Horses can get sick from cooling down too fast after working up a sweat. Like humans, they need to cool down gradually after exercising, even during icy winter months. Put a horse away either sweaty or wet and he/she could catch a chill or contract colic! It’s important get a horse’s temperature, respiration rate, and pulse rate back to normal following hard work.

Keep It Movin’

Strenuous activity makes muscles stiff, but a cool-down session will loosen them up again. It will also help get rid of muscle waste (e.g. lactic acid) that builds up during exercise. A horse should be walked for about half an hour before turning in. A languid pace is not advisable; moving slowly will cause the animal to cool too fast.

Get the Air Flowing

Immediately after dismount, a rider should loosen the girth to allow more air flow. Currying off (using a curry comb) also helps. Any bit of extra air will help the horse dry faster, even if his/her hair is the only part that gets combed. Since saddles are a major restrictor of air, riders should remove them as soon as possible, too.

Be Wary of Water

Give cold water to a dangerously overheated horse and he/she may end up with stomach cramps or colic! Four quarts of cool (not cold) water is just the right amount in that situation. It is okay to provide more once the horse is completely cooled off. In most cases, however, a horse can safely drink as much water as he/she pleases. Water that is not quite cold is always best for quenching thirst.

What about Weather?

The best way to cool down a horse depends on more than the season; it depends on the region and its seasonal weather. A hot day calls for a hose-down and perhaps some grazing in the sun. A sponge bath will also work well. Again, not-quite-cold water should be used. The horse is finally cooled off when the water dripping off of him/her is not too warm. Now, care on a bitter winter day is an entirely different story. Then a fleece cooler or blanket should be used to sponge up moisture in addition to the towel-dry.

Start the Rub-Down

Horses are not fans of being soaked! Drying them off completely is incredibly important. Scrapers can get rid of large amounts of water before a towel-dry. In cold weather, a Turkish towel may be used instead of a regular one for its high strength and absorbency. The neck, feet, flank, and ears require extra attention. Especially in wet weather, if a horse’s heels are not dried, he/she may get a terrible case of mud fever. Nobody wants that!

There are more advantages to cool-down sessions. They offer one of the best opportunities for full grooming. Not only are pores more open than usual after exercise, but a freshly brushed wet coat will dry straighter and more beautifully. It doesn’t hurt to have a healthy horse that also happens to be stunning.