sweating up on way home?

[star]

i go drag-hunting, so we're normally only on board for around 1.5-2.5, maybe 3hrs max. It's fast work with lots of jumping and he gets quite excited so normally froths and sweats a lot. When we get back to the trailer I sponge off his body in warm water and chuck my summer Thermatex over him unless it's really cold when I another one on as well. Then I wash his legs off in cold water, put Thermatex leg wraps on, sort myself out and then change his cooler for his full neck WB cooler and his normal Thermatex on top. If absolutely freezing then might use a decent stable rug instead of Thermatex. He will normally then stand on trailer for half hour or so while we have tea and then travel home. Quite often when I get back he will be randomly really sweaty around his stifles - you know the bit where the hair changes direction above the stifles. Properly wet with sweat and if you touch it it goes kind of white and almost foamy. I've tried varying combinations of rugs and he always seems to do it. The rest of his body is always nice and dry. He is fully clipped. Just wondering if I was doing anything wrong in my routine? I normally get home, change cooler again, wait an hour or so and then put night rugs on and turn out, but often he'll still be a bit wet around that hairline. any ideas?

 

[rosie fronfelen]

i always make sure the ears are nice and dry and warm- if not, i gently rub them til they are- horses usually like this!! its a sign of them being warm and settled once achieved-

 

[star]

lol, not a chance! he's totally ear shy!

 

[k9h]

This is termed as breaking out.

Where they will break into a sweat after work. Basically the head is still hunting! I had a huntsmans horse that would do this after every days hunting all season long & he would go to bed in 3 thermatex rugs to keep him warm & dry.
He would have a roll in pit when got back & then a shower then the 3 thermatex rugs on.
In the morning he would be dry & warm.
Though Jon Joe use to break over alot more that what your horse does!

 

[star]

so, maybe i should turn him out in his thermatex under his turnout rug just to make sure any more sweat is wicked away? or would he be better staying in the night after hunting? not sure if that would upset his routine a bit much or whether he'd appreciate a nice thick bed to lie in. he's a very stressy type but he does seem to accept being stabled fine and always eats well when he's kept in.

 

[k9h]

If the turnout rug is breatherable aswell then I would stick thermatex under & keep to routine. If it is just his stifle wiggly area that is getting wet.

Like I said Jon Joe did it all over his body so wouldn't dare turn him out plus they were in for the night but would go out in field the following days hunting.

You know your horse best! Plus your the vet! Haha!

 

[rosie fronfelen]

oh sorry for the suggestion, it always works for mine- and they love it!a cold, wet ear is a sign of a cold horse, this was drummed into me many moons ago and i think it is so true!!

 

[posie_honey]

my horse will do that too = esp for traveling to the meet as well! and we also go mostly draghunting as fits in nicely with shooting on sat - hunting on sun

i've found a thermatex is just too warm for her - i've hardly ever used it as she just cooks under it whatever the weather.

it's taken me a while trying different things with her but i find the WB wick dry combo good as a cooler - then a fleece on top for travelling - she's warm and often dry by the time we get home with this combo on

once home i'll change her cooler etc for dry ones - then put her in her stable for an hour or so to chill out and have a feed - then she'll be turned out (she lives out 24/7) with her HW combo on

 

[star]

oh sorry for the suggestion, it always works for mine- and they love it!a cold, wet ear is a sign of a cold horse, this was drummed into me many moons ago and i think it is so true!!

dont apologise :grin: good suggestion, just no good for him as he has a complete hissy fit if i try and touch his ears!

 

[star]

If the turnout rug is breatherable aswell then I would stick thermatex under & keep to routine. If it is just his stifle wiggly area that is getting wet.

Like I said Jon Joe did it all over his body so wouldn't dare turn him out plus they were in for the night but would go out in field the following days hunting.

You know your horse best! Plus your the vet! Haha!

yeah, he has breathable turnouts. i dont know him that well - had him 18mths but still getting to know him like i know my old boy. also, completely inexperienced when it comes to managing horses after hard work. my old one never worked hard in his life. this is my first experience of hunting and managing a horse afterwards. he lost quite a lot of wt coming towards the end of last season so want to try and avoid that this yr too. just coz i'm a vet, doesn't mean i know everything - experience counts for a lot!

 

[k9h]

Jon Joe would be dry coming home but it would be through the night he would break out again.

I suppose you can only try & see if it helps him. Can you get to check him a couple of hours after turn out to see whether he is warm or not & how wet he is?
Affraid it will be trial & error to see what works. Plus he may settle down with the more he goes?

 

[skewby]

When we get back to the trailer I sponge off his body in warm water and chuck my summer Thermatex over him unless it's really cold when I another one on as well. Then I wash his legs off in cold water, put Thermatex leg wraps on, sort myself out and then change his cooler for his full neck WB cooler and his normal Thermatex on top.

Wow, well done. I can barely get the tack off mine, lol!!!

 

[star]

When we get back to the trailer I sponge off his body in warm water and chuck my summer Thermatex over him unless it's really cold when I another one on as well. Then I wash his legs off in cold water, put Thermatex leg wraps on, sort myself out and then change his cooler for his full neck WB cooler and his normal Thermatex on top.

Wow, well done. I can barely get the tack off mine, lol!!!

i have to walk him around a bit first until he realises everyone has gone back to their trailers and it's all over. getting his tack off is a bit interesting but then he seems to settle down.

 

[hunteress]

Star I have 2 cobs one stands when finished hunting and another is just still running I might walk him round but 4.30 5pm you just want to get them home !!

 

[star]

sometimes i have trouble getting off him - daren't take feet out of stirrups as he has a nasty habit of rearing up. end up walking round for ages! daft horse thinks something might happen without him!