Cold and Ice Therapy for Horses to Help Heal and Prevent Injuries

Cold therapy for horses is a tried and true method for reducing swelling, inflammation, and pain in a horse’s legs, muscles, and soft tissue. Using ice therapy for horses in the form of ice boots or soaking boots can make life so much easier in those instances when you need to cool down a horse’s legs or joints without long periods of cold-hosing, which may not be practical for every horse owner.

Learning more about Cold Therapy for Your Horse can give you an edge on those unexpected injuries or disappointing days when your horse appears sore or lame. Having hoof-soaking boots on hand for hoof abscesses, stone bruises, or laminitis is an intelligent choice for horse owners, as you can use warm water with Epsom salts to soak a bruise or abscess or add ice and water for a laminitis episode. Ice boots and cooling wraps for horses make cooling down your horse’s legs more efficient and effective, even for everyday prevention of soreness and injuries before or after a workout.

Frequently Asked Questions About Horse Ice Therapy

What is cold therapy for horses?

Cold therapy for horses is when you utilize ice, ice packs, or cooling products to lower the temperature of soft tissues on your horse’s legs and joints, reducing inflammation, swelling, soreness, and pain associated with injuries, overexertion, or joint pain. Cold therapy for horses can be provided in the form of ice boots, cooling wraps, soaking boots, or water therapy boots.

How long should you ice a horse?

You should only ice a horse’s legs or hooves for approximately 20-30 minutes at a time, with breaks in between.

Should you ice a horse's legs after riding?

Yes, icing your horse’s legs after riding is a great way to reduce inflammation and swelling to prevent injuries or soreness or to help keep past injuries from being irritated and swollen.

How many times a day should you ice your horse's legs?

If you are icing a horse’s legs for prevention, you may want to ice them just once a day after your ride or workout. Treating injuries or swelling can tolerate additional cold therapy periods if you want to do it a few times per day. However, if your horse is dealing with acute laminitis, using cold therapy on their hooves is critical during the first 72 hours at the onset of symptoms during a laminitis episode. Using soaking boots with ice can be a convenient and effective way to keep their feet cold constantly during that crucial window to help prevent the rotation of the coffin bone.