Cool it down

Whether you’ve been galloping across the beach, had a busy day at camp or even a huge hack in the countryside with your friends, knowing how to help your pony bounce back after a busy day is super-important. Here’s our checklist for putting him in the best possible position for recovery.

     1. Get fit quick

The best way to keep your pony feeling his best post-exercise is making sure he’s really fit before the big day. Have you done everything you can to get him fit?

• long, slow workouts, such as an easy hack with pals
• shorter, more intense sessions, such as a jumping lesson
• hillwork
• in-hand polework and lungeing

If not, think about reducing what you do on the day to help him manage the workload.

     2. Firm going

Avoiding hard or rutted ground will help keep your pony in tip-top condition, as it’ll put less strain on the joints, tendons and ligaments in his legs. Faster work on firm going can be jarring on your pony’s legs, which may lead to injury.

If you do need to ride on hard ground, such as during a competition…

• reduce the amount you do on firm going at home
• stick to a surfaced arena or gallops for fast work
• look out for a pottery gait or changes in behaviour that could indicate pain
• if you think your pony might be sore after working on hard ground, ask your vet for advice

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Dry conditions and firm ground can affect your pony’s hooves, too. Keep an eye out for cracks or damage and speak to your farrier about how you can keep them healthy.

     3. Chill out

Cooling off your pony thoroughly after a workout is essential to helping his muscles recover. By walking him off after a session, you’ll let his heart rate and body temperature gradually lower to normal.

Cooling also slowly allows lactic acid, which is produced during exercise, to be removed from his muscles and stops them getting tight, so he’ll be more relaxed and comfortable for your next session.

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If it’s a cooler day but your pony’s still sweaty, wash him off as usual and pop a cooler rug on him so he can dry without catching a chill.

     4. Washing off

After you’ve cooled off your pony by walking him, you can help lower his body temperature even more by washing him off with cool water…

1. Use a hose or a bucket and sponge to wet his whole body.
2. Focus on particularly sweaty areas, such as his chest, girth area, between his hindlegs and under his bridle.
3. Make sure you scrape him off, because water can heat up on his body and begin to make him warm again.
4. Keep washing, then scraping him off, until he feels cool.

     5. Leg up

When you wash off your pony, pay really close attention to his legs…

• hose them for a few minutes, focusing on his joints. Keep washing until they feel cold to the touch
• use cooling clays or gels to reduce the heat in his legs. Take care to remove them before they dry, though, because they can begin to heat his legs up again
• try a set of cool boots. There are ice boots, which you can freeze at home and put on after exercise, and cold water boots, which can be soaked in a bucket of water before you put them on

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If you don’t want to buy a set of cold boots, you could wrap an ice cube bag in a J-cloth and secure them to your pony’s leg with his brushing boots. It’s important the ice doesn’t touch his leg, though.

     6. Feed for work

Making sure your pony’s nutritional needs are met will help him recover after work. A qualified nutritionist will be able to help make sure your pony’s getting everything he needs, but there are five things to focus on. He needs…

• protein
• fat
• carbohydrate
• vitamins
• minerals

A nutritionist will also be able to tell you what he needs based on his age, type, workload and body condition. Remember – his roughage will contain plenty of what he needs of each one, but most ponies’ diets need topping up with vits and mins.

     7. Drink up

Your pony needs to be hydrated to work at his best, just like you! So, making sure he’s drinking plenty is a huge part of promoting recovery. If your pony’s reluctant to drink when he’s away from home…

• experiment with different buckets and containers
• try adding apple juice or chopped apple or carrots to his water bucket
• make up a sloppy mash for him to eat after he works

Speak to your vet about adding electrolytes to his feed, too. When he sweats, he’ll lose various minerals that are important for keeping him healthy. An electrolyte supplement will replace what he loses during work. If you choose to feed one, it’s best to add it every day rather than only after a tough to day to get the best effects.