Warm-ups and Cool-downs?

Question

What is the correct warm-up and and cool down for a 22 year old horse?

Thanks!

Answer 1

ESTIMATE ONLY (may vary depending on the fitness of horse) :

Warmup:Walk, bending and stretching for about 5 minutes. 5 minutes trotting in straight line, 5 minutes trotting in circles, serpentines, figure-8's etc. to stretch him out. 5 minutes cantering (go both ways).

Cooldown: Walk on loose rein until he isn't breathing heavily, then go hose him off til he's cool.

Answer 2

For a 22 year old horse with no traces arthritis?

Well my suggestion would be to walk him for 3-5 minutes depending how cold, or stiff he is.

Then ( I know tis takes time but,) get off of him and actually stretch out his legs by pulling them  lightly. and making him stretch them.

Then get back on him, and ride him as ussual.

Warm downs:Is really quite easy, get off him and remove the bridle, and put on his halter, and walk him around for a few minutes (with his saddle still on).

I know some of tis may sound crazy, but my  friend taught me this and this works AMAZINGLY!!

Answer 3

Walk it out, It is the same with any horse, any age! feel the chestr and wait until he is not hot AT ALL!  

Answer 4

http://www.wikihow.com/Cool-Down-a-Horse...

http://www.horses-and-horse-information....

This should helo ♥Can't Stop Riding♥

Answer 5

The best way is to lounge him. Do it for about 2-3 minutes one way and then 2-3 min the other way. If he doesn't seem "warmed-up" then do it some more.

Remember to reward him if he does a good job with the lounging.

Then do what you would normally do with your horse.

When you are done walk him around for about 5 minutes and return his breathing to normal if you worked him hard or for a long time. Also if you give your horse water right way that help to cool them down too. But remember to reward him.

Spending time with him afterwards can cool him down and get your bond stronger with your horse. And that goes for all your horses.    

Answer 6

To warm up my horse, I always double lunge for 10-15 minutes.

I start at a walk, and do a lot of turns. Then I trot him both ways, twice. Then I canter him once each way.

I get on, then let him walk on a loose rein. Then I trot on a loose rein.

I then start my dressage lesson, and usually at the end we do canter work.

When the lesson is over, I do a loose rein walk on him until he stops breathing hard, then dismount.

To cool him off, I take all his equipment off, and hose him down. It is hot right now in our area, so I don't put a cooler on him when I'm done. I sweatscrape him off, put Vetrolin on his front, leg, and back muscles,and rub alcohol on his legs to tighten the ligaments.

If it is cold out, you can warm him up with a quarter sheet. And when you cool him down, you can sponge him off and put on a cooler.

This is my routine for my 12 year old ex racehorse, and he is never lame or sore.

Answer 7

i once had a trainer who said, take as many laps as th ehorse is. well, i disagree, b/c tht is a lot. i'd say prob 5 at a loose long extended wlak and rein. cool downs, are less. i'd say maybe 3 depending how much u work them