Tri-Tronics^®, Inc.

P. O. Box 17660

Tucson, AZ  85731

support@tthorse.com

1-800-808-8423

ARTICLES & EDUCATION

Stopping the Hot Walker

Hot walkers are machines that turn slowly and walk horses around in a circle at a set speed. Horses are tied at the end of long poles that keep them a safe distance from each other, which allows multiple horses to be walked at one time. They provide constant pull but have a slip clutch which will allow the walker to be stopped if enough force is placed against it. This prevents accidents and ensures that the motor does not burn up. This is necessary if a horse has to stop to urinate or if one were to become unable to move.

Anyone who has spent any time around a hot walker is familiar with the "smart" individual horse that thinks he knows when he has walked enough. He stops the hot walker for no reason other than being lazy. They have ingenious ways of looping the lead rope under their chin or over their neck so that it can't make them uncomfortable by pulling on their halter. While this may seem minor and more of an annoying nuisance, it can have serious health consequences. It is essential when a horse becomes heated from strenuous exercise or exertion that he does not cool down too quickly or stand still for long periods of time. Horses that are not cooled out properly run the risk of colic or exertional rhabdomyolysis ("Tying Up"), either of which can be life or career ending. The automatic hot walker keeps the horse moving which prevents his muscles from cramping and his body temperature from dropping too rapidly. Some of these automatic walkers can walk up to eight horses at a time which is essential for training facilities to efficiently handle large work loads. If one "smart" individual stops the hot walker he is not only jeopardizing his own health but the health of any other horse that is being cooled with him.

Hot walker time is also a necessary form of exercise for many of these horses on their days off from intensive training. Many of the horses that are on a hot walker will be high strung, very physically fit horses with pent up energy. If these horses are left standing still when a lazy horse stops the walker it can be extremely dangerous. They quickly become bored and can buck, kick, rear or strike, any of which puts them at risk of getting a leg stuck over the walker arm or caught up in their lead rope.

Horses that stop the walker usually realize that this behavior will get them into trouble so they quickly learn to continue walking when anyone is watching and stop as soon as they leave. Having the ability to correct these animals through a wall or window, without them seeing you, makes this bad habit a quick and easy one to solve using only the lower levels of the ViceBreaker H1.

It is important to rule out any medical problems that would make a horse stop the hotwalker. These problems could include colic, lameness or "tying up".