How Every Type of Rider Can Use Prehab in 2026

This article is part of the 2026 Preventive Musculoskeletal Health Report. View all 10 sections or download the full PDF below.

Prehab works for every horse — but not every horse needs the same version of it. Workload, age, discipline, and rider goals all shape how hydration and recovery routines should be built.

Here’s how different types of riders can use Prehab to create consistent comfort and long-term soundness in 2026.

1. For Performance Riders

The horses working hardest need Prehab the most consistently.

• Daily Hydro-Lyte® to stabilize hydration and muscle firing
• Daily Draw It Out Gel on hocks, stifles, and backs
• MasterMudd on heavy loading days or post-competition
• Poultice legs after speed work, jumping, hauling, or multi-class days

Performance riders see the fastest gains in stride quality, recovery time, and consistency across training sessions.

2. For Amateur Riders and Weekend Warriors

These horses often struggle with inconsistency — work one day, rest two. Prehab smooths out those ups and downs.

• Hydro-Lyte every day (especially on cold days with low water intake)
• Draw It Out Gel after each ride to prevent next-day stiffness
• MasterMudd for any area that repeatedly feels tight

Amateurs report fewer “surprise stiffness” days and a horse that stays ready even with varied schedules.

3. For Youth Riders & Lesson Programs

These barns often have the hardest-working horses with the least downtime. Prehab protects them from overuse.

• Daily Hydro-Lyte (hydration is non-negotiable here)
• Draw It Out Gel on backs and legs after lessons
• Poultice at the first sign of limb heat

4. For Senior Horses

Older horses lose hydration faster and recover slower — which makes them the biggest winners of the Prehab approach.

• Hydro-Lyte daily to maintain muscle elasticity
• Draw It Out Gel to support backs, SI areas, and stifles
• MasterMudd as needed for age-related stiffness

Seniors show dramatic improvements in willingness, stride length, and day-to-day mobility.

5. For Trail Riders

Long miles, uneven terrain, and hauling all create hidden stress on tissues.

• Hydro-Lyte before and after long rides or trips
• Gel on legs and backs after dismounting
• Poultice if legs feel warm after rocky or steep terrain

Trail riders notice fewer “day after” stiffness issues.

6. For Horses Coming Back From Time Off

Whether injured, rested, or lightly used, returning horses benefit from a slower, hydration-forward restart.

• Hydro-Lyte for 7–10 days before increasing workload
• Draw It Out Gel on major muscle groups after early rides
• MasterMudd if old issues start whispering again

The Takeaway: Every Rider Can Prehab — Just Adapt It

Prehab isn’t a rigid protocol. It’s a flexible system built on two truths:

• Hydrated muscles stay sounder.
• Recovered tissues stay ready.

Whatever your discipline, whichever horse you ride, the Draw It Out Prehab System meets you where you are and keeps your horse moving forward with comfort and consistency.

This article is Section 8 of the 2026 Preventive Musculoskeletal Health Report. Section 9 publishes January 10 and will provide a printable weekly Prehab regimen for riders and barns.