Cool Down Tips for Horseback Riders

Bringing a Horse's Heart Rate and Respiration to Normal

Oct 30, 2009

Cooling down a horse is just as important as warming him up. Horseback riders should think of the cool down as an integral part of the workout.

The purpose of a cool down is to bring the horse's heart rate and respiration back to normal. It also lengthens and stretches the muscles and serves to calm the horse. Riders who neglect a cool down workout risk causing their horses physical injury.

Fortunately, cooling down horses is not a difficult task, and it will become second nature for riders who observe this period every time. For horseback riders who have tight schedules, it is a good idea to plan for the cool down from the beginning of the training session so they don't run out of time.

Work on a Long Rein

It is never a good idea to give a horse his head entirely, but the cool down period should be as relaxed as possible. Horseback riders can loosen their reins (not to the buckle, but an appreciable amount) to give their horses a chance to stretch out.

This encourages the horse to lengthen his neck and lower his nose. It tells him that the training session is over, which takes the edge off any anxiety and will curb anticipation of another upward transition. Cooling down horses is as much psychological as it is physical.

Horseback riders can further emphasize the cool down process by taking their feet from the stirrups. Riders who are not comfortable should keep their stirrups, but this is a great way for them to stretch their own legs and become relaxed in the saddle.

Get Off the Rail

Horses' muscles can stiffen just like their riders', and walking in a straight line does nothing to lengthen and stretch those muscles. Horseback riders should perform lots of circles and serpentines while cooling down horses to stretch the muscles, ligaments and tendons.

It is also important to vary the circles from very tight to very loose. Tight circles (10 meters and under) really stretch the neck and encourage cross-over in the horse's legs. Larger, looser circles are more relaxed and serve to let the horse adjust his own pacing.

Remove the Gloves

One of the easiest ways to evaluate the cool down process is to reach down to the horse's chest and gauge the amount of heat emanating from his skin. Very hot horses still require significant cooling down. Through gloves, horseback riders are not able to judge temperature accurately.

Of course, feeling a horse's chest is not the only way to monitor progress when cooling down horses. Riders must also pay attention to heart rate and respiration:

These are all important indicators of the cool down process, and horseback riders should pay careful attention. A horse at rest typically has a respiration of 8-15 breaths per minute while at rest (cooled down) and a heart rate (pulse) of between 30 and 50 beats per minute. Riders can check the pulse by pressing a forefinger to the artery underneath the horse's jaw.

Monitor Sweating

As mentioned above, sweating is a solid indicator of how fast a horse is cooling down. When heart rate and respiration return to normal, sweating decreases appreciably.

However, this is not nearly as accurate as timing heart rate and respiration directly. For one thing, horses are just like humans; some sweat more than others. It is possible to find a horse that does not sweat at all, which is extremely dangerous.

Sometimes, after cooling down, horses will develop what is called a "second sweat." This means that the horse stops sweating during the cool down, then starts sweating again for no apparent reason. This is not a big deal, but it is important to make sure that heart rate and respiration have indeed returned to normal.

Get Out of the Arena

One of the best things horseback riders can do when cooling down horses is to give themselves (and their mounts) a change of scenery. Take a long trail ride through the woods, circle the barn or ride out into a field. This gives the horse a psychological as well as physical break.

Cooling down horses is an extremely important exercise in every training program, and horses who aren't allowed to cool down will eventually develop problems. Remember also that horses should be cooled down after lunge work as well as riding.

The copyright of the article Cool Down Tips for Horseback Riders in Horse Training is owned by Laura Thompson. Permission to republish Cool Down Tips for Horseback Riders in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.