Effective horse cooling - as recommended by the FEI | ||
Jessica West from Great Britain and the much loved crowd favourite Sergeant Crisp galloping through the Rose Garden © Geoff McLean/Gone Riding Media
Hot or hot and humid environmental conditions are a serious risk to health and performance unless properly managed. Research into the effects of heat and humidity on horses during competition has been ongoing since the Atlanta Olympic Games. Here is some practical information on effective horse cooling, as recommended by the FEI. Effective Cooling of the Horse If horses have not experienced being aggressively cooled before then it is advisable to try and introduce this to them at home prior to competition. Make sure horses are used to fans, being sprayed with water from hoses and having people working on both sides. Best Cooling Techniques (in order of effectiveness)
There is no advantage to concentrating on applying cold water to specific areas such as large blood vessels on the neck or between the legs. Cold water, even applied over the large muscles, does not cause tying-up or muscle damage.
Aggressive cooling is the most important factor in reducing heat stroke in horses, and greatly reduces the risk of collapse and potential injury. Things that don’t work:
Practical Tips for Daily Management
They should be allowed to rest and recover for at least 3 days with regular hand walking (and grazing if available to encourage head lowering which helps clear the airways) before any significant training in the heat is undertaken.
This is an excerpt from the March 2018 FEI Sports Forum Supporting Document "Session 6 – Optimising Performance in a Challenging Climate: Management of Horses in Hot Weather", by Dr David Marlin & Dr Martha Misheff. Click here to read the report in full
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© copyright. Equestrian Life. Sunday, 21 April 2024 https://www.equestrianlife.com.au/articles/Effective-horse-cooling-as-recommended-by-the-FEI |
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