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[RC] cooling with ice - Sheila_LarsenThis is what I do based on eventing information and it has worked for me. I use ice water all over the body when the horse is hot and the weather is also hot. I put the water on and scrape it off, I keep doing that until the water coming off the horse is tepid, not cold, but tepid. I am very careful not to over cool the horse, I probably am a little conservative. Years ago when i did this people thought I was going to kill my horse and told me as much. Next day he looked the best after a ride that he ever did. I suspect (don't know for sure) but at a ride where it cold, your horse stops moving, and gets chilled enough to stiffen muscles or start shivering and that is when the horse gets cramps. I have heard of people putting rubbing alcohol in the water to speed up evaporative cooling and I suspect that works best in humid weather. I tried it once and I think it was too cool outside and the additional cooling caused him to become uncomforable and maybe tingly because I thought he was coliking. I took him to the ride vet and told him what I did. He checked him and said he was fine and suggested I put a blanket on him. Very shortly after that he warmed up a bit and started eating with no ill effects except scaring me half to death... And Allah took a handful of southerly wind, blew His breath over it, and created the horse.... Thou shall fly without wings, and conquer without any sword. Oh, horse. ~Bedouin Legend =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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