How to Prevent Stocking Up in Horses — Daily, Travel & Wrap Routine | Draw It Out®
Draw It Out® | Leg Care 101

How to Prevent Stocking Up in Horses

Stocking up is that cool, even puff after stall time or hauling—usually both hinds. Prevention isn’t complicated: move, cool, coat, and (if it’s your program) wrap. Here’s the no-drama system—no menthol burn, no alcohol sting, no perfumes or dyes.

Quick Chooser

  • Cool, painless, both hinds in the morning? Classic stocking up → follow the routine below.
  • Hot, painful, one leg or fever ≥101.5°F? Not routine—call your vet. See our comparison guide.
  • After hard work or hauling? Cool first with IceBath™ → target with CryoSpray® → support with DiO Gel.
Shop IceBath™ Shop CryoSpray® Shop DiO 16oz Gel

Daily Prevention — Two Simple Blocks

AM | Move & Protect (3–5 minutes)

  1. Hand-walk or hot-walker 5–10 minutes to prime circulation.
  2. Apply a thin, even layer of Draw It Out® 16oz Gel to cannons, fetlocks, and large muscle groups.
  3. Use clean standing wraps/boots if that’s your program.

Post-Work | Cool → Target → Support (3–6 minutes)

  1. Cool: Whole-body IceBath™ at 1:10 sponge or RTU spray (60–90 sec). Air dry—no rinse.
  2. Target: CryoSpray® on any lingering warmth (tendons, fetlocks, stifles, hamstrings); let dry.
  3. Support: Feather-thin coat of DiO Gel; wrap overnight if your horse stocks up.

Keep products out of eyes and open/deep wounds. Allow each layer to dry before the next.

Post-Ride Routine Cold vs. Liniment

Travel & Stall-Heavy Weeks

Before Hauling

  • Short walk; light DiO Gel on legs
  • Safe leg protection; pack clean wraps
  • Hydration plan: electrolytes per label + a bucket of plain water

On Arrival

  • Walk out 10 minutes
  • IceBath™ pass → CryoSpray® hot spots
  • Thin Gel; wrap overnight if that’s your program
Hydration Tips Swelling Prevention

Stable Management That Keeps Legs Tight

  • Break up stall time: turnout boxes, hand-walks, or walker sets morning & evening.
  • Footing: avoid deep/rutted surfaces; vary work; shorten drills in heat.
  • Hoof care: keep trims on schedule; balanced feet reduce soft-tissue strain.
  • Fly control: stomping fills legs—keep a Citraquin™ routine; wipe-on for face/ears.
  • Body condition: extra pounds = extra leg load. Feed for the job.
Consistency beats intensity

Wrapping — Smart, Not Heavy

  • When: After hard efforts, during travel, or for routine “stockers.”
  • How: Clean/dry legs; thin DiO Gel; even tension from mid-cannon down & back up; no wrinkles/roping.
  • Check: Off/on at least every 12 hours; legs should trend cooler and flatter, not hotter/tighter.

Quick Reference — Scenarios & Plays

Scenario What To Do Products
Morning puff after stall Walk 10–15 min → thin Gel → optional clean wraps DiO 16oz Gel
After a hot ride IceBath™ → CryoSpray® → thin Gel; wraps overnight if needed IceBath™ · CryoSpray® · DiO 16oz Gel
Hauling day Pre-walk + Gel; arrive → walk + IceBath™ → CryoSpray® → Gel IceBath™ · CryoSpray® · DiO 16oz Gel
Fly surge (stomping) Daily fly plan; wipe-on for face/ears; manage rubs Citraquin™ · Rapid Relief Cream

Red Flags — Call Your Vet

  • Non-weight-bearing or rapidly worsening lameness
  • Hot, painful one-leg swelling or fever ≥101.5°F
  • Deep cuts/punctures near joints or tendon sheaths
  • Swelling that climbs the limb or won’t improve within 24–48 hours

Topicals support comfort; they don’t replace diagnosis or treatment.

FAQ

How do I tell stocking up from cellulitis?
Stocking up: cool, painless, often both hinds, improves with movement. Cellulitis: hot, painful, usually one leg, possible fever/lameness—call your vet. See this guide.
Can I ride a horse that “just stocks up” overnight?
If legs are cool and the horse is sound, light work often helps. Heat, pain, or any lameness—do not ride; consult your vet.
Is IceBath™ better than cold hosing?
Use what you have. IceBath™ gives a fast, no-rinse whole-body cool; cold hosing targets one area. Many barns do IceBath™ then CryoSpray®.
Can I wrap over Draw It Out® Gel?
Yes. Apply a thin, even layer on clean, dry legs; use clean, dry wraps; check legs at each change.
What about electrolytes—daily or only in heat?
Follow the label. Use during heat, travel, and heavy sweat. Always offer a second bucket of plain, fresh water.

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