Have a horse that occasionally gets back sore after a long show day. I am looking at ice packs for the back. Problem is, no freezer available at the show grounds, & often not at the hotels. What can I use that might stay frozen/cold the when day in a small cooler, or better yet something I can recharge in ice water if I can’t put it in the hotel freezer?
I’d use poultice for a back.
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My vet has recommended icing my horse’s back as well. She suggested modifying an old fly sheet by sewing pockets on the top for the ice packs. It was my first sewing project and it was very easy to do. I used an old fly sheet from the trash for the pocket material.
I tried using these human ice packs with it, but they don’t work very well since they “slump” as they warm up and end up in a lump at the bottom of the pocket.
Maybe these would be better?
Try the torex ice packs–no slump!
Tons of different sizes, too.
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll have to try those.
Perhaps not helpful but I just came across this article today: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/21/well/move/exercise-icing-sore-muscles.html?action=click&module=At%20Home&pgtype=Homepage
Something to consider 
Wow, that’s a fascinating read. I have heard that there are differing opinions on whether or not to ice, but generally have heard that ice won’t hurt your recovery, but may not help it, either. But this suggests that it really does delay recovery. And that the inflammation is the body’s reaction to help repair tissue.
Really interesting.
I will say that my first thought about icing a horse’s back after a long day was negative. I’d have to have a fairly acute injury to my back to think icing would make it feel better. It seems far more likely to cause stiffness and possibly do more damage. Compression, massage, or heat seems like it would be better.
Man, this is so interesting, isn’t it?
For so long, we’ve all been focused on inflammation as a negative, to be avoided at all costs.
All of the research coming out about how important it is in the repair process is just cool.
Thanks for sharing this!
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I totally agree! Personally, I’ve never felt better in response to ice, unless it was a traumatic injury where the swelling was likely to be severe and potentially obfuscate the ability to treat successfully. But sign me up for a heating pad and NSAIDs any day (obviously NSAIDs have their problems).
That being said, OP, you might also look into some liniments if you feel cold therapy really does help your horse. I have no personal experience with them that would help but they would certainly travel well! Years ago a vet (who also did a lot of chiropractic) told me that it’s not necessarily that the neurons have to be cold, they just have to think they’re cold in order to engage an anti-inflammatory response. So liniments that feel cold may provide similar benefits to cold-hosing.
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I have dropped my core temperature to the point of being cold on a very hot and humid day using one of these with a fan.
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