People without access to stables: what do you do with a sweaty horse

[CazD]

The YO is about to re-roof the stables where my horse is and there are no other stables. This means I am going to be without access to a stable for a week or so. He is an unclipped cob so get very sweaty when ridden. He lives out (currently unrugged) but normally I chuck him in the stable with a fleece until he's dry and then turn him back out. What would you do in these circumstances? I reluctant to turn him out sweaty but cant exactly turn him out in a fleece.

 

[Enfys]

We walk our sweaty horses to cool them down, then they get put back out and have a jolly good roll.

I do have stables, I just don't use them.

It depends how sweaty your horse gets, just his saddle patch or absolutely dripping wet? Clip?

 

[appylass]

If it's a warm day just put him back out (assuming he has cooled down), he will roll and dry himself off. I have also put mine out in a small grassy paddock with a cooler on for an hour to dry off if it is not so warm, or after I've bathed them.

 

[Kallibear]

Walked inhand until he's cooled down (only takes 5mins to stop puffing and to cool down) he just get shoved out in field. 30sec later he's got his own rug of inch thick mud. I'll then brush him off couple hours later once he's dried out.

 

[McNally]

Bit pricey but this was a problem for me- I bought a Bucas Smartex which is a very good wicking cooler but in a turnout rug so i could sponge off and turn out. I think coolex also do a cheaper version- Worth every penny tho'

 

[Natch]

If you know drying him is going to be a pain, you get quite good at adapting your workout to end with a less sweaty horse, in my experience!

I either left them drying with/without a cooler (depending on weather) tied up while I did various other yard jobs, or turn out in school with a cooler, or turn out in field with a cooler with a lightweight rug on top if that's what the weather calls for. Its not very BHS, but if you're going to leave the lightweight on you can just undo the straps of the cooler and slip it out from underneath the outer rug if you have a horse who will tolerate this.

If you have poo picking or other yard jobs to do, the trick is to exercise your horse first, then use the time between finishing work and bring able to remove the cooler to do these things.

Edited to add: a good towel off or scrub down with clean bedding helps a lot. In your circumstances if its just for a week I'd treat him to a week of in-hand work or long slow distance work.

 

[Paddy Irish]

Me too , although I do have stables ours live out 24/7 so if the boy has a lesson and is sweaty or he got rained on during lesson , he gets walked to cool down then has buccas power turnout lite which wicks but is a turnout in it's own right , really handy rug to own - especially if you ride in the rain!