We Put Quick Chill to the Test

We tested the Quick Chill Cooling Rug on one of the hottest days of the year (2024) to find out just how effective it is at reducing and maintaining lower skin temperatures in horses at rest.

With stable temperatures hovering between 28–30°C and the yard outside reaching 30–32°C, conditions were ideal for testing cooling methods.

Two cooling methods were involved:

  • Sponging off with cool water
  • Quick Chill Cooling Rug pre-soaked in fresh tap water (18.5°C) for 10 minutes. The rug was only activated with water once and not reactivated for the rest of the test period.

To capture accurate results, temperature dataloggers were used, recording skin temperature every 10 seconds across a 2-hour test period.

The Results: Quick Chill vs Sponging

The graph illustrates a striking difference between the two methods:

Quick Chill Cooling Rug:

Rapid cooling occurred in the first 10–15 minutes, dropping the horse's skin temperature by 5.5–5.9°C

Maintained a lower skin temperature for the entire 2-hour duration

The Quick Chill material remained cool and damp to the touch even after 2 hours, indicating continued evaporative effect

Despite ambient temperatures rising slightly during the test, the horse’s skin temperature remained below its starting point

After 15 minutes of wear, the horse’s coat was damp underneath the rug – a helpful tip if using the rug pre-competition or riding: 10 minutes of wear, well wrung out, will cool without dampening the coat

Sponged Off Horse:

Also experienced initial cooling, but only for the first 30 minutes

Skin temperature gradually returned to the starting level and even exceeded it—possibly due to the rising ambient temperature

Once the water evaporated, the cooling benefit disappeared

What This Means for Horse Owners

Whether your horse is stabled during hot days, recovering after exercise, or needing a cooling method before a show class, Quick Chill provides effective, sustained cooling to keep your horse comfortable.

Here are the key takeaways:

Superior long-lasting cooling vs. sponging

Effective passive cooling while the horse is at rest

Easy to use and stays cool for hours

Versatile  – before competition, post-exercise, or hot days in the stable

How to Use Quick Chill for Best Results

Soak for 10 minutes in fresh tap water

Wring out well to avoid a wet coat if used before riding or showing

Leave on for at least 10–15 minutes to achieve maximum cooling effect

Conclusion: Quick Chill Delivers on Its Promise

Our in-stable test clearly showed that the Quick Chill Cooling Rug offers effective temperature regulation, outperforming simple sponging by maintaining lower skin temperatures over a longer period—even as the air temperature increased.

Click here to see the Quick Chill Range for both horses and dogs.

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