HHC Quick Tips - avoid water drinking straight after work (is a myth?)
Do not give a very hot horse a large drink straight after work. His system will not be able to take it and it can lead to metabolic problems.
It is a Myth according to Alberta's Agriculture and Rural Development: "For generations horsemen have been warned against allowing their "hot" horses to drink because of a perceived risk of colic and cold-water founder. However, with the possible exception of very hard galloping, it is safe for horses to drink right after exercise. In fact, recent research has shown that withholding water after exercise may be more of a disservice because it prolongs dehydration. Horses are more likely to drink and replenish fluid lost in sweat soon after exercise when their thirst drive is high, compared to waiting until they are "cool" and have lost interest in drinking.
The caution about hot horses and cold water probably originated from complications experienced by field hunters. At midhunt checkpoints, horses were allowed to drink deeply from frozen streams after hours of galloping and jumping. Although complications were linked to horses drinking while being hot, they likely resulted from winter-frigid water temperatures on top of extreme exertion. Understandably, great gulps of ice-cold water could shock a hot horse's system, but most horses aren't ridden this hard, nor are they given such cold water.
Dehydration can be quite harmful to your horse, so offer water as soon as is practical after your ride. Unless you have been running your horse hard, give him access to tap water right from the start of the cooling out-period. It may take a few minutes for his thirst mechanism to kick in, so allow him to drink his fill and then keep coming back to the bucket as long as he wants a refill. If you ride over long distances, or for prolonged periods of time, stop periodically and allow your horse to drink during your ride."
To believe or not to believe is your call.
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