How should you cool a horse down after exercise?

Cooling down a horse properly after exercise is crucial to its health and recovery. Gradually decreasing the intensity of the horse's activity and allowing for slow walking helps facilitate a safe transition from the exertion of exercise to rest. This process allows the horse's heart rate and respiration to return to normal in a controlled manner, which helps prevent stress on the cardiovascular system.

During slow walking, the horse can also cool down naturally through sweat evaporation, and it gives the muscles time to flush out lactic acid and other metabolic byproducts that build up during exertion. This gradual cooldown also helps maintain circulation and can prevent stiffness and soreness in the muscles afterward.

Feeding hay immediately after stopping exercise is not advisable, as it can lead to digestive issues, particularly colic. Putting a blanket on the horse can trap heat and raise the risk of overheating instead of allowing the horse to cool down properly. Finally, letting a horse roam freely in the pasture may not provide adequate cooling, and it could lead to potential injury or overheating since the horse might choose to run around rather than walk calmly. Hence, the practice of gradually decreasing work intensity and allowing for slow walking is the most effective and safest method to cool down a horse.