A lot of riders fall into one of two camps: never touch liniment before a ride, or slather it on everywhere and hope for the best. Neither approach really respects what your horse’s body is trying to do in those first ten minutes under saddle.

A good pre-ride warm-up routine should be simple, repeatable, and realistic on a busy barn day. It should make your horse feel better, not turn tacking up into a 45-minute science project. Below is a practical, no-drama framework that folds Draw It Out® into the routine you already have.

Step 1: Start at the Crossties, Not the Arena Gate

Warm-up starts before you ever swing a leg over. While you groom, you’re already getting information: which muscles feel tight, which joints flex a little slower, which leg your horse nudges away when you pick it up.

This is the perfect time for a small, targeted application of Draw It Out® 16oz High Potency Horse Liniment Gel .

• Use just enough gel to coat the areas you know tend to feel tight—front cannons, hocks, or a specific muscle group.
• Massage it in with slow, deliberate strokes while you finish grooming, watching how your horse responds.
• Skip the “everywhere, just in case” mindset. Think like a farrier: specific, intentional, and consistent.

Because the 16oz Gel is sensation-free, odorless, and show-safe, you’re not lighting your horse up with artificial heat or a strong smell. You’re just quietly supporting tissue that is about to go to work.

Step 2: A Walk Pattern That Actually Warms Up the Body

The easiest way to sabotage a warm-up is to trot before your horse has even had a chance to move through their walk. After you mount, devote the first 5–10 minutes to purposeful walking.

Try this simple pattern:

• 2 minutes of free walk on a long rein in each direction
• 2 minutes of big, deliberate circles and shallow serpentines
• 1–2 minutes of walk–halt–walk transitions, focusing on stepping up, not dragging behind

While you do this, the areas you supported with the 16oz Gel are already being used in a way that encourages circulation, range of motion, and relaxation instead of stiffness and bracing.

Step 3: When to Add MasterMudd™ to the Pre-Ride Plan

Not every horse needs deeper, targeted support before a ride. But for horses with old soft-tissue stories, a long competition season behind them, or joints that complain in cold or damp weather, MasterMudd™ EquiBrace can earn a quiet place in your pre-performance routine.

Use it:

• On old suspensory or tendon areas that you monitor closely with your vet and farrier
• Over hocks or stifles that have a known history of soreness after hard work
• On specific “problem” areas before big efforts like jackpots, schooling shows, or long trail days

The key is light, intentional use. Massage a thin layer into the target area, let it absorb, then proceed with your normal warm-up pattern. Think of MasterMudd™ as a precision tool, not barn-wide wallpaper.

Step 4: Pre-Ride vs. Post-Ride—Don’t Double Down Without a Plan

One of the biggest mistakes riders make is stacking products without a clear plan: pre-ride gel, post-ride spray, then wraps, then something else at night. Your horse doesn’t need a product pileup; they need a consistent system.

A simple framework:

• Pre-ride: Targeted Draw It Out® 16oz Gel, occasional MasterMudd™ for special cases.
• Post-ride: Wider-area support with RTU Spray or your preferred routine.
• Overnight: Only add more (wraps, repeat applications) if there’s a clear reason.

If you want more guidance on how pre-ride gel, post-ride care, and MasterMudd™ fit together, you can explore the comparison and routine ideas on this page: Draw It Out® vs. Natural Release & MasterMudd™ Routine Guide .

Step 5: Hydration and Gut Support Still Matter Before You Ride

Warm-up isn’t only about muscles and joints. A horse that’s even slightly under-hydrated or uncomfortable in their gut will move shorter, brace more, and mentally check out faster.

On work days, especially in heat, hauling, or frequent schooling, Hydro-Lyte® with GastroCell® can be part of your pre-ride support plan. Used as directed, it helps keep electrolyte levels balanced and supports the digestive system, which means your horse shows up to the ride ready to use the liniment work you’ve already done on the outside.

If you want a deeper dive on feeding and timing, save this how-to for later: How to Feed Hydro-Lyte™ with GastroCell® Guide .

Put It All Together: A Five-Minute Pre-Ride Routine

1. Groom and feel: note any heat, puffiness, or resistance to flexion.
2. Apply a thin layer of 16oz Gel to key areas that consistently feel tight.
3. Add MasterMudd™ only where your program or vet history calls for targeted support.
4. Mount and walk 5–10 minutes with deliberate patterns instead of wandering laps.
5. Check in mentally: does your horse feel looser, more even, and more willing to step under?

That’s it. No 16-step laboratory, no chaos. Just a steady, repeatable pre-ride warm-up that respects your horse’s body and your time.

When you’re ready to dial in your own routine, you can build it around the essentials your horse will actually feel: Draw It Out® Horse Gel Collection , MasterMudd™ EquiBrace , and Hydro-Lyte® with GastroCell® .