Research has shown that horses walked or trotted following exercise have faster clearance of blood lactate than horses left standing, thus increasing the rate of recovery. Large amounts of heat build up during work. This heat must be released from the horse's body through respiration and sweat. Heat loss through sweat requires convection and evaporation. Walking a hot horse guards against placing it in an area void of air flow.
Air flow is vitally important for convection of heat off the body.
Mild movement of the feet and legs after intense exercise may assist circulation in the lower leg. Horses left standing after exercise may have increased swelling around the lower leg joints. Cool-down periods allow trainers to monitor the horse's soundness and response to the previous stress of performance. Heart rates, respiration rates, sweat rates and gait analysis are indicators of the degree of recovery. Freeman said the specific effects of cool-down periods have not been studied sufficiently in equines to make many general recommendations.