2014
WHPC
SUPERSUNDAY #3
DATE: March 9, 2014
SUBJECT: COOL DOWN,
BASE OF SUPPORT, TPR
JUMP LESSON
OVERVIEW
TPR – LIVE DEMO
Cool down. Why, when, how? Design a cool down plan. Execute your cool
down after today’s mounted lesson.
What does “base of support” mean.
How do I demonstrate this while riding?
READING RESOURCES:
The United States Pony Club Manual of
Horsemanship
OBJECTIVES
“D level”: pp 53, 177-180
Create and execute an appropriate cool down plan. Know how to tell when
your pony is cooled down.
“C level”: p 240
Learn to take TPR
Understand, practice and demonstrate secure base of support while riding.
UNMOUNTED LESSON
TPR lesson. How to take TPR. What are normal?
T = 95.5 – 101.5
P = 30-45bpm
R=8-16bpm
What happens when your pony has been ridden? Sweaty, breathing rapidly,
elevated body temperature.
Why cool down?
To prevent chills, muscle cramps/ muscle soreness, or
even colic.
At the end of a ride, a pony may be hot, tired and breathing hard. S/he needs
to cool down and his temperature and heartbeat need to return to normal
before being put away safely. How do you know when your pony is cooled
down?
Questions to ask:
How is the breathing? Is s/he puffing, nostrils open wide?
Is s/he hot and or sweaty when you feel the neck and chest?
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Are the small veins sticking out under his skin?
Rule of thumb: cool down for about 10 minutes , at the walk. Can do this
either mounted or unmounted.
After the 10-minute walk, loosen the girth some (but not so much that the
saddle will fall off when your pony is walked), walk your pony until your pony
is breathing normally.
When and why to use a cooler? Use only in cool weather (not hot). Cover
your pony after his body temperature has come close to normal . You can get
a rough idea of his body temperature by feeling his chest).
What is an anti-sweat sheet? A special cover that looks like a fishnet. It helps
a pony with a wet coat stay warm while he dries.
Never put a heavy winter blanket on a hot, sweaty pony in cold weather. This
will cause the blanket lining to become wet, and will be damp on the horse.
Blankets should be placed on the horse once s/he is fully dry.
During exercise and sweating, your pony loses water and electrolytes and
needs to replace them. Offer sips of water throughout cool down so that by the
time s/he is cooled out, the water needs are satisfied.
In warm weather to cool down your sweaty/wet horse: Use a seat scraper to
squeeze most of the water out of the coat. Rub the damp places with a towel
or a handful of dry straw. Scrape or rub the pony down quickly, then begin
walking again. If it is a particularly hot day, and your pony is quite wet you
can also hose or sponge him off. Walk your pony until dry after
hosing/sponging, until he is no longer wet.
Always make sure your pony is cool, dry, clean and comfortable before
putting away.
Once your pony is cooled off completely, s/he may eat hay or go on pasture.
Wait 1-2 hours after a strenuous ride to feed grain, however.
Review
How am I progressing with my goals set in January?
Mounted Lesson JUMP LESSON
Review: D-level-- BBP, Base of support
C and UP—BBP, Base of support and independent seat
BBP = SHOULDER/HIP/HEEL ELBOW/HAND /BIT HEELS DOWN
BASE OF SUPPORT = INSIDE OF CALF
D’S: GRID WORK
C AND UP: GRID/COURSE
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