, it is advisable to use a sweat rug or wicking rug so our horses don't cool down too quickly and get a chill or again, muscle spasm due to shivering. I think where you guys are, there won't be much of a problem with your horses cooling down too quickly!!

I must admit, when it is hot here (when's that?!!) I sponge my horses back where the saddle has been, round his ears, his face and his girth area and then turn him out. I don't tend to hose him straight after work because again this could cause muscle spasm - the muscles going from hot to cold! it sounds like you have been over cautious, but there's no harm in that!

[Maci]

I agree with Piaffe. Even if it's a hot day out, it's important to cool down your horse after you ride (I mean walk him around with a long rein for a few minutes). I'm pretty sure that's the question you are asking....:confused: Just ignore this if you were asking something different! :o

Anyways, that kind of cooling down, slowly cools the muscles. When he is working, his muscles are active and warm, and if you stop riding all of a sudden and un-tack without a proper cool down, the muscles go right from hot (active) to cold (inactive). Which, is NOT good at all. It doesn't matter if he's hot on the outside, it's what's happening on the inside of him that counts! Muscles spasms (as said), and lactic acid could form, and your horse could tye up (bad muscle cramps). So no matter how hot it is, walk around a bit after a ride to cool him down and regulate his breathing.

Maci :)

PS- Wait, I now might understand, having read your post a third time. If it's really hot out, I don't think it matters if you put him in his stall after a bath. I do. It keeps them cool. But if it's hot with a breeze, I dry him in the sun before putting him away.

[maverick927]

Warming up is as important as cooling down. warm up warms up the muscles to stop them hurting and cooling down slows the blood going through the muscles gentle which means that the muscles aren't likely to get as sore. I'm lucky as i don't need to do much cooling down in the field as it is 5 mintues from where i live so Maverick stretches out on the way home.