07/21/2025
Myth: letting a hot horse drink water will cause it to tie up/colic/cramp
NO! It’s just not true. Please read this short article. 😊
I was lucky enough in 1997 to compete in a 25 mile ride in April and at the Old Dominion 50 mile ride. It is run the second Saturday in June. It was 95° that day. At all 3 vet checks and at every stream and river I crossed, I sponged the horse’s neck, head and rump with cold water, regardless of how hot he was. Back then we also scraped immediately, which we now know is useless!
The research done in the sport of endurance, not just at FEI levels, but at grassroots level, is extensive. ‘Backyard’ endurance riders really know their horses, how to prevent metabolic issues and finish a race with a healthy, happy horse. With no IV fluids, unlike eventers!
One of the most persistent myths in horse keeping is that you can’t let a hot horse drink cold water or even rinse him off with it. Click the link in the comments to learn why that's not only an incorrect belief, but a dangerous one.
