Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Question - I saw that the saddles came off as soon as the horses came  
in, and folks started pouring water on them - all over.  I also heard  
mention of ice water.  So here is the question -- how was the ice  
water used?  Was it poured all over the horse, or was it just used on  
the neck, etc., and warmer water used on the back and butt?  Or warmer  
water used first, then ice?

Reason I ask is that I've been at winter rides (So Cal winter - so not  
very cold for some of you), where the head vet has cautioned about  
pulling saddles and not blanketing immediately, as he has seen some  
impressive muscle cramps in a horses back induced that way.

So - I understand that the conditions are radically different, but if  
ice water was used on the horses to cool them down, what was the  
management strategy to achieve cooling, but avoid cramping?



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