It’s being promoted as a “new idea” for cooling hot horses after exercise, applying ice packs to the jugular veins. But here’s the thing: it’s not new, it’s not effective, and it’s definitely not based on sound science.
This method dates back to cooling theories from the 1950s in human medicine. Fast-forward to today, and we know far more about how horses regulate heat, and this technique doesn’t stack up.
Why This Cooling Method Doesn’t Work
The idea is simple: place ice packs on either side of your horse’s neck over the jugular veins to cool the blood as it returns to the heart. But the reality is far from effective.
Let’s break down the facts:
- The jugular veins only carry about 10% of the total blood returning from the horse’s body, specifically from the head and neck.
- At rest, that’s just 2 litres per minute out of a 40-litre/minute cardiac output.
- After intense exercise, even when the horse’s cardiac output jumps to over 150 litres per minute, only 7.5 litres per minute flows through each jugular vein.
- The surface area of contact between an ice pack and the vein is tiny, perhaps 60 cm², and the jugular veins are well insulated by hair, connective tissue, and fat.
- Even under ideal conditions, the heat removed by the ice pack would reduce the horse’s core temperature by just 0.004°C, that is virtually nothing.
The Science Behind the Stats
This estimate considers:
- The thermal properties of horse blood, skin and fat
- The limited surface contact area of the ice pack
- The insulating effect of the horse’s skin and tissues
- A continuous blood flow and steady-state cooling
- No convection effects (i.e. no help from airflow or other environmental factors)
In other words, even if the ice pack is at a perfect 0°C, it’s not going to deliver any meaningful cooling benefit.
What Should You Do Instead?
If you’re serious about helping your horse cool down post-exercise, stick to proven, evidence-based techniques:
- Hosing with cold water over large surface areas
- Scraping and repeating to avoid insulation from warm water
- Walking the horse to promote circulation
- Providing shade, airflow, and hydration
Verdict on Jugular Ice Packs
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
This method isn’t just ineffective, it risks giving horse owners a false sense of security that they’re doing something useful when they’re not. At best, it’s a waste of time. At worst, it delays proper cooling, which could compromise your horse’s welfare.
Common Sense Always Wins
It might look novel, but the science is crystal clear: applying ice to the jugular veins won’t cool your horse down. When it comes to post-exercise recovery, stick to methods backed by research, not recycled myths.
