As a five-star eventer and Grand Prix dressage rider, Laine Ashker finds icing and using liniment on her horses’ legs immediately after work an essential component of her horse-care routine. After a workout, especially a strenuous jump school, she says it’s important to cool down the tendons and suspensory ligaments in the legs as quickly as possible to help them recover and reduce inflammation.

Five-star eventer and Grand Prix dressage rider Laine Ashker uses Absorbine® Veterinary Liniment Gel and Spray to help her horses recover after a workout.

“The horse’s legs are hottest right after a workout, so that’s when you want to cool them down. That’s also why a lot of companies are making perforated boots to help keep the legs cool,” she said. “Once I finish a workout and have walked my horse out, I ice all four legs for 20 minutes.”

After icing, Ashker then uses Absorbine® Veterinary Liniment Gel on her horse’s legs for further cooling and recovery effects. “My mare Lottie is little scared of sprays, so the gel is great for her. I simply put some on my hands—a little goes a long way—and then I rub it into any areas that are prone to soreness, including the knees, ankles, hocks and even up to the stifles if needed,” she explained. “I find that the longer I massage the gel in, it really penetrates nicely without blistering your horse’s skin.”

Ashker also uses Absorbine® Veterinary Liniment Spray as an overall body spray to give all her horse’s muscles a cool-down, relaxing feeling. Whether you’re applying the gel or spray, she notes that this is also a good opportunity to take inventory of any issues that could be going on with your horse’s legs.

“Pay attention to any areas that seem hotter than others and feel your horse’s legs and note any differences in tendons or ligaments to prevent potential injuries,” Ashker advised. “As a horse owner, rider, trainer and overall good horseperson, this is an important practice to follow and creates a better overall bond with your horse that will carry over to your success in the show ring.”

Click to watch this full video, brought to you by Absorbine®, of Laine Ashker sharing her post-workout recovery routine.

About Laine Ashker

Five-star eventer and dressage professional Lainey Ashker has competed in numerous FEI competitions at the five-star level, including the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CC14* and the Defender Burghley Horse Trials CC15*. The horsewoman, who trains out of her Keystone Acres farm in Chesterfield, Virginia, also won the National Eventing Championship (Advanced Level) in 2013 aboard her long-time mount, Anthony Patch. More recently, she won her first CDI in May 2023 aboard her upper-level dressage horse, Zeppelin.