When I started eventing, back in the 80s, I can remember that when we came home from an event we always poulticed and wrapped our horses’ legs and fed them a bran mash for dinner. Then they were tucked into their stalls for the night.
These days, when I come back from a hunt (which is arguably more taxing than a novice level event), my routine is much more minimalistic: I check my horse for cuts and scratches, make sure there are no saddle marks, feed him a snack and then turn him out.
If the ground has been really hard or rocky, or we’ve done a lot of galloping, I may also pack his feet to prevent bruising (for this I like to use Magic Cushion).
Interestingly, I think the horses are sounder than they were with the extra care. In particular, I think that turning them out keeps them from stiffening up.
For a horse that’s a bit stiff or if I think we’ve jumped more than usual, I might give my horse some bute but I actually prefer dosing with Previcox before the hunt.
What do you do? Do you still wrap? Do you cold hose? Keep your horse in? Or turn him out?
Ibuphrophen? (For me…never used to need that.)
I have a minimal post-ride care routine, but then, I’m not involved in any of the intensive sports. Our post-workout routine includes a long cool out. He’s older, and I want to make sure the acid has plenty of time to work out of his muscles. I rub him out, check for muscle spasms or tightness, do carrot stretches, encourage him to roll (think it helps a myriad of muscle/skeletal issues) and sponge off any sweat if it’s warm out. Reapply fly spray, and off he goes into a large paddock.
We do a lot of trail rides and my horse gets super sweaty. We always walk home to cool him off. If its nice and warm out, he gets a hose down. then he just goes on straight turnout. I do almost nothing. But then again, he is a Belgian, so they’re very low maintenance already
I have two Thoroughbred geldings I compete in the lower levels of Eventing. One is eighteen and the other is 11.
On a normal day they get a five to eight minute walk out and their feet picked (one gets groomed and the other hates it so he’s happier just scratching/rolling). If it is warm, I’ll hose them off. A few hours later I walk back out to the barn and either check water or bring in and look at their legs. If they seem hot at all I wrap with Sore No More poultice for the night.
At an Event pretty much the same for dressage (except no turn out and I might have to studs) After cross country I untack and hose them off/take small drinks of water and check their legs/feet for any immediate problems and put them away with some food and water. A few hours later I come back and put liniment on their legs and wrap them. Show Jumping is the same as dressage but I do wrap the legs.