Maple Lane Farms

Maple Lane Farms English and Western Riding Lessons
Day Camp
Trail Rides
Boarding

LEARN HOW TO FALL SAFELY! We are proud to offer our students this unique learning opportunity. This clinic will run this...
10/14/2025

LEARN HOW TO FALL SAFELY!
We are proud to offer our students this unique learning opportunity. This clinic will run this Sunday Oct 19th.
Equestrian falls happen quickly and can be unexpected- this clinic is recommended for young riders but also especially helpful for our adult riders.
Registration is limited and open now. Visit our website and look under “Shows / Clinics” for registration

https://forms.gle/rd8LZkhDniFpVHPD8

10 years ago today we came home with baby Bentley and baby Neveah ❤️❤️
10/04/2025

10 years ago today we came home with baby Bentley and baby Neveah ❤️❤️

SHOW REGISTRATION LAST CALL! Registration for our Oct 5th mixed discipline schooling show will close SUNDAY SEPT 28TH. P...
09/25/2025

SHOW REGISTRATION LAST CALL!
Registration for our Oct 5th mixed discipline schooling show will close SUNDAY SEPT 28TH.
Please ensure your registration is submitted early.
Outside barns welcome 🐴
See website under “Shows and upcoming events” tab for more info.

October 5th is our next Mixed discipline Schooling Show at Maple Lane Farms. Registration is NOW OPENClass List:Adult (1...
09/23/2025

October 5th is our next Mixed discipline Schooling Show at Maple Lane Farms. Registration is NOW OPEN

Class List:

Adult (16+) Hunter Hack
Pleasure
Equitation
Hunter Hack : Flat + 2 Fences

Beginner Lead Line
Horsemanship ( in hand )
Walk / Trot Under Saddle
Walk / Trot Under Saddle over Poles

Open Flat : Walk/Trot
Pleasure
Equitation
Command

Open Flat Western W/J/L
Pleasure
Equitation
Command

Crossrail : Walk/Trot/Canter
Equitation on the Flat
Hunter Hack : Flat + 2 Fences
Hunter Over Fences : 8 Fences

Open Hunter 2ft
Equitation on the Flat
Hunter Hack : Flat + 2 Fences
Hunter Over Fences : 8 Fences

Open Hunter 2’3”
Equitation on the Flat
Hunter Hack : Flat + 2 Fences
Hunter Over Fences : 8 Fences

Skills Events
Trail Course
Ride a Buck
Trophy Dash

Show will start at 10:00
Outside barns welcome

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdf0LltajTVuL6jdZAewrJ7V4ecv6NrQgao-KKoBJfwCEfMKw/viewform

We love our sweet Miss Peaches 🍑 trustiest pony around ❤️
09/06/2025

We love our sweet Miss Peaches 🍑 trustiest pony around ❤️

Happy 3rd birthday to our favourite barn pup Beau ❤️🎉
08/27/2025

Happy 3rd birthday to our favourite barn pup Beau ❤️🎉

Tuesday Sept 2nd is a PA day for students in Muskoka, we have a few daytime lesson spots left open for some extra saddle...
08/27/2025

Tuesday Sept 2nd is a PA day for students in Muskoka, we have a few daytime lesson spots left open for some extra saddle time before school!
Also just a reminder we will be CLOSED for labour day this year.
Keep your eyes on our socials for some exciting new programs coming up! Bring on fall 🍂🐴

08/25/2025
08/21/2025

If anyone wants to go, I can trailer 2 - 4 horses
☺️ ( This option is for owners / leasers only )

English Riders too!
08/14/2025

English Riders too!

This was a topic of discussion during our lessons this week! Great info
06/28/2025

This was a topic of discussion during our lessons this week! Great info

Sweat Scraping Horses During Cool-Down: Why the Myth Persists and What Science Says

For generations, horse owners and many professionals have followed the traditional practice of sweat scraping — using a rubber or metal tool to remove excess sweat or water from a horse's coat after exercise. One of the most enduring beliefs tied to this practice is that you must sweat scrape to help your horse cool down properly, especially after hosing them off in hot weather. But is this actually true?

Let’s take a closer look at the origins of this belief, what modern science says, and whether sweat scraping is still necessary.

The Origin of the Myth
The myth likely stems from a time before we understood thermoregulation in horses. It was commonly believed that leaving water or sweat on a horse would trap heat and slow cooling. Sweat scraping became routine, especially in barns without good airflow or with heavy-coated horses that took longer to dry.

The logic seemed sound: remove moisture quickly to speed up cooling and prevent chills or overheating. Over time, this practice turned into a widely accepted rule — even though equine science has since moved on. I actually remember having to do it for my BHS exam.

What Really Happens When You Hose Off a Hot Horse
When a hot horse is sprayed with cool water, the water absorbs body heat and then carries it away as it runs off or evaporates. This is the primary method by which water cools the horse — not by being scraped off immediately.

Key point: The cooling effect comes from the transfer of heat from the horse to the water, not from how fast you dry the horse.

In fact, studies (including those conducted by the University of Queensland and other equine researchers) have found that continuously applying cool water over the horse’s body is the most effective method of reducing core temperature — especially during hot and humid weather. This technique is used in endurance riding, racing, and eventing, where managing a horse’s temperature is critical.

Should You Still Sweat Scrape?

The short answer: Not necessarily — and certainly not to help cooling.

Here’s when you might still want to sweat scrape:

• To remove excess water after hosing if it’s cool out and you want to avoid your horse staying soaked.

• To prevent water from pooling under tack or rugs.

• To help speed up drying if your horse is going back into a stall or needs to be groomed quickly.

But if your goal is cooling the horse, especially in hot conditions, scraping is not required and may actually interfere with the cooling process if it interrupts cold water application.

The Takeaway: Let Go of the Myth
Despite decades of tradition, the idea that you must sweat scrape a horse to help them cool down is outdated. Cooling a horse effectively is about keeping cold water flowing over their body, not about drying them quickly.

In fact, many top equine veterinarians now recommend leaving cold water on — and reapplying it repeatedly — during a cool-down after heavy exercise, especially in summer.

So the next time someone says, “You have to sweat scrape to help them cool down,” you can confidently — and kindly — explain that it’s no longer supported by science.

In Summary:

✅ Cold water helps cool the horse by absorbing heat.

✅ Reapplying water is more effective than scraping it off.

❌ Sweat scraping is not necessary for cooling.

✅ Scrape only if you want to speed drying or reduce discomfort ( for example some horses dont like the feel of dripping water, but most shake and have a roll afterwards ).

It's time to move beyond tradition — your horse will thank you for it.

Ft baby Moomin after his first bath 🤎

Address

1120 Frasurburg Road
Bracebridge, ON
P1L0A1

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 10pm
Tuesday 7am - 10pm
Wednesday 7am - 10pm
Thursday 7am - 10pm
Friday 7am - 10pm
Saturday 7am - 10pm
Sunday 7am - 10pm

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