Proper way to cool horse in summer...without cold hosing?

[NewbieEventer]

In an effort to preserve my horse's feet, I'm trying to limit hosing him off after our rides (farrier ordered me to stop hosing). Are there other ways to cool a horse without cold hosing? Sponging off really isn't that great either, as his feet still get wet...I have to limit sponging only on his sides and face to prevent the water from getting on his feet.

Anyone else have to limit their use of the hose? If so, what do you do to cool down your horse?

[Rescue_Rider9]

A fan? if you put some sort of hoof oil on his feet it repels the water which saves the feet.

[Highflyer]

Sponge off with COLD water--add ice if possible.

[SevenDogs]

If this is just a regular work-out hand walk until FULLY cool, allow to dry, and then groom the heck out of him/her. The only time cold hosing is absolutely required is if the horse is overheated and you need to bring down his body temp quickly.

Make sure you curry away all dried sweat as it can lead to fungus and other skin issues but really, we often rely on hosing more than we need to because it is easy.

When you need to use water, corona spread over the entire foot repels water like crazy.

[EventerAJ]

Agree with the others-- use corona or cheap oily hoof dressing before you hose him off. It will repel the water long enough to hose him off. I am a foot nazi and it is part of my daily routine: keratex before riding, then slather with Corona (or Fiebings dressing, but corona preferred) before bathing. When other horses' feet are chipping/cracking around the nail holes, mine mare's feet are solid and strong!

When it's 85 and humid, "not hosing" a hot, lathered, sweaty horse is not an option. ;)

[Equibrit]

Use some oily gooey stuff on his feet - and feed him something to make his feet stronger. Triple Crown Complete does a really good job on feet. They found out at the 1996 Olympics that the best way to cool a horse was to hose them down and scrape the water off, thus taking the heat with it. Then they walked them in the misting fans. You could also put wax on his feet to keep the water out.
Beeswax/carnauba http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=1707

[RealityCheck]

You can also use crisco before hosing. Not sure where you're from, but in KY in the summer hosing off is about the only thing that'll do it after any kind of decent workout!

[subk]

For this very reason I've gooped vaseline on the feet before hosing for the same water barrier effect to excellent results. I like the vaseline because I feel comfortable bringing it up above the coronary band without worrying about a skin reaction. It lets me really get it slathered on. Around here not hosing isn't an option.

[deltawave]

Just hose him and towel the feet and legs afterwards, then stand him in some dry bedding if you have to. I defy any farrier anywhere to come up with any good evidence that a foot that gets wet for a few minutes a day and is promptly dried is more of a health hazard to a horse than heat stress. :)

[Ajierene]

As SevenDogs said...hand walk.

Unless the horse is in heat stress, which he shouldn't be if this is a regular workout, hand walking is fine. Horses do not need to be hosed after every workout, but hand walking takes longer (plan a half an hour of hand walking, at least, depending on weather).

Curry and brush afterwards to get rid of sweat and prevent fungus growth/rainrot type issues.

I am not sure a few minutes of hosing is really doing that much to the horse, but if his feet are really soft, you might want to heed the farrier's advice in the short term.

[wildlifer]

If the horse's feet cannot stand up to getting wet after rides, I'd say you have some serious feed adjustments to do unless he's a complete genetic disaster.

[lstevenson]

There is no real alternative to cold hosing a hot horse in hot weather.

Start using Keratex on your horse's feet daily. It "seals" the hoof and keeps external moisture out, as well as keeping internal moisture in. Which prevents the expanding and contracting that feet endure when there is a constant change in moisture levels around the foot, and keeps feet solid and tough with no cracks.

[Rescue_Rider9]

hey keratex people...Do you use that on a horse that has dry feet cracked feet? I have a horse who has some pretty tough to keep feet and I am not so smart in the hoof department, but I do own keratex (dont even know how I got it!) but i dont know what to use it for! Thanks

[lstevenson]

hey keratex people...Do you use that on a horse that has dry feet cracked feet? I have a horse who has some pretty tough to keep feet and I am not so smart in the hoof department, but I do own keratex (dont even know how I got it!) but i dont know what to use it for! Thanks


Yes! It won't heal existing cracks of course, but it will prevent them from getting worse and will prevent new ones.

[Rescue_Rider9]

awesome! sorry to steal the thread.. now back on track! ha

[fordtraktor]

I use pine tar on their feet before hosing, and it works great (and smells all nice and pine-y too). I don't like using too much hoof oil because I think it softens the feet as well, but pine tar has never had that effect on mine.

[FoxChaser]

Before you go out and buy any old Keratex product, we're talking about the Hoof Gel http://www.kbchorsesupplies.com/browse.cfm/4,264.html NOT the Hoof Hardener :)

[LSM1212]

You can also use crisco before hosing. Not sure where you're from, but in KY in the summer hosing off is about the only thing that'll do it after any kind of decent workout!

Yep... this is what my farrier recommended. Works great! And I'm in KY too.... Hmmmm... maybe we have the same farrier!

[Rescue_Rider9]

What is the difference between the two? I have the hardener. I read the sight and it said it was for exisiting cracks to stop them from cracking more..

[FoxChaser]

The gel is to prevent softening of the hoof due to mud, etc. My farrier specified the gel saying that it helped to maintain a healthy level of moisture in the hoof so that it didn't dry out too much in the dry weather and didn't soften too much in the mud- didn't expand & contract to the point of cracking & breaking.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

If you don't want to get him wet....and he's not cooling out just walking (or you don't have time)

Get a spray bottle and mix water and rubbing alcohol (or just straight rubbing alcohol). Spray his neck, chest, back, haunches. Use a damp sponge to get between his legs and then stand him in front of a fan. The alcohol evaporates fast and that is what cools them down. Repeat as necessary.

When he is dry and cool...take some hair moisturizer (this stuff is great http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-22479&ids=120642872) diluted in another spray bottle. Curry him, spray him with the moisturizer...and brush him out. The alcohol is very drying on their skin and coat so you need to use a moisturizer.

[lstevenson]

Before you go out and buy any old Keratex product, we're talking about the Hoof Gel http://www.kbchorsesupplies.com/browse.cfm/4,264.html NOT the Hoof Hardener :)


Actually, I'm talking about the Hoof Hardener, which I've used with great results for about 15years now. I've never used the gel.

[wildlifer]

I'm (obviously) a big advocate for healing the hoof from the inside out. I don't believe slapping anything on the outside really solves anything for longer than about 30 minutes. SmartPak's SmartHoof supplement is an excellent product that is very very affordable -- don't waste your time smearing stuff around that's not going to make a lasting difference.

[RunForIt]

My farrier recommended painting the hooves with venice turpentine before night turnout and/or washing off...anyone got comments, thoughts, experience with this? :cool:

[VCT]

I've been told to use venice turpentine on the sole for horses who are tender footed... it will help them toughen up/harden up.

Not sure about putting it on the outside and it's seriously gooey messy stuff, just fyi.

[wildlifer]

Venice turpentine does not really do anything except temporarily provide sting reduction for the sole. It does not actually harden it.