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Once you are on your horse, start walking, making sure to give him plenty of rein to lower his head so he can stretch his neck muscles. While walking, you can even leave the cooler on, wrapping it around your legs (to keep them warm, too) while still helping to keep your horse's body heat in. Especially during the winter months, it is a good idea to walk your horse for about 10-15 minutes or until you feel he is limbering up. Once your horse is walking freely and feels more relaxed, you can remove the cooler and begin your ride. You will notice that as you ride, his stride will get longer and he will not be as hunched up as when you started out. This means his muscles are warming up, and he is therefore more comfortable. Equally important as warming up is cooling down. After you finish your ride, especially if it has been a vigorous workout, it is a good idea to again walk your horse for 10-15 minutes, allowing him to slow his breathing and cool down. Put the cooler back on if you have one. After you untack your horse, use water (warm water, if it is available) to sponge off the areas that have become sweaty - the saddle area, chest, and behind the tail are the areas where your horse is most likely to sweat. Be sure and scrape off any excess water using a sweat scraper, and make your horse as dry as possible. If your horse is still breathing heavily, you should hand walk him until his breathing has returned completely to normal. These steps will help to keep your horse from getting chilled and possibly getting sick. Remember to never put a blanket (other than a wool cooler) on your horse while he is wet; this will only trap the moisture and actually make him colder. Taking a few extra minutes to warm up and cool down your horse properly will make a more enjoyable riding experience for you and your horse while helping to avoid soreness and injury.
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