Some horses bounce back easily. Most don’t. The difference isn’t talent — it’s recovery. A simple daily routine determines how your horse feels tomorrow, not just how they perform today.

This guide shows the four steps top riders use to prevent soreness and support natural, show-safe recovery using sensation-free liniment.

Some horses appear naturally resilient. They work hard, rest well, and come out the next day ready to go. But in truth, most horses only recover well when their rider manages recovery intentionally.

A daily recovery routine doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, the simpler it is, the more likely it is to work. What matters is that it’s consistent, gentle, and aligned with how a horse’s body naturally resets after effort.

Step 1: A Five-Minute Post-Ride Walk

This is where recovery starts. Walking brings the heart rate down gradually, regulates breathing, and cools the tissues evenly. Stopping too quickly traps tension and metabolic waste in the muscles — the most common cause of next-day stiffness.

Step 2: Apply a Non-Irritating Liniment Gel

Liniments with menthol or alcohol can create a dramatic sensation that distracts the horse rather than helping it. For daily use, you want something sensation free, odorless, and gentle — a formula that supports recovery without burn or tingle.

This is where Draw It Out’s naturally derived approach shines. You get support without sting, smell, or irritation.

Step 3: Check Key Areas for Tension

Run your hand along the back, shoulders, hindquarters, SI region, and legs. You’re looking for:

• Warm spots
• Localized tightness
• Reaction to pressure
• A shortened stride or uneven weight shift

Small problems caught early stay small. This step alone saves riders weeks of downtime every year.

Step 4: Light Movement Later in the Day

A brief turnout or 10-minute hand walk helps tissues settle without stiffening. This is especially helpful after harder schooling sessions, hauling, or high-intensity disciplines like reining, cutting, jumpers, or barrel racing.

The Bottom Line

The best riders aren’t reacting to soreness — they’re preventing it. A reliable recovery routine teaches your horse that effort is always followed by comfort, release, and support.

Quiet recovery today builds a stronger, more willing horse tomorrow.