Cold Hosing Horses Legs – Why and When

Cold hosing horses’ legs can offer many benefits, however, deciding on whether or not to do it in the cold weather, takes some weighing up. In this article we look at three reasons why you may choose to cold hose, and what points should be considered when doing so.

Why Cold Hose Legs

Cold hosing a horse’s legs (or leg) can help clear away unwanted debris and mud, help clean a wound, or act as cold therapy. Depending on the reason, there will be different ways and places to apply the water.

To Wash Away Mud and Debris

Cold hosing is a popular option for washing the horse’s legs when coming in from a muddy field, or training session/hack. A popular choice all year round, cold hosing can be a quick and easy way to get the horse’s legs clean.

Thought and consideration should be given to the time of year. This can be done to remove excess mud and debris that may irritate the skin, which can lead to open wounds and/or scabs, otherwise known as mud fever.

Avoid cold hosing as temperatures drop below 5 degrees celcium as this can damage weakened skin. Instead, wait until the mud has dried (normally the next morning) and lightly brush away hardened mud paying attention to any scabs that may have formed.

Time: consider the amount of time you leave the hose on the legs for. Hosing should be done,

Cold Therapy

Cold hosing horses’ legs is a type of cold therapy, also referred to as cryotherapy. Cryotherapy includes the application of a cold water, or any cooling substance/source to a specific area. Application of cold will cause blood vessels to become narrower (vasoconstriction), therefore reducing blood flow to the area.

Cryotherapy is often used on injuries to aid in the reduction of bruising and haemorrhaging. The decreased blood flow will also aid reducing inflammation, and therefore pain sensitivity, to the area where it is applied.

Points to consider

Cold hosing should be used as soon as possible, after an injury has occurred. Dependant on the type of injury, different methods of cold therapy application can be utilised, to reduce discomfort, chance of infection, or the possibility of further damage.

Within the first 24-hours of an injury being sustained, cold therapies should be the only temperature therapy utilised. This will aid with pain relief, reduce swelling, and may help restrict bleeding. Cold therapies can be used up to 48 hours after the injury was sustained and requires repeated exposure throughout the period, for the therapy to cause an effective result.

Cold hosing is perfect for most injuries, from one where the skin has broken to bumps and swellings. Especially great for wounds, cold hosing will help to wash away any foreign body from the wound bed, further preventing infection.

However, some horse’s will be very intolerant to cold hosing, especially if they are in pain. Heighten stress will only increase the pain signals sent to the brain, therefore alternative methods of cyrothkrpay may need to be utilised.

Application of Cold Hosing

Cold Hosing should be completed as often as possible after injury for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time.

If there is a wound, once bleeding has stopped or significantly reduced, a downward-positioned trickle of water will help flush away any small particles from the wound bed.

Swellings and bruising will also benefit from cold hosing. A 0-10°C water temperature showing the best effect, which is the average temperature of most cold water hoses.

Most horses tolerate cold hosing well, providing they are given the appropriate time to adjust to the icy temperature. Cheap, easy and used by elite-level riders, cold hosing is the most commonly used cold therapy out there.

Other Cold Therapies for Horses

For horse’s who do not tolerate cold hosing well, other cold therapies might be your bed friend. Before application of these therapies, ensure that wound beds are clean, as well as cold therapy of choice. This will reduce the chance of infection.

When to Avoid Cold Hosing

Cold hosing horses’ legs should be avoided when injuries are in the later stages of healing. Cold hosing horses legs in the late stage of healing will only limit the injuries’ healing potential, restricting blood flow and nutrients needed for repair.

Age-related degeneration in joints may also not benefit from cold hosing. Arthritic joint may have an adverse reaction to cold hosing, with the extreme of temperature increasing pain. Cold hosing may only be beneficial for arthritic joints during flare-ups, when swelling has increased. Otherwise, the application of heat will relieve pain and stiffness, increasing flow of lubricating fluids, soft tissue elasticity and nutrients to the area.