The science behind the need to warm up your horse (and yourself) properly.

Understanding how a horses performance can be adversely affected by a build up of lactic acid will help a rider adjust his schooling techniques to minimize the effect this has on performance.

The Horse and Hound ran a very interesting article this week on the research which has shown how if a horse was worked more on one rein than the other there was shown to be a definite increase in lactic acid the muscles on the side which had not been as well warmed up which led to increased incidences of injury among the 70 horses taking part in the trial. Correct and even warm up techniques helped to control the acid build up. The study also showed that lactic buildup was also adverse horses who were less able to perform at an anaerobic level, i.e. where less fit and/or strong.

Lactic acid is released into the muscles when they have used up their normal energy stores but still have intense energy needs. Small amounts of lactic acid operate as a temporary energy source, thus helping you avoid fatigue during a workout. However, a build up of lactic acid during a workout can create burning sensations in the muscles that can slow down or halt athletic activity. For this reason, it may be desirable to reduce lactic acid build up in the muscles when training and as far as possible out in the competitive arena.

Understand that lactic acid does not cause muscle soreness after a workout. Lactic acid is often wrongly accused of being responsible for the post-workout muscle soreness which can affect performance up to 1 to 3 days after a hard workout. However, new research shows that lactic acid (which operates as a temporary fuel source during intense physical activity) washes out of the system within an hour of the end of a workout, so it cannot be responsible for the pain felt days later.

The latest theory suggests that this muscle pain — also known as delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS — is the result of damage to the muscle cells during intense exercise. This causes inflammation, swelling and tenderness as the muscles repair themselves.

In order to reduce muscle soreness after a workout, it is necessary to do a proper warm up before exercising. This wakes up the muscles and prepares them for physical activity. It is also important to avoid pushing your horse past its physical limits and to build up your training goals gradually.

In a nutshell

To help prevent lactic build up and improve performance

1. Make sure your horse is well hydrated
2. Warm up thoroughly
3. Build on strength and stamina but do it incrementally
4. If your horse starts to fidget or show signs of tiredness allow some down time and let him stretch down and forwards
5. Warm down well after exercise
6. If possible allow your horse downtime either in a field or wandering around the school

Professional riders and teachers will help you understand the need to effective controls and help you devise strategies to improve you horses way of going by using a good warm up and warm down routine.

Horse, whatever their discipline, be it hacking, hunting, eventing, showjumping dressage or showing will all be affected by a build up of lactic acid so make sure you are aware of this and take it into account when exercising or schooling your horse by warming up and warming down well.

If you are looking for a livery yard where you can warm down by hacking out be sure to check out our Yard Listing on Horse Scout.  You can sort yards that have particular facilities by using the search box, top right of your screen.