Cool by design: recovery in modern racing

One area gaining steady traction is targeted cold therapy – and behind that shift is equine physiotherapist Tom Simpson, whose Equi-Ice system grew out of decades spent assessing, treating and listening to horses.

Cold therapy has long been a cornerstone of physiotherapy, valued for its role in supporting recovery after physical exertion. By moderating tissue temperature and circulation, cooling can help calm muscles following intense work, promote relaxation and support the body’s natural recovery processes.

In racehorses, the effects of high-intensity exertion are well recognised. Racing places significant load on muscles and soft tissue, and cooling is widely used to assist horses in returning to a comfortable, settled state after racing or trackwork. The approach is non-invasive, drug-free and well established across elite human and animal sport as part of holistic recovery programs.

Simpson was an early adopter of these principles in equine care. “When I first started saying I was an equine physiotherapist, I was probably put in the same basket as a witch doctor,” he says. “But the acceptance of physiotherapy has grown enormously in recent years.”

He works with leading trainers and horses across New South Wales and Victoria, and was a key part of Winx’s team, among many others. He travels regularly to Hong Kong, where he treats Romantic Warrior, currently the world’s highest-earning racehorse, and Ka Ying Rising, widely regarded as the world’s best sprinter.

His grounding with horses began long before formal study. Growing up on a farm near Barraba, north of Tamworth, horses and cattle were part of everyday life. Rugby, however, was his original path. A NSW representative, Simpson played in France before returning to Sydney to join Randwick. A serious back injury – a fractured vertebra that was initially misdiagnosed – ended his playing career at 25 and led to multiple surgeries. Physiotherapy, first as a patient and then as a profession, followed.

After completing a master’s degree and specialising in animal physiotherapy, Simpson was mentored by equine veterinarian Dr Michael Robinson. Prevention remains central to Simpson’s approach, so stretching, core stability, heat and cold therapy and careful workload management all feature, alongside close collaboration with trainers and vets.

Equi-Ice grew directly from that day-to-day work. “The products look simple, but they took about four years to perfect,” Simpson says. “It was a lengthy process.” Initially, he used improvised methods – folding towels, adding ice and wetting them down. “But I just kept thinking there had to be a better way.”

“I was seeing how quickly horses responded, particularly in warmer conditions,” he says. “The more surface area you can comfortably cover, the more effective the recovery process can be.”

Designed to sit correctly across key muscle groups, Equi-Ice provides even, sustained contact rather than uneven or short-lived cooling. The packs are easy to prepare – simply add ice and a small amount of water – and can be applied efficiently as part of post-exercise routines.

Practicality was essential. “The head collar, for example, is much more workable when horses are standing in stalls and can be applied as soon as they come off the track,” Simpson says. “Timing matters – it’s about supporting horses as early as possible after exertion and helping them settle.”

Feedback has been encouraging. “Vets, trainers, owners, strappers – the response has been that it’s been successful. Horses accept it well, and even if it’s simply helping them relax and recover, it’s doing what it’s meant to do.”

Simpson sees a generational shift as sports science becomes more embedded in racing. “The newer trainers are very receptive to this sort of thinking.” Even so, uptake varies. “I thought they’d snap it up in Hong Kong because of the climate,” he says, “but there’s still some scepticism.”

His manufacturing process has also evolved. After early work with overseas suppliers, Simpson now partners with Iron Horse and David Mangan, a former farrier. “We’re very aligned in what we’re trying to achieve,” he says. “David’s feedback, as someone who’s worked closely with horses, has been invaluable.”

At Flemington, Equi-Ice has been made available as part of broader cool-down routines, and Simpson is content simply knowing the horses are receiving the care.

"As long as the horses are getting the care and support they need,” he says, “that’s what matters.”