The cool-down period is vital to ensure your pony returns to his stable or paddock in the best mental and physical state possible. Here’s what you need to think about at the end of your ride:
cool-down
Like warming up, the amount of time you spend cooling your pony down will depend on several things, such as his age, fitness level, breed, how challenging the session was and the weather conditions. However, on average, most of us should aim to spend around 10-15 minutes cooling down our pony after a schooling session.
did you know?
As soon as you stop exercising your pony, his oxygen levels will rise, and his carbon dioxide levels will fall.
Follow our guidelines here to make sure you cool down your pony properly:
- Aim to finish your schooling session on a good note when your pony has tried particularly hard or has understood a new exercise or challenging movement.
- In rising trot, begin to ride some large circles, serpentines and figures of eight, gradually encouraging your pony to stretch down into a longer and lower frame. Do this steadily to avoid him collapsing on the forehand or hollowing over his back.
- After about five minutes of stretched trot work, bring your pony forward to walk and repeat the exercise mentioned in point two, allowing your pony to stretch down for around five minutes or until he’s no longer blowing or sweating. Keep the walk active and in a clear four-beat rhythm.
- A nice way to finish your session is to dismount, loosen the girth by a couple of holes and lead your pony in-hand for a minute or two. You can do this around the arena or, even better, provide a change of scenery by walking him around the property.
- If your pony is still hot and sweaty, wash him off and remove the excess water with a sweat scraper.
did you know?
A fit pony will recover quicker from exercise than an unfit or overweight pony. Timing how long it takes for your pony’s breathing to return to normal each time you ride will give you some idea of how his fitness levels are changing over time.
dos and don’ts
Do
- Know your pony’s resting pulse and respiration rates. This way, you will know when these levels have returned to normal and he has fully recovered from the workout.
- Allow your pony to stretch gradually. Let your pony find his own way into a longer and lower frame, as this gives his muscles time to adjust to the new position without any sudden or forced movements.
Don’t
- Skip the cool-down period. If you don’t cool down your pony properly, you risk injury, sore muscles, and even tying up. All of these can have serious consequences. If you don’t have much time for your riding session, simply shorten the schooling part to allow for some cool-down; skipping the cool-down part in favour of more schooling is NOT a good idea.
- Stand around chatting with your friends. Doing this might cause your pony to get stiff and cramp up. Focus on getting him cooled down and back in his stable or paddock before chatting with your mates.
