why didnt they think of water for cooling horses down years ago

Richard III thought of it in 1485.

I may have that wrong.

King Dick’s Hole is a deep part of the Anker at its confluence with the Sence. Since at least Victorian times, it has been a popular bathing place for the youth of Atherstone and Sheepy. Local tradition has it that it is where King Richard bathed before the battle.[12] More likely ‘hole’ is a corruption of early English halgh; an area of flood plain enclosed by a meandering river.[13] The name could originally have referred to the area where Richard stationed some of his troops while lodging the night at Mythe Hall.[14]

he cooled himself down.

Well he'd lost his bloody horse hadn't he.

It sez before the battle.

were you there s s ?

Naturally.

Anyway, I'd be surprised if Julius Caesar hadn't thought of it some time before that.

s s didnt like Julius Caesar when he posted on here iirc

Yep. Dear old pitzwank

Why is it good for horses to be quickly cooled down as opposed to human athletes ?
It's not many years ago since they tried putting foil blankets over horses after races in hot weather.

They should ban winners blankets.
Daft to wrap a horse immediately after a race when the winner needs to cool down.