How to Cool Down a Hot Horse After Riding

Updated August 10, 2023

Like any athlete, cooling horses down properly is an important part of the recovery process after exercise. How much time it takes for this process depends on three variables; the external temperature, the fitness of your horse, and the particular workload for that day. Keep reading to learn how to cool down a horse after riding in warm or cold temperatures.

Cooling Down in Cold Weather

When your training ride is finished, continue walking for about 10 minutes or until your horse’s breathing rate has returned to normal. If you are hand-walking, loosen the girth and noseband to allow the horse to relax.

When breathing is normal, take the horse back to the barn and throw a breathable rug over the hindquarters while untacking. Some people leave on the saddle pad so the horse's back does not get a chill. This is a good alternative if a blanket is not on hand.

If the situation allows, give the horse lukewarm drinking water. Most horses will drink warm water more quickly in the winter.

If your horse is not lathered in sweat, you can use rubbing alcohol and towels to dry him and remove any saddle, girth, or bridle marks. Once dry, he can be fully groomed, blanketed, and returned to his stall.

Should your horse come in somewhat sweaty and you wish to bathe him, consider the temperature and whether it's safe to give him a bath. Factors such as his health, length of his hair coat, your access to warm water in an enclosed area, and the amount of time you have to ensure he can fully dry should be considered before turning on the hose. Read this article on cold weather bathing to fully understand whether it's best to bathe or opt for a thorough grooming session.

If you do sponge or bathe your horse, always towel dry him thoroughly before putting him away. You can put an Irish knit underneath a wool cooler on him to speed up the drying process.

This double layer has a great wicking effect and dissipates water vapor through the layers. The Irish knit remains dry next to the horse’s skin, preventing chills. However, it's important to check for dryness as you may need to exchange the top layer once you see the moisture forming.

Video on How to Cool Down Your Horse in the Winter

Hot Weather and Strenuous Exercise Cool Downs

When your horse finishes a strenuous workout, such as a cross-country course, he breathes hard, and his internal temperature rises. To cool down, remove all tack and equipment so there is as much airflow and evaporation across your horse’s body as possible. 

Then wash him with cool water and immediately scrape off the water. Scraping is essential as leaving water on the horse's body will heat the horse more and negatively impacts the cool down process. Then, walk your horse in the shade.

Repeat washing, scraping, and walking until his breathing and temperature are normal. You can feel his chest to gauge temperature if a thermometer is unavailable. 

It is essential to know your horse’s normal temperature, before and after exercise, in advance of a major competition. You should know if he is prone to finishing at a high temperature. This can help you plan your cool down process efficiently. 

For example, some cross-country horses finish a course with a temperature over 104 degrees Fahrenheit. If this is common for your horse, have buckets of iced water ready to start the cool down process as soon as possible. Extremely high temperatures are dangerous for the horse’s internal organs. Washing, scraping, and repeating this process should start immediately after finishing a round. 

Horses should be offered water in small amounts at short intervals during cool down. Hay should be given at least one hour after cool down. Wait at least two hours before feeding grain. If your horse wants to nibble some grass while they cool down, that is not a problem.

Monitoring Your Horse During the Cool Down

Observing your horse after you think they have cooled off is important. Some will start having a high respiration rate and possibly sweat again. If you notice this, you must start the cool down process again until the horse is comfortable and all vitals are normal. As with just about any horse situation, call the vet when in doubt!