Hot walker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A hot walker within the practice of horse management is a person such as a groom or stable worker who hand walks hot, sweaty horses after a workout, particularly after work on a racetrack.[1] The term hot walker may also refer to a mechanical device designed for the same purpose.[2]
Hot walking allows the horse to cool down after hard exercise,[3] which helps the horse's pulse and respiration return to normal, reduces stiffness, and minimizes the risk of health issues such as influenza, colic or equine exertional rhabdomyolysis.[4]
For humans, the work is generally considered entry-level in the horse industry and pay is generally close to the minimum wage. Mechanical hot walkers cost several thousand dollars, and prices varying widely depending on size and construction.
Management techniques vary widely, but typically following a workout, a horse is hosed or sponged off to remove sweat and sometimes liniment is applied. While hot-walking, the handler may periodically stop and offer the horse water to drink.[5] A horse may need to be walked for a half hour or more.[6]
Mechanical hot walkers
Mechanical hot walkers come in many designs. The horses on the walker go in a circle, and most hot walkers can be set to go in either direction. The most common design in the United States consists of four arms of heavy gauge steel radiating off from a central pivot point containing a motor to move the arms at various speeds, most often set to have horses walk. At the end of each arm is a short rope with a snap at the end, which attaches to the halter of the horse.[2] Newer designs originating in Europe have moving panels and no radial arms.[7] The motor is often on a timer that will stop after a set amount of time.[2]
Basic safety on a mechanical hot walker includes having the horses under the supervision of a human at all times, not allowing people to ride a horse while on a hot walker, and if two instead of four horses are on the walker, to place them on opposite sides.[8]