Your ride in the rain was great fun, but now your pony is wet, muddy, and needs proper care. Let’s learn how to look after your pony after a wet-weather ride!
First priority: Getting your pony comfortable
As soon as you finish riding, your pony needs to:
- Get out of wet tack
- Start drying off
- Warm up if they’re cold
- Have access to water and hay
Let’s go through this step by step!
Untacking efficiently
Loosen girth first: Before removing the saddle completely, loosen the girth and let it hang for a minute. This helps your pony’s back adjust gradually.
Remove tack promptly: Don’t leave wet tack on your pony whilst you chat with friends. Get the saddle and bridle off as soon as possible.
Check for rubs: As you untack, check where tack sat for any signs of rubbing. Wet tack can cause rubs more easily than dry tack.
The crucial hoof pick
Just as you picked out hooves before riding, you must do it again after! Wet hooves can:
- Pack with mud that hardens overnight
- Develop thrush from being constantly wet
- Hide stones or debris
Thorough hoofcare:
- Pick out all four hooves completely
- Check the frog (the V-shaped part) for any smell or blackness (signs of thrush)
- If hooves seem very wet and soft, ask an adult about using hoof hardener
- Make sure hooves are clean before putting your pony away
Drying your pony
Light rain: If your pony is just damp from light drizzle, you might not need to do much. A quick rub with a towel over their back and belly might be enough.
Proper wet: If your pony is properly soaked, they need more help:
- Scrape off excess water: Use a sweat scraper to remove water from your pony’s coat. Start at the neck and work backwards, following the direction of the hair. Scrape down the legs too.
- Towel dry: Rub your pony down with old towels, especially:
- Under the saddle area
- Around the girth area
- The legs
- The head and ears
- Use a cooler or sweat rug: Pop a cooler or sweat rug on your pony. These special rugs:
- Wick moisture away from the coat
- Help your pony dry whilst staying warm
- Allow air circulation
- Prevent chills
Important: Never put a regular stable rug on a wet pony! This traps moisture against their skin and prevents drying. Always use a cooler first, then switch to a regular rug once your pony is dry.
Checking your pony’s temperature
Feel behind the ears: This tells you if your pony is warm enough. If their ears feel cold, they need extra warmth.
Watch for shivering: If your pony is shivering, they’re too cold and need:
- A warm, dry stable
- A cooler or light rug
- Access to hay (eating produces heat)
Dealing with muddy legs
Don’t brush wet mud: Brushing mud whilst it’s wet just spreads it around and can rub your pony’s skin.
Options for muddy legs:
- Leave it: Let the mud dry naturally, then brush off tomorrow
- Hose off: If it’s not too cold, quickly hose the worst mud off legs
- Towel clean: Use wet towels to wipe off excess mud
Dry legs properly: If you wash legs, make sure they dry completely:
- Use towels to dry thoroughly
- Pay extra attention to heels and pasterns
- Make sure no water is trapped in feathers (long hair on legs)
Why this matters: Constantly wet legs can lead to ‘mud fever’ – a painful skin condition. Proper drying prevents this problem.
Mud fever prevention
Check heels and pasterns: Look closely at the back of your pony’s pasterns (just above the hoof). This is where mud fever usually starts.
Signs of mud fever:
- Crusty scabs
- Redness
- Heat
- Swelling
- Your pony being sensitive when you touch the area
If you see any of these signs, tell an adult immediately!
Prevention tips:
- Keep legs as dry as possible
- Don’t leave wet mud on overnight
- Make sure legs dry completely after washing
- Use barrier cream on heels if your pony is prone to mud fever (ask an adult first)
Rugging decisions
Is your pony cold?: Check ears, feel their body. Cold ears or shivering mean they might need a rug.
Cooler first: If wet, always start with a cooler. Check your pony in 30 minutes to an hour:
- Still wet? Keep the cooler on longer
- Mostly dry? Switch to a regular stable rug
- Completely dry? Rug as normal for the weather
Don’t over rug: A wet pony in a heavy rug can get too hot. It’s better to use a lighter cooler and let them dry properly.
Providing food and water
Fresh water: Make sure your pony has clean, fresh water at all times. They might be thirsty after their ride!
Hay: Give your pony hay to munch on. Eating hay:
- Helps them warm up (digestion produces heat)
- Keeps them occupied whilst drying
- Provides comfort after work
Feed as normal: Give regular feed at the usual time.
Stable or turnout?
Wet pony: Keep them in until completely dry.
Dry pony: If your pony is dry and it’s not still pouring with rain, they can go back out if that’s their normal routine. Make sure they have:
- Appropriate turnout rug if needed
- Access to shelter
- Clean, dry area to lie down
Very wet weather: In heavy, ongoing rain, your pony might be more comfortable in their stable with hay.
Checking later
Visit your pony again later (if possible) to check:
- Are they fully dry now?
- Do they need their rug changed?
- Are they warm enough?
- Any signs of problems from their ride?
Tack care after wet rides
Don’t forget your tack needs attention too:
Immediately after riding:
- Wipe down wet leather with a dry cloth
- Remove all mud
- Hang up to dry (not in direct heat)
- Check for any damage from the wet
Later:
- Clean leather properly once dry
- Oil if needed
- Check stitching and buckles
Tomorrow’s check
The next day, examine your pony carefully for:
- Any rubs from wet tack
- Signs of stiffness from working on wet ground
- Mud fever on legs
- Any other issues
Learning from each ride
Each time you care for your pony after a wet ride, you’re learning:
- How long your pony takes to dry
- Whether they tend to get cold easily
- If they’re prone to mud fever
- What works best for their care
Keep mental notes of what works well!
Next: Keeping your pony healthy and happy in wet weather!
